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Adjust Your Trucks for Better Control
Tight trucks require more force to turn whereas loose trucks turn more easily. Given how essential truck tightness is to the control and feel of your skateboard, we have dedicated this entire guide to the subject. You will learn how to adjust the tightness of your skateboard trucks, and why you will want to do it.
How to Adjust Skateboard Trucks
- Locate the kingpin nut.
- Use a skate tool, an adjustable wrench, or a spanner.
- Tighten clockwise for stability.
- Loosen counterclockwise for easier turning.
Tip: You can tighten trucks without a skate tool using an adjustable wrench. A skate tool is handy to carry with you and it is an all-in-one solution that you should seriously consider as an add-on the next time you buy gear.
When to Tighten or Loosen Your Skateboard Trucks
Tighten your trucks if:
- You experience wheel bite during turns
- Your board starts to shake at high speeds
- You want more consistent pop
Loosen your trucks if:
- You need to lift the front wheels to turn
- You want sharper turns or freer movement
- Carving feels restricted
Wheel Bite
Wheel bite happens when your deck touches the wheels during turns. It can make the board disappear from underneath your feet in the blink of an eye. Bam!
→ By tightening the trucks, you can reduce the risk of wheel bite.
If you don’t want to restrict your agility by tightening your trucks, risers can also resolve the issue with wheel bite. But keep in mind that risers change the geometry of your setup. It leads to a steeper pop angle. The steeper the pop-angle, the more effort is required to pop properly; if you have short legs, you may find this even more problematic. You could also consider switching to smaller wheels.
When Things Get Shaky at High Paces: “Speed Wobbles”
At high speeds, you may experience speed wobbles. It can cause you to lose control of everything.
→ Tightening your trucks will help you to stay in control at high speeds.
Pop Consistency
Loose trucks take more skill to control.
→ If you’re struggling to get a consistent pop when doing tricks, try turning the kingpin nut a little clockwise to tighten them.
An old, worn skateboard deck will naturally feel less snappy, and tightening your trucks won’t bring back its pop. And if you’re more into rock than pop… wow!
Steering Without Lifting the Front Wheels
Many beginners haven’t yet mastered steering by leaning the deck in the direction they want to go. Instead, they tend to lift the front wheels to initiate a turn. This method is generally less smooth, less efficient, and harder to control, making it impractical in most situations.
Usually, younger skaters weigh less than more experienced and grown skateboarders, which makes it harder to apply enough pressure to the trucks for proper turning. As a result, they may rely on lifting the front wheels.
→ Turning the kingpin nuts counterclockwise for a looser feel can make lean-to-steer easier. This will allow sharper turns and freer movement without lifting the front wheels.
Skateboard Truck Tightness Is About Personal Preferences
There are many variables when it comes to adjusting skateboard trucks. Going tighter, you win control, but lose agility and vice versa. You may need to adjust your trucks back and forth a few times before you find the sweet spot.
→ If you have been tightening and loosening your trucks without finding the perfect setting, try settling on a setting that feels roughly right and focus on skating instead. Before you know it, you may have adapted to it!
Replace Your Bushings if You’re Pushing to Extremes
The sensitivity of your skateboard trucks is also influenced by the bushings. They come in different hardnesses and shapes - swapping the bushings with a different model can help you find the perfect balance between loose and tight.
- Harder bushings = tighter, stiffer trucks
- Softer bushings = looser, more responsive trucks
Bushing hardness is measured on the durometer scale, just like skateboard wheels – the harder the rubber, the higher the durometer rating.
→ If you’ve had to tighten the kingpin nut so much that the washer starts to bend into a concave shape and/or wears into the top bushing, switching to harder bushings can add the stability and responsiveness you need.
→ If you're looking for a softer, smoother feel and have already loosened the kingpin nut as much as possible, try using softer bushings.
