Skateboarding is a fun sport, and it’s even more fun when you have the right equipment. But what happens when your skateboard starts to feel less responsive? You might think that the problem is with your wheels, but it could actually be something else: bushings.
In this article, we’ll explain how they work and show you how to replace them on any standard-sized skateboard – no matter what brand or style it is!
Remove the kingpin nut and axle nuts
Use a skateboard tool to remove the kingpin nut, which is located at the front of the deck.
Remove the axle nuts by turning them counter-clockwise with your fingers. If you have trouble removing them, use an Allen wrench to loosen them up before trying again with your fingers.
Pull out both axles from their holes in the deck and wheels, keeping track of which one goes where so that you can put it back in correctly when reassembling everything later on (if you’re confused as to how all these parts fit together, check out this diagram from Skateboard Universe).
Take out the kingpin
Remove the kingpin nut from the deck. This can be done with a wrench or socket wrench, depending on what kind of tool you have available.
Take out the kingpin by turning it counterclockwise until it comes off (it’s probably stuck on pretty well).
Unscrew and then remove both axle nuts from each side of your skateboard deck with an adjustable wrench or socket wrench, depending on what type of tool you will be using for this step.
Pull out any additional hardware that might be attached to either end of your board (such as brake pads), then set aside all pieces so they are not lost or damaged while working on your setup
Put the new bushings on the kingpin
Put the new bushings on the kingpin. The placement of your bushings is very important! You want to make sure that you put them on in the same orientation as they were before so that when you put them back into your skateboard deck it matches up with where it should be. You also want to make sure you put them on straight and don’t cross thread anything when turning them over or else they won’t fit correctly.
Replace the kingpin
Once you have the new bushings in, it’s time to put the kingpin back in. Make sure that it is straight and centered. If you are having trouble getting your bearings straight, try marking them with a pen or pencil before taking them out so that when you put them back in, they will be lined up just right.
When reinstalling your old kingpin, make sure that it is not bent at all; otherwise, this could cause problems later on—especially if you want to skate on ramps or take part in other activities where high speeds are involved.
If you are using a skateboard tool kit, make sure to use those tools instead of something else (like vice grips). They may seem like they work fine for other things but don’t risk damaging any more than what’s already been damaged by taking off your old bushings!
Once finished putting everything together properly and lubricating correctly (this can vary depending on what kind of lubricant was used), get ready for some fresh rides!
Put the skateboard back together
Replace the kingpin nut and axle nuts. The kingpin nuts and axle nuts should be tightened until they are snug, but do not over-tighten. You should be able to move them a little bit with your fingers.
Replace the grip tape. If you have chosen not to replace your grip tape, then skip this step. Otherwise, carefully remove the old grip tape from around your deck by peeling it off slowly while pulling it away from the board at an angle (if you pull straight down without any angle, it might tear). If you have chosen to stick with the same color scheme as before (which I recommend), place new pieces of grip tape on both decks in exactly the same places as before so that when everything is assembled again, everything will look like it did before with two decks side by side (this is why we made sure our trucks were facing opposite directions during assembly). For best results when installing new pieces of grip tape on top of old ones already installed on a skateboard: press down firmly while slowly rubbing back and forth over the entire area being covered; repeat the process until the entire area covered has been pressed down firmly enough so that there are no bubbles under surface layer anymore; if needed use heat gun or hair dryer to heat up area being covered so that adhesive bonds more securely but avoid getting too close because too much heat can cause damage!
Once you’ve got the bushings off, it’s time to put on the new ones.
Before putting your skateboard together, make sure you have a bowl of water nearby. The kingpin is going to get pretty dusty when you’re taking out and putting in the bushings so it’s best to keep an eye on it as much as possible!
Now grab one end of your flat washer and push it into one side of the bushing. Then do the same with another flat washer and finally a nut (don’t forget to use pliers if necessary). Make sure these parts are facing inwards towards where the bearings sit on top of them. You should now have something similar looking like this:
Conclusion
And that’s it! You now know how to change your skateboard bushings. It’s a very simple process once you get the hang of it and can be done in a few minutes with just a few tools. So when does this need to happen? Well if there’s any slop in your trucks or wheels, then replacing them will make them feel better again. The same goes for if you want more response from your trucks (which might be necessary if they’re too loose). The last reason would be because they just plain look worn out after years of riding with these old ones.
