Ceramic bearings for Zipp Wheels Worth Doing? Best Source?

[Jmdesignz2]

Ceramic bearings for Zipp Wheels Worth Doing? Best Source?

I have my finger on the buy button to upgrade my Zipp wheels with full ceramic bearings. They are from an ebay seller.
Anyone gone this route?
Could save 50% going part ceramic

Pros/Cons?

Thanks
Joe

[sungod]

i bought some cheap ceramic bearings once, they were really poor tolerance, didn't even match each other let alone the shell, never again

unless the ones you're looking at have a known specification (and it's a good one) then i'd be wary

[wheelsONfire]

I'd rather use high grade steel bearings than low grade ceramic bearings.
It's a good sales propaganda, but i wonder if it's worth it. You'll need to oversee the actual grade of the bearing balls and see to it that the bearing races are treated and not plain untreated steel. If they are, the balls will wear the races and you'll end up with more friction.
High grade steel balls and high grade races for these may be more durable and roll as well.
After all, ceramic bearings are aimed at much higher rpm than we can achieve pedaling.

[Jmdesignz2]

Good points, i will ask the seller about the abec grades. I might opt for hybrid bearings

[rbrtwyn]

Don't put full ceramic bearings in your wheels or BB, they will crack. Hybrid are good (at least quality hybrid of which there are 4-5 brands) but full ceramic will crack at the race.

Also, ABEC is meaningless. Ball grade is what is most important, then seals, lube, retainer, etc.

[wheelsONfire]

I would suggest you look in to (buy) Zipp-3 or Zipp-4 pendning on your year model Zipp wheels.
http://shop.cyclingceramic.com/prestashop/gb/28-zipp

The latest Zipp is Zipp-4 and the model before is Zipp-3.
These are ceramic balls with special treated races.

Why not contact Yohann and discuss this?

[davidalone]

Ceramic bearings are snake oil. Bicycle applications come nowhere near to the load point where they need ceramic bearings.