Whether you’re looking to move your trucks onto a new deck, or replace an old set with a fresh one, taking the trucks off of a skateboard can be done in just a couple of minutes. Even if you don’t have a skate tool, there are several other options to use to help make removing your trucks a stress-free process.

With a skate tool or a 3/8″ socket and Phillips head screwdriver, place your skateboard on its side. Placing the 3/8″ socket over the nuts fastening your trucks, place the screwdriver in the head of the related bolt. Rotate the socket counter-clockwise to undo the bolts.

You’ll have to repeat these steps for all eight bolts on your skateboard to remove both trucks since there are four bolts fastening each one. To help you get a better idea of this process in a step-by-step format, let’s break it down and troubleshoot any issues you may run into.

How To Take Trucks Off Of A Skateboard (With Or Without A Skate Tool)

Before you get started, make sure to have all the correct tools in order. To do this, a skate tool is most effective since it already has a 3/8″ socket, along with a Phillips head or fallen key depending on the hardware you’re using. However, you can also use the following household tools as replacements:

  • 3/8″ wrench or socket
  • Phillips Head Screwdriver
  • 1/8″ Allen Key

Some hardware uses a Phillips head while others have an Allen key. Take a look at the bolts on the top of your skateboard to see which one you have so you get the right tool!

Step 1: Place Your Skateboard On Its Side

Since you need access to both the top and bottom of your deck, placing your board on its side makes life a lot easier to undo the bolts. Especially if they are a bit stuck and require some force to undo!

Step 2: Secure The Bolt And Nut

Placing your 3/8″ socket or wrench over the nut at the base of your trucks, place the screwdriver or Allen key (depending on your hardware) into the related bolt your socket is on. It’s important to hold the bolt from both sides like this so it doesn’t spin in your board, which makes it impossible to take the nut off.

Step 3: Rotate The Bolt Counter-Clockwise To Undo The Nut

Now rotate either the screwdriver or the socket to undo the nut. This comes down to personal preference but I prefer to rotate the screwdriver since there’s nothing in the way. Trying to rotate the socket can get frustrating if you continually bump into the hangar of your trucks.

If you have left your board out in the elements, haven’t changed your trucks in a while, or overtightened when you put them on, this may take quite a bit of force at first. In most cases, however, the nuts should come off relatively easily.

Step 4: Repeat For All Bolts On Your Trucks

After you remove your first bolt and nut, put them in a safe place so they don’t get lost. Now repeat these same steps of placing the socket over the nut and the screwdriver in the bolt to undo all the bolts of your trucks.

After all of the bolts are removed, grab the truck’s hangar and lift it off your board. If they have been on there for a long time, they might feel a bit stuck. By wiggling them side to side you can easily unstick them from the deck.

With your trucks removed, you can swap them out for a new set of trucks, or keep the party going and move the trucks onto a fresh deck! To learn how to mount your trucks onto a skateboard, check out this guide.

Should You Replace Your Hardware After Removing Your Trucks?

The hardware is the nuts and bolts that hold your trucks in place. Over time they can certainly take a beating, but in most cases, they will last you through multiple setups over a number of years.

With that said, while taking off your trucks, you make notice some of the bolts are difficult to unthread or have a stripped head that makes it difficult to keep from spinning. Damaged threads are the most common problem you’ll find with your hardware since repeated impact to the exposed ends of the bolts can make the nuts difficult to take off. Likewise, if you aren’t careful, repeated tightening and undoing of the bolt can damage the head if you aren’t using the correct size of tools.

In either case, it would be a good idea to replace your hardware if you had any troubles removing your trucks. Ideally, the nuts should thread smoothly off of the bolts. If you had no issues removing the hardware, then it’s safe to say they’re good to use on your next setup!

Once you get the hang of these steps, removing your trucks and putting them onto a new board will only take a couple of minutes. Although a skate tool certainly makes life easier, you can get away with household tools as I mentioned above. Household tools are a great option if you just want to get to work rather than going to the store to grab a skate tool. Now that your trucks are removed, let’s learn how to mount your trucks on a new skateboard!

Happy Shredding!

Brendan 🙂