The original ball bearings in my '53 looked like new until a mechanic friend torqued them down with a breaker bar. I didn't know he'd done it until they failed a month later.
I spent the money and purchased new ball bearings. They failed six months later.
I pulled a used set of hubs from a rusting wreck of a '51 in a junk yard for free. They've lasted me years.
I don't know if ball or roller bearings are better, but if they are made in China or of Chinese steel they are all junk.
I have a spare set of free junk yard hubs sitting in my garage just in case I ever need them.
