1. SKATEBOARD TRUCKS: ALL THE PARTS (ALMOST)
WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF A SKATEBOARD TRUCK?
Typically, skateboard trucks consist of a base plate, hanger (the movable and grindable part of the truck that is located between your wheels), the kingpin and kingpin nut which hold these two pieces together, as well as the top and bottom bushings with the top and bottom washers.
The protruding part on the hanger which your wheels are attached to is called the axle. The washers on the axle are called speed rings. They protect your bearings from rubbing against the hanger or the axle nut and also help keep the wheels and bearings to keep running smooth.
1 KING PIN NUT
The king pin nut, attaches to the king pin which holds the hangar and the baseplate together. It also keeps the washers and bushings in place so they don't slide off the king pin. The response of your skateboard can be adjusted with the king pin nut to tighten or loosen your trucks.
2A & 2B WASHER
Washers are metal discs that are placed above and below the bushings in order to bring the board back to the starting position after turning. They also ensure that the forces acting on the board are evenly distributed. Some bushings are equipped with a reinforced hard plastic layer and don’t require washers.
3/7 BUSHINGS
The bushings are the parts of the trucks that control the turning behavior. They are made of polyurethane and are placed on the kingpin between the base plate and hanger. They are available in varying degrees of firmness and can easily be replaced with the help of a skate tool.
4 AXLE NUTS
Axle nuts are the nuts on the end of each side of the axle that secure the wheels on to the truck.
5 SPEEDRINGS
Speed rings are small washers, the same circumference as the inner race of your bearings. They are situated between the bearings and hangers as well as between the bearings and axle nuts. They prevent the bearings from rubbing against the other components.
6 AXLE
The axle extends through the hanger, which is cast around it. It is a continuous bar made of titanium or steel. Your wheels and bearings are mounted on the visible parts of the axle. If the thread of the axel is worn out, you can use a skate tool with an axle rethreader.
8 KINGPIN
The kingpin is a bolt that connects the hanger to the base plate. Typically, the kingpin nut is placed onto the upper end of the kingpin and is interchangeable. A hollow kingpin is a hollowed-out bolt, which reduces the weight of the truck.
9 BASEPLATE
The base plate is the bottom layer, or foundation, of the truck. It would be mounted to the skateboard with 4 bolts. The kingpin and the pivot cup can be found in the base plate.
10 HANGER
Next to the base plate, the hanger is the main component of your trucks. The bottom part of the hanger is called the pivot and sits in a pivot cup of the base plate. On the other side, the hanger is connected to the base plate with the kingpin and bushings. The hanger is the area of the trucks on which you grind.
What makes up a skateboard bearing?
Skateboard bearings may be small, but they are incredibly complex. When you first purchase skateboard bearings, you will probably think of them as only one part of your skateboard. It isn't until you need to do maintenance on your bearings that you will have to split them open and learn about what's inside. Skateboard bearings are comprised of seven smaller parts:
- C-ring: a thin ring that fits into a groove on the outside of the bearing to lock the shields in place.
- Bearing Shield: a medium-sized ring on the side of the bearing that prevents dirt from getting into the ball bearings.
- Outer Race: the round metal exterior that all of the other parts fit into.
- Inner Race: the smaller metal ring that fits within the outer ring. When you slide your bearing/wheel setup onto the axles, the inner ring is what the axles fit through.
- Steel balls: set of 6 or 7 steel or ceramic balls that rest in the ball retainer. These are arguably the most important part of the bearing, as they allow the bearing casing to spin around them.
- Ball Retainer: also called a Delrin crown, the ball retainer holds the individual ball bearings in place, while still allowing the casing to spin around them.
- Rubber seal: The soft rubber ring on the outside of the bearing that assists in shielding the bearing interior against dirt and debris.
Skateboard bearings perform best when each different part is functioning properly. You will definitely need to clean your bearings on a regular basis, as dirt buildup can eventually stop your bearing, and thus the wheel won't be able to turn. If you skate street, you'll need to clean your bearings twice as often.
Skaters loyal to ceramic bearings not only love the precision performance they get, but also that they require so much less maintenance. Ceramics don't rust, and thus don't need to be replaced nearly as often as steel bearings.
Bearing options
Bearing spacers
Bearing spacers are small metal cylinders that fit into a skateboard wheel between the bearings. Their purpose is to reduce the weight distributed to each bearing, which can make your turns smoother and more stable and also extend the life of your bearings. Bearing spacers are totally optional; longboarders and casual skaters likely won't put enough pressure on their boards to ever need them, though they are definitely a good investment if you want to slide, do a lot of tricks, and generally skate hard. Bearing spacers are typically inexpensive, and can be made from steel, aluminum, or other types of metal.
Unlike bearings, bearing spacers are not one-size-fits-all. Bearing spacer size is measured by two things: axle diameter (not to be confused with axle width!) and overall spacer width. For example, 8mm x 10mm is a very common bearing spacer size. The first number (8mm) refers to the diameter of the axle, and the second number (10mm) refers to the overall width of the bearing. Most truck axles are 8mm in diameter, so determining axle size is pretty straightforward--you may even see the first number dropped from some bearing spacer measurements. Determining the overall spacer width you need is not an exact science, but generally large longboard wheels will take 10mm, and skateboard wheels will take 8mm. When you purchase new bearings, the set may come standard with bearing spacers, but they can also be purchased separately.
To install bearing spacers, begin by sliding in your first bearing. Then flip the wheel over and press the bearing spacer in. It should be held firmly in the wheel core; if the bearing spacer moves or rattles around at all, that's a sure sign that your spacers are too small. Once the spacer has been pressed into place in the center of the wheel, slide the other skateboard bearing into place.
Speed rings
Speed rings are thin, metal washers that are slipped over the axle between the nut and the bearing, and the hanger and the bearing. Though they go by many different names (speed washers, speed rings, bearing washers), all speed rings have the same purpose: to reduce friction in order to help the wheel turn faster. They serve as a buffer between the nut and the bearing, which allows your wheels to rotate quickly while also protecting the bearing face from damage.
Speed rings are an optional addition, though any rider planning to skateboard at high speeds will definitely want to invest in them. You can replace them as often as you see fit--it really depends on how much and how hard you skate. When they start to appear worn down, or if you see any rust or corrosion, simply remove your nut and slide on new speed washers. Speed washer size is based on axle diameter, and since the vast majority of truck axles are 8mm in diameter, that is most likely the size you will need. If you purchase complete trucks, many sets include a set of speed rings for each wheel, though you can also buy them separately.
HOW IT ALL COMES TOGETHER
