Stainless steel cartridge bearings - good or bad ?

[Jules59]

I recently replaced the bearings in my Fulcrum freehub, as the outer bearing was rusty and running rough, with stainless 6803 2RS bearings.

Easy job.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_zJzZ_jNm8

The originals when open on the inner sides and clearly not stainless.

Any disadvantage in using stainless bearings ?

[Jdsk]

Brucey on stainless ball bearings:
viewtopic.php?t=94112
viewtopic.php?p=704254#p704254

Jonathan

[Jules59]

thanks for the links

[alexnharvey]

Any cartridge bearing i replace gets filled with more and better grease by lifting the less critical interior seal. I'd do the same if i had a stainless bearing, although i normally don't buy them for the reasons in brucey's posts, i sunny think they're with paying extra for.

[rogerzilla]

They're designed for the food industry to avoid rust contamination and aren't as strong as normal chrome steel bearings. There isn't much point using them on a bike.

Certainly don't fit stainless balls to cup and cone bearings - they are more likely to cause pitting of the races if any water gets in.

[gregoryoftours]

Chris King and Hope both use full stainless bearings and they are some of the best if not the best. I'd avoid ones where the races aren't also stainless though.