Are you wondering “how skateboard trucks are made?” If yes, you are reading the best article that will feed your curiosity. A deck’s riding experience may be greatly influenced by the quality of its skateboard trucks. By simply knowing how trucks are built, you can make better decisions in choosing the right trucks.
Table of Contents
How Is It Made?
When it comes to creating skateboard trucks, there are two primary methods: die casting and gravity casting. Both processes need two molds to form the desired truck shape; a base mold, and an upper mold.
It is necessary to stack the two molds on top of each other in order to fill them with an aluminum metal mix that makes the trucks sturdy, light, and durable.
Gravity Casting
Refers to the process of filling a mold with metal by using gravity to draw the mix into the mold. During this operation, the metal is gently poured into the mold, carefully filling each corner and preventing the formation of air bubbles along the way.
Despite the fact that this technique is time-consuming, the trucks produced are more sturdy than conventional die-cast trucks.
Die Casting
This refers to the process in which the metal mix is pushed into a mold under intense pressure. Using die-casting speeds up the production process and enables the metal to be pressed into tight spaces that would otherwise be impossible to access with other methods. It allows the creation of the desired form with repeatability and accuracy.
Skateboard Truck Parts
Now that we’ve introduced the process of making skateboard trucks, let us now dwell on “what are skateboard trucks made of?”
Trucks on skateboards are normally made up of a base plate, kingpin, hanger, kingpin nut, as well as the bushings and washers that hold it all in place.
Listed below are components skateboard truck manufacturers use when they make skate trucks that are high-quality and safe:
Kingpin
Known as the kingpin, this bolt is responsible for connecting the hanger to the base plate. It is customary for the kingpin nut to be installed on the upper end of the kingpin and to be replaceable. A hollow kingpin is a bolt that has been hollowed out in order to lower the weight of the trucks.
Baseplate
The base plate serves as the truck’s foundation, acting as its first layer. It’s attached to the skateboard with four bolts. The kingpin and pivot cup are both located on the base plate.
Bushings
The bushings are the components of the trucks that are in charge of their turning. Their material is polyurethane, and they are mounted on the kingpin between the base plate and the hanger to provide support. They are available in a variety of firmnesses and may be quickly changed with the use of a skating tool.
Hanger
The hanger, along with the base plate, is the most important component of your truck. The pivot is located at the bottom of the hanger and is held in place by the pivot cup on the bottom of the base plate.
The kingpin and bushings are used to link the hanger to the base plate. The hanger refers to the area of the trucks where you will be grinding.
Washer
Washers are metal discs that are put above and below the bushings in order to return the board to its original position once it has turned. They also make certain that the forces pressing on the board are dispersed equally over it.
Some bushings are made with a hard plastic coating that provides additional strength and eliminates the need for washers.
Speedrings
In the case of your bearings, speed rings are little washers that are the same size as the core of your bearings. Between the bearings and hangers, as well as between the bearings and axle nuts, are where they are located. They keep the bearings from rubbing against the other parts.
Axle
The axle extends through the hanger. It is a continuous bar composed of titanium or steel that is used in manufacturing. The visible sections of the axle are where your wheels and bearings are attached. If the thread on the axle is worn out, you may rethread it using a skate tool.
Axle Nuts
Axle nuts are the nuts that are attached to the axle and allow the wheels to be installed.
Materials to Make Skateboard Trucks
The majority of skateboard trucks are constructed of aluminum. Other elements on the skateboard materials list are brass, titanium, steel, and nylon. When looking to acquire a high-quality skateboard, however, aluminum trucks are the best material to choose.
Aluminum is a lightweight, sturdy, and long-lasting material and has good grinding properties. The riding experience will be improved significantly by using aluminum trucks. Steel, on the other hand, is heavier, stronger, and lasts longer, but it will cause your deck to become slow.
Conclusion
Whether you are a beginner or a pro, understanding how skateboard trucks are made and constructed is essential. It helps choose the best trucks for your skateboarding adventure without compromising your safety while riding.
Plus, it assists you in better understanding your preferred brands and manufacturers. The better the quality of skateboard trucks, the higher the level of fun in skateboarding.
Did you find this article helpful and informative? Please share the information you acquired with your friends and fellow skaters!
Hi, I am Charles Harris. I opened this site to write as much as I can about my biggest passion – skateboarding!
I started as a clumsy yet passionate rookie 10 years ago to now a still passionate yet much better skateboarder! But I have to tell you, the whole journey has always been fun and rewarding, indeed not without hardship.