Skateboard hardware is the most crucial part of a skateboard. At times, you come across a great skateboard but that will need to be assembled. Putting together all the hardware is not a very difficult task and can be done easily by following a series of steps.
One such skateboard hardware essential is the skateboard truck. Even if they come pre-installed on your skateboard, you still need to learn to put them together. This is because your original skateboard trucks will not always remain the same. After a certain time, they will break apart and you will have to switch to new ones.
Moreover, skateboard trucks should be cleaned and maintained for improving their lifespan. Proper cleaning is possible by removing the trucks, cleaning them, and putting them back in. Here again, you will need to know how trucks go on a skateboard.
Purpose Of Skateboard Trucks
You cannot ride a skateboard without wheels. Have you ever wondered what keeps skateboard wheels attached to the deck? Well, it’s a T-shaped piece called trucks. They act as a bond between the skateboard deck and its wheels keeping them in place. Therefore, it is entirely impossible to ride your skateboard without trucks.
Steps To Put Trucks On A Skateboard
If you are wondering how to install skateboard trucks, well, it is not a hard task. You can make it easy by keeping all the tools close to you when doing so. Also, try having a wide working area with all the tools at a hand’s length to make sure you can complete the task in no time.
Step 1: Set The Deck
When removing or installing skateboard trucks, make sure the deck is put on a flat surface. This will make screwing the nuts and bolts easy. When doing so, clean the holes for nuts and bolts too. After this, start unscrewing the nuts on the trucks.
Step 2: Truck Parts
Before putting the trucks on the skateboard, you first need to assemble its parts. These include axle, hanger, kingpin, and baseplate. After putting the baseplate on the deck, the hanger is installed with nuts and bolts in a way to leave a spot for the kingpins. The kingpins are put together by using another set of bolts and are then tightened.
Step 3: Assembling The Trucks
The baseplate has spots for putting in trucks. There, you will assemble your skateboard trucks and tighten the bolts. However, do not tighten the trucks to a large extent and keep them a bit loose. Make sure the kingpins face each other and the part of the skateboard truck that is into the kingpin, they face inward.
Step 4: Wheel Attachment
Only after you attach the wheels, will you know whether your trucks are put right or not. Therefore, take your skateboard wheels and attach them to the deck. If they fit right in, this means that you did the truck attachment job right.
After you are done assembling your skateboard trucks, and all other parts, make sure to have a test drive before going on a full-fledged skating spree. This will let you know if any part needs to be tightened or loosened.
Loose Vs Tight Skateboard Trucks
Whether you are a beginner or a professional skateboarder, keeping the perfect tightness of your skateboard trucks is essential to enjoying a good riding experience. Too loose trucks will make your skateboard wobbly, as a result, there is a higher chance of losing balance. On the contrary, very tight skateboard wheels will prevent smooth turning of the skateboard and there is a chance of the skateboard coming to a completely sudden halt at an acute turn.
Check Out Our Detail article: A Comparison Guide Between Loose Vs Tight Trucks.
Therefore, make sure you keep tightness to a medium. However, many professional skateboarders like loose trucks as they provide the freedom of performing twists and turns without the fear of skateboarding coming to a sudden halt.
In case you are a beginner, it is good to have tight skateboard trucks until you get a full grip on the balancing. Once you have aced your skateboard’s stability, you can even ride easily with loose trucks.
Maintaining And Cleaning Skateboard Truck
To make your skateboard trucks last longer, it is vital to clean them from time to time. With proper cleaning and maintenance, you can make your skateboard trucks last for more than a year. There is no rocket science in cleaning the trucks. All you need to do is remove them from the skateboard and wash them with water and maybe dish soap. Once they are clean off all the dust, just put them back. Moreover, it is good to oil them from time to time to keep good lubrication.
Final Verdict
A skateboard cannot be ridden without trucks, so they are essential. Moreover, you will have to replace and clean your skateboard trucks from time to time. For this, you should learn about their installation. Once you have all the tools, these are quite easy to assemble and do not take much time.
When you know how to install your skateboard trucks, you can even buy an unassembled skateboard or change trucks anytime and replace them with those in fashion.
FAQ’s
- What is the function of skateboard trucks?
Skateboard trucks help in turning the skateboard. Their looseness or tightness determines the wobbliness of a skateboard. Moreover, they act as a barrier between the wheels and the deck. In their absence, the wheels cannot be attached and hence one cannot skate.
- How do I know that my skateboard trucks are facing the right direction?
To know which way trucks go on a skateboard, you need to check the position of the kingpins. Kingpins are part of a skateboard truck that contains the site for fitting in the trucks. To make sure that your skateboards are in the right place, the kingpins should face each other. Moreover, the side of the skateboard truck that contains the kingpin should also face inward.
- Can I put skateboard trucks on the skateboard without a skate tool?
A skateboard tool makes putting the trucks easier. However, if you lack one, you can still assemble your skateboard trucks by using several other tools. Here, you will require wrenches, a screwdriver, and an Allen key.
