| By :
Mark Etinger
If you like to cruise around, and you’ve had the same bearings for a while, it might be time for a switch. You might have accidentally gotten your bearings wet, which can make them rusty and gradually slow down your ride. When your skateboard is out of shape, you’re out of shape. New bearings aren’t very expensive, and they can make your ride feel brand new. 1.You’ll need a screwdriver and wrench or a skate key. First, you need to remove the wheels by unscrewing them with a wrench. This can take a few minutes. If you have spacers, keep them along with all of the hardwear, for reinstallation once you’ve replaced the bearings. 2.To remove the bearing, you will need to pry it out of the wheel. You can use your screwdriver or the wheel’s axle, but be careful not to damage your wheel when doing so, you only want the nub of your tool on the bearing itself. 3.Repeat by 8, 2 for each wheel. 4.Take the new bearings and set them into the wheel. You’ll need some good pressure to get them to sit comfortably flush. It doesn’t matter which way the bearings are facing. 5.If you are using a spacer, insert it in between the two bearings on each wheel. This keeps the distance between the bearings equal, which can give you a smoother ride. 6.Repeat this by 8. 7.Attach the wheels to the board by tightening the nut until it stops moving. You don’t want to force it after that because it may damage your bearings. 8.Then, loosen the wheel, about a half turn, to give them the ability to move a little. The above tips work for changing wheels too. You shouldn’t have to worry about changing your bearings unless you skate in rain or it’s been least a year since you last changed them, and you start to feel like the ride isn’t as smooth. Spraying your wheels with WD-40 is a great way to get some extra speed. If it doesn’t help, or within a few days you’re back to the same, it’s likely that the bearings need a switching. There are many levels of quality when it comes to bearings. Higher quality bearings roll faster and last longer, but can be very expensive. Unless you take your bearings really seriously and you’re looking for luxury, $30 is a good amount to spend. Bones Red bearings are the standard for most new skateboarders. At around $12 a pop, they’re a great buy. If you’ve never gotten your bearings wet, but your ride still feels sub-par, it might be worth it to clean your bearings instead. Clean them with a liquid called Tri Flow, which can be found at any hardware store. You still have to remove each bearing, but when you put them back on, they should be clean. You can keep the bearings in the wheels for a less thorough cleaning. In each instance, wipe them down to remove excess Tri Flow.
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