🎣 How to find the right bearings for your reel – The ultimate guide for anglers
Introduction
Bearings are the heart of your fishing reel – without them, nothing runs smoothly. Anyone who wants to tune or maintain their reel should know which bearings fit, what types there are, and how to easily determine the right size yourself.
Here we show you step by step how to make the perfect choice and get your reel running smoothly like butter again. 🚀
What do the bearing sizes mean?
The bearing size is always given in the following format: Inner diameter × Outer diameter × Width
Example:
A bearing with the designation 3×10×4 means:
- Inner diameter: 3 mm
- Outer diameter: 10 mm
- Width: 4 mm
How do you measure the bearing size yourself?
You need:
- A caliper (digital or analog)
- A little patience
Here's how to proceed:
-
Remove ball bearing (often secured by a small clip on baitcasters – be careful!).
-
Measure inside: Use the caliper to measure the inner diameter
determine. - Measure outside: Measure the total outer diameter.
- Measure width: Measure the ball bearing from the side.
Measure inside:
Measure outside:
Measure width:
When should you replace ball bearings?
There are two main reasons:
Wear:
- Reel runs rough or jerky
- Reduced casting distance
- Bearings squeak or feel "sandy"
Performance upgrade:
- You want longer casts
- You want a faster, more sensitive reel
⚠️ Attention:
Especially with older reels or after intensive use in saltwater, replacing bearings can bring noticeable improvements!
Which spool bearings should you replace?
When it comes to tuning your baitcaster for more performance, the spool bearings are the first place to look.
These bearings directly influence how easily and quickly your spool spins – and thus how far and sensitively you can cast.
But beware: Not every reel is built the same!
Depending on where the ball bearings are located on your reel, you need to address different areas.
Here is a detailed guide on how to quickly and easily find out which bearings you should replace:
Variant 1: There is a ball bearing on the spool
👉 If you take the spool out of the reel and see a ball bearing directly on the spool (usually at the axle end on the crank side or opposite), then the following applies:
- Replace the ball bearing on the spool.
- Also replace the ball bearing in the sideplate (i.e., the cover opposite the crank).
Why?
Both bearings work directly together during the cast; they hold the spool and determine how freely it can spin.
A new, high-quality bearing on the spool is useless if the bearing in the sideplate is still old and stubborn – so always replace both.
Variant 2: There is no ball bearing on the spool
👉 In some reel models, there is no bearing directly on the spool – the spool then runs on axle bearings.
In this case, you should:
-
Replace the bearing in the sideplate (opposite side of the crank)
and - Replace the bearing under the Spool Tension Cap (on the crank side, under the small cover cap that regulates spool pressure).
Why?
Here, the two outer bearings take over the guidance and rotational ease of the spool. The same applies here: Only if both bearings run smoothly do you get the full potential out of your reel.
This is how you quickly find out which design your reel has:
- Open the sideplate (depending on the model, either by a folding mechanism or screw).
- Carefully pull out the spool.
- Check:
- Is a bearing directly on the spool? → Variant 1
- No bearing on the spool? → Variant 2
💬 Little tip:
Sometimes the bearings are quite well hidden on the spool – especially on smaller BFS or tuning models. A quick, attentive look saves a lot of work later!
⚡ Important:
Whether variant 1 or 2 – always replace both relevant bearings!
Only this way do you achieve maximum performance in terms of casting distance, spool start-up, and fine lure feel.
Bonus for professionals:
Especially with reels built for ultralight lures (BFS) or maximum distance, it makes a huge difference when both spool bearings are replaced with high quality ones.
With “standard reels” you might not notice it immediately in the first few meters, but at the latest with longer casts or delicate fishing, you will love the difference!
The pin remover – your tool for easy bearing replacement
If there is a ball bearing on your baitcaster's spool, it is almost always secured by a small pin.
And this pin can be really stubborn! Without the right tool, you quickly risk damaging the spool or bending the pin.
🎣 Here comes the pin remover into play!
What does the pin remover do?
- It enables the safe and damage-free removal of the pin on the spool.
- You can easily remove the bearing and replace it with a new one.
- Even inserting the pin later becomes child's play with the remover.
💡 Tip:
If there is a ball bearing on your spool, you almost always need a pin remover to work cleanly.
Save yourself cursing, flying pins, and scratches – get the right tool right away!
👉 Here’s the direct link to the pin remover tool in our shop
💬 A little tip from experience:
Many reels have extremely tight pins – especially high-quality models or new reels. Without a pin remover, you quickly pry awkwardly at the material. With the tool, it’s easy in just a few seconds.
How to use the pin remover can be seen here:
Use our handy ball bearing quick search
In our quick selection for ball bearings you will find many common reel models with the right spool bearing sizes at a glance.
🎯 Advantage:
No guessing, no wrong orders – just search, find, upgrade!
Important: There are even more bearings in your fishing reel!
Besides the spool bearings, there are other ball bearings:
- Wormshaft bearing (line lay)
- Pinion gear bearing (main shaft)
- Knob bearing (handles)
- Level wind bearing
For complete upgrades, it's worth looking at all bearing positions!
Which ball bearings fit which casting weight?
| Casting weight | Recommended bearing type | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| 5 – 200 g | Stainless steel ball bearings | Swimbaits, bigbait, pike fishing, saltwater |
| 5 – 60 g | Hybrid ceramic bearings | Soft plastics, cranks, jigs, allround, BFS, UL |
| 4 – 40 g | High-speed full ceramic bearings | Finesse, BFS, light hardbaits, UL |
💡 Tip:
The lighter the lure, the more important precise, smooth-running premium bearings are.
🎯 Note:
For heavy lures (bigbaits etc.), a good stainless steel bearing is often sufficient because the casting weight itself generates a lot of momentum.
⚠️ Important:
Premium bearings show their advantage especially with small, light lures – you can really feel the difference!
ABEC rating explained clearly
The ABEC rating assesses the manufacturing precision of ball bearings.
The higher the number, the more precise the bearing – and the smoother the run.
| ABEC Rating | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ABEC 1 | Simple manufacturing |
| ABEC 3 | Average |
| ABEC 5 | Precise – optimal for most wheels |
| ABEC 7 | Very high precision |
| ABEC 9 | Extremely precise – for tuning and BFS |
🎯 Note:
- ABEC 5 is more than enough for everyday wheels.
- ABEC 7 or 9 really makes sense for tuning and finesse.
Special features of hybrid, ceramic, and stainless steel ball bearings
Hybrid and ceramic bearings:
- Can run with or without oil.
- Without oil: less friction, more noise.
- With oil: slightly more resistance, but quieter and more durable.
Covers:
Our hybrid bearings have small dust protection covers.
If you remove them:
- Advantage: Less friction, more speed.
- Disadvantage: Higher susceptibility to dirt.
Stainless steel bearings:
- Must always be oiled.
- Slight lubrication recommended under extreme loads (big bait, saltwater).
Our bearing selection in the shop
👉 Here you can find an overview of all bearings.
We offer you:
- Stainless steel (ABEC 5)
- Hybrid (ABEC 9)
- Highspeed full ceramic (ABEC 9)
For almost all common baitcasters
Conclusion
Bearing tuning is easier than you think – and really effective!
Whether you want to improve your casting distance, make your reel smoother, or simply replace old, worn-out bearings: With the right knowledge and our high-quality bearings, your reel will run like clockwork again.
So, don't hesitate:
👉 Find the right bearings now!
Tight lines and always free bearings
Danny