Metal vs rubber sealed bearings?

[DMAT]

any reason to use one or the other? I usually buy the rubber sealed from avid but since I need to get some hardware from mcmaster and all I saw from them was metal sealed ones.

[slow_jun]

Metal=less friction but dirt can easily go thru,good for onroad/carpet tracks
Rubber=a bit friction but good i keeping away dirt. Great for dirt.

[DMAT]

guess I'll get metal for my shelfers then. they probably wont ever go offroad lol

[REMJ666]

Metal bearings are so cheap now you can stock pile them and chuck them when they get crunchy...If your die hard and gotta have the best then ceramic is the way to go for racing...I think rubber seal bearings are a waist of money...The seal does cause friction...I always clean mine out before I use them and re lube with what ever brand of oil I have...It seems like whatever the factory uses when they make them is kinda thick...

[vwjuice]

I like the Avid Revolution bearings. I use those in the hubs, with the rubber side facing towards the outside. This allows the bearings too spin smoother than regular rubber sealed bearings, but keeps the protection level up. I use metal shielded bearings in the gearbox so I get the maximum amount of free spinning possible

[DMAT]

I actually run the revolutions in my transmissions. I dont race but keep them lubed inside so the gears last longer. They are all metal. I know heretic but I do it with everything and I pretty much never have something go out. It took 3 years for a single bearing in my rusty to go bad.

hopefully I can compile the full list of hardware and bearings ill need for my build and get them ordered.

[CamplinP]

With todays brushless and lipo set-ups a little friction won't hurt anything. If you are going totally vintage and trying to make it through a 5 minute heat it could make a difference.

[flipwils11]

I'm going to give these Boca green seal jobs a try since they have rubber seals and claim they have grease lube already included inside.

[SteveK]

Let us know how those work. If they really can be run indefinitely (within reason) without maintenance I think it might be worth the extra money, at least for a car you run a lot.

[RC104ever]

Personally, I have tried both and found that when you are driving there is no discernible difference. However, when you are driving it in, snow, mud, dirt, gravel like I have, the rubber sealed bearings make a huge difference in the wheels. Where the metal shielded bearings in my sons car gave out and were beyond hope (tried soaking in WD40 and other things), the rubber sealed ones have yet to be changed.

I agree that the revolution is a good compromise between the two.