How to Replace Skateboard Bearings

Co-authored by Jon Depoian

Last Updated: July 18, 2023

Sometimes, skateboard bearings need more than cleaning. Bearings can get rusted or pitted beyond repair, and when that happens there’s no real solution beyond replacing them. Luckily, replacing your bearings is one of the easier (and more satisfying) skateboard projects. In this article, we’ll break down everything you’ll need to do in order to install some fresh bearings so you can get back on the board.

1

Purchase replacement bearings.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/78\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/78\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-1.jpg\/aid621260-v4-728px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Your local skateboard shop should be able to help if you don’t know what kind of bearings you’d need.

2

Take the wheels off.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-2.jpg\/aid621260-v4-728px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Put the two washers and nut from the wheel in a bag or other small container so you do not lose them. ^{[1]
X
Research source}

3

Put the first bearing on the axle.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a3\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a3\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-3.jpg\/aid621260-v4-728px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

^{[2]
X
Research source}

4

Pry the bearing off.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-4.jpg\/aid621260-v4-728px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

If you're going to throw the bearings away anyway, you don't need to be too delicate with them, but try not to damage the wheel in the process. ^{[3]
X
Research source}

5

Repeat this process on the other wheels.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2d\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-5.jpg\/aid621260-v4-728px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

6

Slide the bearings into place.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/62\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/62\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-7.jpg\/aid621260-v4-728px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Go for whatever makes this easier for you when it comes to attaching the bearings. ^{[4]
X
Research source}

7

Put the wheel on the truck.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9d\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9d\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-8.jpg\/aid621260-v4-728px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Put the wheel onto the truck of the skateboard and press down on the wheel to press the bearing into place.

8

Install the spacer.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8e\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8e\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-9.jpg\/aid621260-v4-728px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

^{[5]
X
Research source}

9

Slide the bearing on.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-10.jpg\/aid621260-v4-728px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

10

Repeat this process for the other wheels.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-11.jpg\/aid621260-v4-728px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

11

Swap out the washers and nuts.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-12.jpg\/aid621260-v4-728px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

The wheels should rotate without the bearing jiggling or providing friction.

12

Go skateboarding.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-13.jpg\/aid621260-v4-728px-Replace-Skateboard-Bearings-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":484,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

With your bearings replaced, your wheels should feel brand new now.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

What tool do I use to pry the bearings out?

Community Answer

Put the wheel on the truck axle, and pull the wheel at an angle until the bearing comes out.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 7
Question

Do I need to have a spacer in-between the bearings?

Community Answer

Some wheels have a molded integrated spacer, some require a separate piece.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Work slowly to avoid damaging the parts of your skateboard that you're not replacing.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Clean your bearing using bones cleaning solution or other solvents (avoid water based) to avoid rusted bearings.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Lubricate your bearing every so often with bones speed cream or other alternatives to prevent damage from friction.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Show More Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Things You'll Need

Bearings
Ratchet/skate tool

You Might Also Like

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Log in

How to Replace Skateboard Bearings

Steps

Purchase replacement bearings.

Take the wheels off.

Put the first bearing on the axle.

Pry the bearing off.

Repeat this process on the other wheels.

Slide the bearings into place.

Put the wheel on the truck.

Install the spacer.

Slide the bearing on.

Repeat this process for the other wheels.

Swap out the washers and nuts.

Go skateboarding.

Community Q&A

Tips

Things You'll Need

You Might Also Like

Expert Interview

References

About This Article

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories