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Jun
09
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Skateboard trucks, to the novice, may look as if they’re a permanent feature on the board. In reality, they’re only one of the many parts of your skateboard that can be customized to your liking. The trucks control how the board cuts and how it balances when you’re standing on it. The bushings on the trucks are particularly important in this regard. No matter what type of trucks you happen to have on your board, the process for switching them out is generally the same, and is accomplished with an all-in-one type tool.
All of the hardware used to affix the wheels to the trucks and the skateboard trucks to the board can be manipulated, tightened and removed using what’s called a skate key. These tools usually have a ratchet, a wrench and a screwdriver attached to them. They are designed in a way that allows you to grasp the tool tightly in your fist, eliminating the risk of your hand slipping and becoming cut or battered against the hardware. These bolt and screw types on trucks are generally pretty consistent between one brand and the next. Some of them, however, will have hex screws, so make sure the skate key you choose has either a hex tool or a Phillips screwdriver, depending upon which is appropriate for your board.
The skateboard trucks are held on with four or eight bolts, in most cases. If you turn your skate key so that the appropriately-sized socket can be fitted over the bolt, you should also find that the shape of the key gives you a lot of leverage to loosen or tighten it. The bolt may be a bit difficult to turn at first. Remember to work it out of its position using gentle but increasing pressure, not by jerking on the wrench, which may strip the corners of the nut or bend the bolts. Once these have been removed, the truck should slide straight up and off of the bolts.
The new skateboard trucks are simply put in place and tightened down. There may be additional hardware that needs to be removed, depending upon what type of trucks you’re using. Remember to tighten everything back up firmly, but don’t get carried away. Over-tightening a bolt will strip the threads, which, in turn, may make them completely useless and make it impossible to remove the nut, in some cases.