Is it time to freshen up your skateboard? Having a new wheel set can help improve your ride, making it feel brand new.
And depending on how hard you skate, this is a process you may need to undertake every few months or so. Fortunately, it’s easy enough to change them out yourself.
In this post, we’ll take a look at the full process of changing your skateboard wheels at home.
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How to Change Skateboard Wheels
Set up a clean, spacious workstation, complete with a small dish or tray to keep the smaller board components. Remove your old wheels with a skateboard tool or socket wrench, and pry out the bearings with the truck axel’s tip. Next, align and place your bearings into your new wheels. Lastly, fix your new wheels to your trucks securely.
Getting your Workspace Ready
Taking your board apart to replace your wheels means a lot of different, small, loose parts. For this reason, it’s good to prepare your workspace in advance of changing your wheels.
First, identify a clean, spacious area. Keeping a small tray or dish at hand is ideal, as you can pop your bearings and nuts into it, as well as any spare bits like spacers and washers, and reduce your chances of losing them.
You’ll need a skateboard tool or a socket wrench, so have that ready too.
How to Change your Skateboard Wheels
Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh wheels in the morning? Once your workspace is prepped, you’re ready to replace your wheels.
Start by loosening the wheel nuts with your wrench and gently removing each wheel.
The trickiest part of this process is dislodging your wheel bearings. The easiest way to do so is to use the tip of your truck axel.
At a 45-degree angle, edge out each bearing by gently prying it from the wheel with your truck.
Once removed, you can set your old wheels aside. In your tray, you should have eight bearings, four wheel nuts, and any spacers or washers that your set-up may or may not include.
Next, you’re ready to set up your new wheels. But first, insert your bearings.
You can make this easy for yourself by resting each set of bearings on your truck axel, with both facing shield-side down. Obviously, do this one set at a time.
Simply slide your wheel down onto the first bearing, pressing down until it is fully and evenly seated. Turn the wheel over and repeat this process with the second bearing.
Complete this process for all four wheels.
Finally, the time has come to mount your wheels. Make sure the correct side is facing outwards and replace the nuts. Tighten them first with your fingers and then with your wrench.
Your wheel nuts should be tight, and there shouldn’t be much room between the nut and the truck but bear in mind that overtightening your wheels can damage your bearings.
Once all your wheels are replaced, your board should feel as good as new.
How to Know When you Need to Change your Wheels
While skateboard wheels are pretty durable and can last a long time, how often you need to change them depends on how hard you work them.
If you’re a technical rider than does plenty of tricks, grinds, and jumps, you may need to replace your wheels relatively often.
Indicators that your wheels are worn are flat spots, coning, and a decrease in size. The more pressure you place on your wheels, the more likely they are to deteriorate quickly.
So, if you notice that your board is sluggish or less-than-smooth, it may be time for a new set.
With that being said, new wheels are not always a consequence of wrecked wheels, and sometimes we opt to change them purely for the sake of an upgrade.
Either way, the process for changing skateboard wheels is standard, so let’s take a look at how to do so quickly but carefully.
Maintaining your Skateboard Wheels
While wear and tear on your wheels are inevitable with a sport like skateboarding, there are some steps you can take to get the most out of your wheels.
Firstly, clean them regularly, as well as your bearings. This will help to keep them riding smoothly and prevent a build-up of damage and flat spots over time.
Secondly, rotate them from time to time, as you would with the wheels of a car so that they wear down more evenly.
Frequently Asked Questions about How to Change Skateboard Wheels
Do you need spacers on skateboard wheels?
Spacers are an optional extra. If you’re just a hobby skater or even a longboarder, you’re unlikely to need them. However, if you’re quite hard on your boards and do tons of tricks and twists, they may be beneficial. May wheel kits come with spacers built in.
Do you get different size skateboard wheels?
Skateboard wheels come in varying sizes. Most wheels are between 50 to 75 millimeters wide. Smaller wheels are great for tricks, whereas bigger wheels are lovely for cruising.
What are the smoothest bearings?
It is widely believed that bearings with ceramic balls make for the smoothest and fastest ride. Hence, there are varying stainless-steel bearing options that are also excellent for speed.
Conclusion
Skating is a sport like no other, but where it does draw commonalities is in the need to maintain your gear.
A well-maintained skateboard will last longer and give you a more pleasant riding experience overall. And best of all, it’s very easy to look after your skateboard and replace its parts by yourself.