What the thread found

• According to the manufacturer, PRO-Pan bearings are sourced from the same factory as before; the bearing maker has undergone a name change but supplies the same component.
• PRO specifies custom modifications to its bearings according to proprietary standards, while Tiffen bearings are reported to be standard-issue components from the same manufacturer, with the nature of PRO's modifications undisclosed.
• An M2 gimbal from 2021 came equipped with a visually nearly identical Kaydon-branded bearing; operators report nevertheless superior performance with PRO-specified bearings in Tiffen gimbal assemblies.

Depends on

• Specification details of PRO bearing modifications are not publicly disclosed.
• Performance differences may depend on individual rig condition and operating environment.

Parts

Gimbal Bearing

Same gear or parts

1. 2026Pan-bearing friction and image oscillation in Tiffen gimbals with Volt power cable: root cause and acceptance criteria.DisputedFacebookThe Steadicam Group
2. 2026Pan bearing replacement for Steadicam® PRO gimbal: manufacturer change from Kaydon to SSB and supply implicationsFacebookSteadicam operators group
3. 2026The pan bearing in the gimbal: what a Kaydon bearing is, what fails, and what a change of supplier would and would not meanOperator practice
4. 2026Gimbal bearing lubrication: oil quantity, product selection, and the performance versus protection trade-off.DisputedFacebookThe Steadicam Group