How to tighten skateboard trucks

Skateboarding is a popular and fun way to get around town and enjoy the outdoors. But have you ever wondered how to tighten skateboard trucks? This ultimate guide will teach you how to loosen and tighten your trucks step by step. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, this guide will help you get your skateboard in perfect condition for a smooth ride. Learn how to adjust the kingpin nut, the pivot cup, the bushings, and more. With this guide, you’ll be able to tweak your skateboard to your exact specifications for an optimal ride. So grab your skateboard and let’s get started!

What tools do you need to adjust your skateboard

Most skateboarding trucks consist of 4 parts:

Baseplate
Hanger
Axle Nut
Pivot Cup

To adjust these skateboard trucks, you’ll need a skate tool. A skate tool has various skateboard wrenches and a skate nut wrench. Skateboard wrenches are used for loose or tight trucks. The skateboard nut wrench is used to loosen and tighten the skateboard kingpin nut. You can also use a skate tool to tighten the kingpin nut and remove it entirely. And if you want to keep your skateboard as clean as possible, you can use a skateboard cleaning kit to clean off excess dirt and grime. And lastly, a skateboard gap tool is useful when adjusting the skateboard wheels.

Tightening the kingpin nut

The kingpin nut is used to tighten or loosen your skateboard trucks. To tighten your skateboard trucks, turn the nut clockwise. Turn the nut counterclockwise to loosen. There are a few ways to find out if your skateboard trucks are too loose or too tight. Here we shared some major criteria when your skateboard loose trucks:

You will feel loose from your skateboard and the wheels will spin uncontrollably.
The skateboard feels too loose and the wheels don’t touch your board
The skateboard feels too tight, the board might lean or rock back and forth.
The wheels don’t spin freely and you will feel too tight on riding.

Adjusting the pivot cup

The pivot cup is the round, flexible ring used to create the pivot point on your skateboard trucks. To adjust the pivot cup, loosen the nut and remove the nut entirely. Then, use a skate tool to turn the pivot cup until it is snug.

Finally, replace the nut and turn it clockwise to tighten. When adjusting the pivot cup, you want to make sure the wheel is centered in the middle of the board. If the wheel is too far back or forward, it won’t roll as well. One easy way to center the wheel is to move both wheels to one side of the board. Then, place your finger in the middle of the wheel and wheelie the board.

Choosing the right bushings

The bushings are the components that are housed inside the pivot cup. To choose the right bushings, first, remove the nut from the pivot cup. Then, use a skate tool to turn the bushings. When you’re turning the bushings, turn them about a quarter of a turn at a time. Turn the bushings until the wheels are snug against the bearings when turning the board. When you choose the bushings, you should consider the amount of grip the bushings provide, their durability, and how loud they are when you skate.

The amount of grip the bushings provide is controlled by the hardness of the urethane. The harder the urethane, the more grip they provide. The durability of the bushings depends on the amount of urethane. The more urethane they have, the more durable they are. How loud the bushings are when you skate depends on their hardness, urethane content, and the type of material they’re made with.

Setting the axle nut

The axle nut secures your skateboard wheels to the axles. To adjust the axle nut, use a skate tool and turn the axle nut clockwise. Turning the axle nut counterclockwise loosens it. When adjusting the axle nut, make sure the wheel is centered in the middle of the board. If the wheel is too far back or forward, it won’t roll as well. One easy way to center the wheel is to move both wheels to one side of the board. Then, place your finger in the middle of the wheel and wheelie the board.

Adjusting the nut height

The nut height is the distance between the underside of the nut and the deck. To adjust the nut height, remove the axle nut and use a skate tool to turn the nut upward. Turning the nut down lowers its height. Adjusting the nut height determines how far your wheels stick out from the board. If you want your wheels to stick out further, turn the nut upward. If you want your wheels to stick out less, turn the nut downward.

Setting the hanger angle

The hanger angle is the angle at which your trucks are set. To adjust the hanger angle, remove the axle nut and axle from the baseplate. Then, use a skate tool to adjust the hanger angle. The larger the angle, the more your skateboard will turn when you lean. The smaller the angle, the less your skateboard will turn when you lean.

Loosening the truck baseplate

To loosen the truck baseplate, remove the nut, remove the axle, and use a skate tool to turn the baseplate. Turning the baseplate clockwise loosens it; turning it counterclockwise tightens it. The truck baseplate is the part that connects the truck to the skateboard deck. If your truck baseplate is too tight, the skateboard deck will bow. If the truck baseplate is too loose, your skateboard will be more difficult to turn.

Testing your setup

Once you’ve tightened and loosened all the components on your skateboard trucks, it’s time to test your setup. Start by removing your skateboard wheels and turning them so the wheels are facing backward. Then, place your skateboard deck on the ground and push down on it. If your skateboard wheels are sticking out the way you want them to, your setup is good to go.

Before you put your wheels back on, make sure your trucks are facing the right way. The wider side of the skateboard trucks should be facing the outside of the board. This is important because it helps you turn more easily. Now you’re ready to ride! Remember to always wear protective gear when skateboarding.