If your skateboard trucks aren’t turning the way they used to, have become too loose, or you constantly get wheel bite while you’re skating, replacing your bushings will make a world of difference. Over time bushings can dry out and crack, be damaged from over-tightening, or even wear down from heavy impacts. Even if you have cracked bushings, you can still skate them without any major issues. However, the performance of your trucks will noticeably worsen, which is where adding a fresh set of bushings comes into play.

You can find a new set of bushings on Amazon or at your local skate shop, but I’ll be replacing my bushings with the Bones Hardcore Bushings in this article.

If you have yet to buy a set of bushings to replace your current ones, use the table below to help you choose the right hardness.

Bushing HardnessBest ForTruck FeelRecommended Skater Weight
Soft Bushings (80a – 90a)Lighter skatersLooseUp To 140lbs
Medium Bushings (90a – 96a)General skateboarding, street, and bowlMedium Tight140lbs – 190lbs
Hard Bushings (96a+)Heavier skaters, skating big featuresTight190lbs+

When Should You Replace Skateboard Bushings?

If you notice your trucks feeling less responsive, they won’t tighten as much as you want, or you are regularly getting wheel bite, it’s a sign you should replace your bushings. New skateboard bushings will improve the stability of your trucks, while also reducing the chance of getting wheel bite.

Once bushings are cracked, blown out, or extremely old and dry, your trucks won’t have a springy responsive feel to them. Instead, they’ll feel dull and sloppy when turning side to side. With a fresh set of bushings, your turning will feel more snappy and help you to feel more stable at high speeds.

With that said, there are no “risks” to skating blown bushings. You can continue to skate them without issues, but your trucks won’t feel as responsive. For some skaters, this isn’t a big deal and the few bucks to replace the bushings isn’t worth it. For me, I much prefer my trucks to feel tight and snappy, which is why I replace my bushings from time to time.

Although it will differ for everyone, you probably won’t need to replace your bushings for 12 months+ of regular skating, or even longer if you’re a beginner skater.

Conical Vs Barrel Bushings

Depending on the replacement bushings you buy, you may have two conical-shaped bushings, or one conical and one barrel bushing.

Barrel bushings offer more stability at high speeds, but less responsiveness when turning. Meanwhile, conical bushings are more responsive but less stable at high speeds. If you’re bombing hills constantly, this is definitely something you should keep in mind. If you’re skating ledges, rails, or are a casual bowl skater, you will be fine with either option.

How To Replace Skateboard Bushings

Before you get started, here’s what you’ll need to replace your skateboard bushings:

Step 1: Undo The Kingpin Nut With A 9/16″ Socket

Taking your skate tool or 9/16″ socket or wrench, undo the kingpin nut from the center of your truck. Continue to loosen it until it’s completely unthreaded, then place it somewhere that you won’t lose it.

Step 2: Remove The Top Bushing & Washer

Now simply grab the top bushing and washer and lift it off of the kingpin.

Step 3: Remove The Truck Hanger From The Kingpin

Next, grab the hanger of your truck and lift it off the kingpin. You may have to wiggle it slightly to take it off if you have a worn-in set of trucks.

Step 4: Remove The Bottom Bushing & Washer

Lastly, lift off the remaining washer and bushing from your trucks so your kingpin has nothing on it anymore.

Step 5: Replace The Pivot Cup (Optional)

Once everything is removed from your trucks, replacing the pivot cup can be a good idea to help your trucks rotate smoothly. If you’re using a bearing replacement kit such as the Independent Bushings Kit, there will be pivot cups included that you can use to replace. If you don’t have extra pivot cups, it’s not the end of the world and you can skip this step. The new bushings will make a far more noticeable difference than a new pivot cup.

Your pivot cup can be removed by placing a screwdriver into it and prying upwards. The new one can be added by pressing it into place with your fingers.

Step 6: Place Your Barrel Bushing & Washer Or Larger Conical Bushing

If you are replacing with new barrel bushings, first add the washer onto the kingpin, then place the bushing on top.

However, if you’re using conical bushings, place the larger of the two on the kingpin first, above the washer. With the Bones Hardcore Bushings, the washers are not needed, so I’ll place mine straight onto the kingpin.

Step 7: Place Your Hanger Back Onto The Kingpin

Now take the hanger of your truck and place it in the pivot cup and through the kingpin to sit on top of your first new bushing.

Step 8: Place The Remaining Bushing On The Kingpin With A Washer

The second bushing will either be the conical-shaped bushing (if you had barrel bushings), or the smaller conical bushing (if you’re using fully conical bushings). Either way, place this onto the kingpin and add the washer on top of the bushing.

Step 9: Tighten On The Kingpin Nut With A 9/16″ Socket

Taking the same kingpin nut that you loosened off earlier, tighten it back onto the truck to secure the bushings and the truck. Continue to tighten to your preference of stiffness when riding your board. In most cases, this will take some time to get the right truck tightness, so make sure to bring a skate tool with you during your next session to make adjustments.

Finger Tighten First
Tighten Down With Tool

Step 10: Repeat Steps On Your Second Truck

After the first truck is complete, follow the same steps as the first one to replace your other bushings. Loosening off the kingpin, removing the bushings, hanger, and washers, then replacing the bushings according to the type of bushings you’re using.

Before
After

How To Break In New Skateboard Bushings

To break in a new set of bushings, skate below your limits on flat ground, bowl, or mini ramps to put varied strain on your bushings. At first, your trucks may turn by themselves, but after a few sessions and some tightness adjustments, they will feel normal again.

With a new set of bushings, you may notice your trucks will become a lot squeakier than they used to. In that case, you can try rubbing skate wax onto the bushings before you replace them, as well as add skate wax shavings into the pivot cup. This is an easy DIY trick that won’t damage your bushings but lets them move and flex with less friction, therefore making them quieter.

Ultimately the first session or two on your new bushings might feel weird, but they will quickly break in just by skating as you normally would.

Should You Buy Soft Or Hard Bushings?

Now if you’re looking to replace your skateboard bushings, but still aren’t sure exactly which hardness of bushings you should buy, let’s make it easy.

Although there are bushing hardnesses, these ratings are going to feel different based on your weight. Just compare a kid to a fully grown adult skater, who do you think has more leverage when leaning side to side?

If you’re lighter, let’s say under 140 lbs, soft-rated bushings will actually feel reasonably stiff and feel more like a medium. It would be noticeably harder to turn if you were to get a medium or hard set of bushings, which probably isn’t ideal for you.

Now on the flip side, if you’re a heavier skater (190lbs+) and you prefer loose trucks, getting soft-rated bushings isn’t going to be a good idea since your body weight will overcome the bushings resistance. Instead, you should opt for a medium bushing hardness to get that softer, looser truck feel you’re going for.

If you’re ever unsure, popping into your local skate shop is a great way to get some more first-hand knowledge to find the right bushing hardness for you.

With that said, here are a few sets of bushings I would recommend based on skating style and weight:

Happy Shredding!

Brendan 🙂