Seems like most places I look quality ABEC 7 SS bearings are $8-12 a piece. I understand that by the very virtue of them being ABEC 7 they have tighter tolerances, but how can these be the same quality as the others I've seen and only be 2.50 a pop? Does anyone know how these bearings rate vs say the ones boca has??

http://www.mikesreelrepair.com/shimano-abec-bearing-p-6344.html

Chatta,

I have no idea. The information leads you to believe they are the real thing but that price does raise some concerns. If it is the same quality I will have to buy some myself.

Kevin

Exactly! Hopefully someone will have some insight.

I found the same website when looking online for new bearings.

I was a bit suspicious of the price as well and kept clicking thru the reviews to try and get an idea.

For the price it's almost worth giving them a try!

The ceramic bearings are more expensive of course.

Let us know if they are any good or not, or if you can compare them to a boca bearing I'd be really curious!

I don't know about these specifically, but I have received warnings about couterfeit bearings so it does happen. If a price or products appears too good to be true it probably is.

I don't know about these either. I have bought cheaper bearings before and they worked great the first trip! I took it out the next time and it sounded awful. They ended up not being stainless steel or something, because when I went to change them again it was rusted through.

But, if they do work, it'll be worth the money. If they don't, you'd learn a lesson, but you'd get by a lot cheaper than most. So, win win either way if you do your own swap. I don't think there is anything a bad bearing could really hurt?

I believe that person was selling other bearing (and those) on another forum. I believe a bunch of folks bought them and I haven't seen any threads about them being terrible/rip offs.

I had just about made up my mind to buy them. I think i will. Hopefully they will work well. if not im only out 25 bucks.

If you are looking to replace OE bearings, look no further than Smooth Drags: http://www.smoothdrag.com/

Their ABEC 7 ceramic hybrids are reasonably priced and offer excellent performance.

I sell Boca Bearings for the same price less a 10% discount to BassResource.com members

I bought some SS ABEC 5s 4 years ago from Mike's for a 5000 ABU. Still going strong. It's on my pike spinnerbait rod so it has seen more casts than any rod I own for the past 4 years pulling #8 blades. That being said the last couple times I bought anything it came from smooth drag (bearings and drag washers in the same order) and one order from Boca.

FYI, Mike's is in Canada. I find it faster and easier to order from US sources.

@J Franco

Yes i am looking to replace bearings in 3 Curado 201e7 and 1 Citica 201d. Thats why i was looking a that roll of 10 bearings. Would replace all of them easily with 2 left over

@DVT

You sell for the same price as ReelMike or Smoothdrag?

Get the Boca Steel Shield Hybrids or the Smooth Drag Hybrids bearings for those reels. I have Bocas in a Sol, Smooth Drags in a two Sols, Alphas, and a Calcutta. Great bearings, easy care plenty of spool speed in REAL WORLD fishing.

@J Franco

Yes i am looking to replace bearings in 3 Curado 201e7 and 1 Citica 201d. Thats why i was looking a that roll of 10 bearings. Would replace all of them easily with 2 left over

@DVT

You sell for the same price as ReelMike or Smoothdrag?

Smooth Drag. I'm skeptical of such a wide price variance for what are supposed to be equivalent bearings offered at 83% off the competition. I just can't see any company leaving that money on the table.

I think after this weekends tournment ill just send you one of my reels DVT. I dont have another until mid april. I will follow up in a PM

Sounds good.