Changing skateboard bearings

Why change or maintain my bearings ?

Skateboard bearings are essential for smooth, fast gliding.

As with bicycles, bearings reduce friction between the wheels and the axle, ensuring a smooth ride.

However, they can become worn or dirty over time, requiring regular maintenance or replacement.

Exposure to dirt, sand or water can damage bearings, prompting maintenance or replacement.

Hear a squeak ? Are your turns getting harder to negotiate ? It's certainly time to open your wheels and take care of the most important element on a board: your bearings !

This guide is designed to help you, whether you're an experienced skateboarder or a beginner, replace the bearings on your skateboard.

The different bearings on a skateboard

A bearing consists of an inner ring, an outer ring, two flanges and a cage surrounding the bearings.

Below are two bearings, one without a flange (1) and one with a flange (2).

It seems necessary to take a look at your options for replacing your old bearings. You need to choose between different bearings, materials and small accessories - we've got you covered !

→ The different bearings

Ball bearings are the most popular choice. Ideal for city gliding, they offer a balance between performance and durability that's perfect for street parks.

Find ball bearings here.

In some special cases, different bearings can be used, such as cylindrical, tapered or needle roller bearings on certain boards.

Bearings are available in 3 different sizes, with 7, 8 or 10mm bearings. Generally speaking, 8mm bearings are used on classic boards, with the larger size reserved for longboarders.

Skateboard bearings generally have 6 or 7 balls, the fewer the number, the stronger the bearing.

Rubber shields, sometimes removable, are present to ensure watertightness.

For optimum performance, we recommend using pre-lubricated bearings.

→ Different materials

The majority of bearings used for a skateboard are made of steel, a good compromise between performance and cost.

Ceramic and titanium bearings are available at a higher cost than the first solution, but offer better results with less wear.nevertheless, they offer better results, with reduced sensitivity to humidity, greater resistance and unrivalled lightness.

Find ceramic bearings here.

There's virtually no expansion or deformation with ceramic bearings.

→ Flanges, spacers and speed washers

In terms of materials, there are two types of flange : metal and nylon.

There are single flanges which limit heating but are not very tight, and double flanges which have the opposite characteristics : tight but likely to heat up more quickly.

Flanges allow in-depth cleaning of your bearings.

For more experienced users, we recommend using bearings with spacers for simpler alignment. This element not only ensures a smoother, more stable ride, but also prolongs the life of your bearings !

Find bearings with spacers here.

Both flanges and spacers have dimensions to be respected according to truck diameter.

Speed washers are thin metal washers slipped onto the axle between the nut and the bearing, reducing friction for faster wheel rotation.

Tools required

To successfully maintain your skateboard bearings, it's essential to be well equipped.
Here's a list of the tools you'll need for quality work :

• A skateboard tool or ratchet wrench
• A bobeto
• 8 bearings

Focus on changing bearings on a skateboard wheel

Changing all your bearings is not the only solution, as regular maintenance will extend their life.

For bearings with flanges, we recommend a complete change of the part, as they are lubricated for life and require no maintenance. If the flange comes off or is damaged, we recommend replacement.

Here's an exhaustive list of the steps you'll need to follow to change your bearings!
Here we focus on ball bearings.

• Remove the wheels

Start by placing your skateboard on a stable surface.

Use a socket wrench or skateboard wrench to loosen and remove the nuts that secure the wheels to the axle.

Find a skateboard wrench, or tool skate, here.

• Remove the wheel bearings

With the wheels removed, use the edge of the axle to pry out the bearings.

Gently rotate the bearings out of their housings.

For easier extraction, we recommend the use of a bobeto, which allows you to squeeze and extract a bearing.

Find a bobeto here.

• Reinsert the bearings into the wheels

Replace the bearings in the wheels, making sure they're aligned and pressed in evenly.

• Refit the wheels

Refit the wheels on your skateboard, tightening the nuts evenly. Make sure the wheels turn freely without excessive play.

Keep the rhythm

To keep your bearings in top shape, a check-up after ten or so outings is ideal.
But beware, if you're a fan of intensive sessions or jaunts over rough terrain, your little protégés will need a little more attention !

In our next article, we'll look at the steps to follow for optimum maintenance.

Bearings in very poor condition require more than an enema, and will need to be replaced for safety reasons, so simply follow the steps above.

With this guide, your bearings will always be ready for new adventures, and your skateboard will glide like a dream.

So, are you ready to roll ?