Sometimes, people quickly resort to a new skateboarding kit once they encounter issues with their current skateboards. But that is unlikely for a professional skateboarder. Loving skateboards entails dealing with maintenance and improvements, like knowing how to take trucks off a skateboard.
Take note of the steps below if you plan to change trucks, or simply remove them from your skateboard deck.
- Prepare all the tools you need.
- Position your skateboard with one side of the wheels on the ground.
- Use your socket to hold the bolts from the bottom.
- Position your screwdrivers on the screws then rotae them.
Table of Contents
What You Will Need
Removing skateboard trucks can be delicate as it could cause unexpected damages once done without appropriate tools. Be sure to have the following items below to be sure you’re doing it right.
1. A cross-head screwdriver
The screwdriver plays the most significant role in taking off skateboard trucks. You need not get a new screwdriver as long as you have one that matches the size of your skateboard bolts.
But if you plan to buy one, make sure it properly fits on the screws. A screwdriver with a too wide or small tip may or may not drive a screw out. It may also require you to force the screwdriver to the deck, which can cause damage to it.
A screwdriver with a quality rubber grip can also help a lot when removing the screws.
2. A socket or spanner
Your skateboard trucks do not mount with a screw alone. They need some support from the bottom of the deck in the form of nuts.
Thus, when removing the screws, be sure to have a socket or spanner to hold the nuts still or counter-rotate to assist the screwdriver. The nuts are like female adapter extensions of the deck. So, you will also have to keep it static once you begin loosening the screw.
A pro tip: you can also avail of a ball ratchet with the same size as your socket for convenience. This tool will hold the socket without keeping your hands close to the trucks. You can also use it to loosen the nuts on the skateboard deck.
3. Your skateboard
Knowing how to remove trucks does not necessarily mean you have to try it with all your skateboards. If you have more than one skateboard, you will be able to assess which one needs replacement or adjustments.
However, for a new skateboard coming out of the box assembled, you will have to remove the trucks from it since most skateboard decks arrive sealed with the trucks outside the wrap. You would not want to easily pull the seal off, leaving some debris between the spacing block and the deck.
4. A clean and smooth working space
Since you will have to put your skateboard on the ground or some flat surface, you need to secure a neat working station. To accomplish it, look for a wide table or at least a clean floor. Ensure that your working surface will not cause scratches to your deck once you begin removing the trucks.
A pro tip: if you have a soft but non-slip cloth with you, place it where you’ll position your skateboard. This step will further help prevent scratches or dents to your deck and reduce the chances of the deck slipping to either side.
Steps on Taking Trucks Off a Skateboard
Taking your skateboard’s trucks off should not be too hard for you. But to avoid mistakes some skateboard users commit, refer to the step-by-step procedures below.
Step 1. Prepare all the tools you need
Before grabbing your tools, decide which set you would like to use first. You can use a T-tool alone or a spanner-and-screwdriver combination.
Always consider your convenience and ease of operation when selecting which set of tools to use. Place them within your hand’s reach since you might have to use both of your hands working with two different instruments simultaneously.
Step 2. Positioning your skateboard
If you have a spare cloth for your working space, place it before positioning your skateboard. Your skateboard positioning will depend on which hand holds a tool better.
If you plan to do the nut rotation using your right hand with a socket, your stepping surface should be facing your left. That means your screwdriver will be on your left, supporting the movement on the nuts.
Step 3. Hold the nuts well
Suppose you are loosening the bolts from the deck surface. You will need to keep the other side steady. With the help of a spanner or socket, hold the nuts of the screw you want to remove.
Be sure that the sizes of the nuts and your spanner or socket match well. This aspect will ensure that only your screwdriver will create rotating motions assisted by the spanner or socket.
Step 4. Aim for the screws
Using your cross-head screwdriver, aim for the screw you want to remove first. Some skateboarders find this step insignificant for using different sizes of screwdrivers.
But to avoid the deck losing its female thread, it’s best to have a screwdriver that matches the size of your skateboard bolts. A correct screwdriver size also ensures a damage-free process on your skateboards every time.
Step 5. Rotate the screws
If you are using a spanner and screwdriver, begin to loosen the screws from the stepping surface of the deck. Then hold the nuts below using a spanner.
You can also perform counter-rotation on the nuts with the help of your spanner. This step will hasten your truck removal. The process also applies if you are using a socket when loosening skateboard trucks.
Step 6. Clean the deck
Upon loosening all the bolts, gently pull the skateboard trucks off. Group them in a single location to help you find them when needed. Also, most skateboards come with a spacing block placed between the skateboard truck and the bottom of the deck. So be sure to remove them as well.
Pro tips
- The process slightly changes if you are using a ball ratchet and a socket to loosen the screws. The hand you want to use to relax the screws should be the hand holding the ratchet. Also, take note that you will begin loosening the screws from the bottom of the deck when using a ratchet. But the screwdriver should still be present on the deck’s stepping surface.
- Prepare a cup or a container for all your bolts and nuts. This tip will help you keep your small parts intact and your working space clean.
- Whether setting aside your trucks or putting them back on your deck, be sure to clean them. This step will help preserve the life of your trucks.
- Get a T-tool should you prefer an all-in-one tool for skateboard maintenance. On top of that, always consider whichever is most convenient and easy to use for you.
If you have understood the steps above, but are still looking for a suitable skateboard, you can learn more about the top-rated carver skateboard and the most popular surf skateboard.
Conclusion
Did you enjoy this article? Skateboarding is not only about owning a new one or buying new parts whenever you like. It’s also about performing maintenance to extend your board’s lifespan. One of the procedures that will help your skateboarding journey, in the long run, is knowing how to take trucks off a skateboard.
Always practice the tips I have shared with you as you make improvements, repairs, and adjustments on your skateboard. Keep being creative and knowledgeable on maintaining skateboards. Did you like this article? Tell us what you think in the comments.
I am Michael, and I have been enjoying this fun sport for seven years. And nothing is better than having a community to share our passion for those thrilling tricks. I am ready to tell you all I know about skateboarding, showing you how to choose a good board and trick to start and how the practice goes. Stay tuned!