Thank you Rich for sharing your info and posting some pics..very appreciatedI was wondering the same thing, all three sound bad...less for the RCTimer ones. Personally it sounds like the shafts are spinning in the bearings, which is not good. Preloading bearings will help.
Since your on the trail for discoveries in replacing bearings. First, for you USA people, AVID bearings seems to be good quality and at a buck a piece. They have a good rep in the RC car/truck community, so can't be all that bad.
Here are some pictures for my DIY bearing press, assembled and disassembled. Similar to what DavidWeston had mentioned. The key is not pressing the inner race when seating the bearings, only the outside race. The tool presses the bearings straight in, no need for lube to install. The bearing adapters were machined from aluminum, with .005" smaller OD than the bearing and then the hole's ID was slightly larger than the inner race's OD.
T-Motor cir-clips and thrust washer, I highly recommend buying both. Preloading the installed bearings will improve performance and bearing life, the T-Motor nylon thrust washer is slightly thicker than the stock brass washer but they will compress.
Then in the picture are two tools I use for removing and installing the cir-clips. Both tools can be had through McMaster-Carr and are a bit tricky to use, but once mastered makes the task easier. The plier looking tool, is a cir-clip spreader, very valuable for these odd shaped cir-clips. On second thought, the tools are a little pricey, I'd only purchase if your doing bearing replacement as a biz. Me, I have a weakness for specialty tools...no biz need.
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It seems like there is a few good name Quality bearings to choose from and even the option of stainless steel !
I ordered the Sunnysky bearing for now and just waiting for them to come in the mail!
I guess they might not be the best on the market..but I hear that they will do for someone like me who is just starting out and in the process on doing my first bearing replacement
But I'm sure the more experience I get over time the more I'll have an understanding on choosing My bearing more wisely
Cheers