So you’ve been skating for a while now and you’re starting to get pretty good, only problem is those trucks on your board are worn down from grinds, and your wheels are so worn it feels like you’re riding on ice. Changing trucks and wheels can be a little bit of a daunting task for a beginner, so I’m going to walk you through the process step by step so you minimize downtime and get back out to the important stuff...riding!
For this project you will need:
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| 1 - Socket Set |
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| 1- Phillips Head Screwdriver |
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| 2 - these Bad Boys |
How to Change your Wheels:
Step 1: For my trucks I used a size 14 socket. Literally all you need to do here is remove the nut and the wheels slide right off.
NOTE: If there are little washers that come off with your wheels, save them, you’ll need them later.
Step 2 (optional): Some people buy new wheels and reuse their old bearings, that’s perfectly fine. Don’t let a skate shop tell you that you need a specialty tool to get bearings off of a wheel, all you need are your hands and your trucks.
To get the bearings out of your old wheels, insert your wheel back onto your trucks about halfway, now pry down with a bit of force to loosen the bearing inside of the wheel.
NOTE: You may need to rotate the wheel and repeat this a few times to get the bearing out. Once you have the first one out, flip the wheel, and repeat.
To get the bearings into your new wheels, simply place them inside, slide your wheel onto your truck, and push. The pressure will push the bearing into place. Now just flip your wheel and repeat.
Step 3: Now it’s time to put on those shiny new wheels. Remember those little washers you had leftover from removing your old wheels? It’s time to put them back on.
- Those little washers give your wheels space from the trucks, allowing them just enough room to spin freely with less friction. While not completely necessary, I always keep them on.
- Simply insert one of the washers onto the truck, insert your wheel, insert another washer, then bolt it down.
- Remember, when tightening your wheels you don’t want there to be a lot of “wiggle room” meaning you don’t want the wheels to be able to shift from side to side. Also, you don’t want them too tight or else they won’t rotate properly. Tighten and loosen and mess around with it little by little until you get the perfect tightness.
How to Change Your Trucks:
Step 1: Grab yourself a phillips head screwdriver and the proper sized socket, I used a size 10.
Step 2: Place the socket on the bolt and with your other hand place the phillips head into the screw. You can either loosen with the screwdriver or with the socket, but whatever you choose make sure the other end is applying torque in the opposing direction.
Step 3: Now that your old trucks are off it’s time to put on the new ones. After changing your wheels and trucks, if you've got an extra skateboard deck or two, check out some options to mount your decks to your wall for a couple of new decorations!
- Remember there is a front and a back, make sure your fronts are facing outward and your backs are facing inward. If you have risers, put those between the board and the trucks.
- Now just do the opposite of what you did in Step 2.
- NOTE: If you tighten the screws too much they will dig into your board. You don’t want this. Just make sure they are tight, not hulk-smash tight, but a little tighter than snug.
After changing your wheels and trucks, if you've got an extra skateboard deck or two, check out some options to mount your decks to your wall for a couple of new decorations!
Now that your new parts are on it's time to get break them in. Cheers!