Longboard trucks are a crucial component of your setup, impacting your stability, turning, and overall riding experience. Knowing when to replace them is essential for safety and performance. This guide will help you determine when it’s time for new trucks or replacement parts, ensuring your longboarding sessions are smooth and enjoyable.
Many riders, from beginners to seasoned pros, often delay replacing their trucks, preferring the familiar feel of broken-in gear. While there’s a certain comfort in well-worn equipment, riding with damaged trucks poses significant risks. New trucks, while sometimes requiring an adjustment period, offer improved performance and safety. Like any component on your longboard, they won’t last forever and eventually need to be replaced.
Longboard trucks with different sizes
Identifying When Your Longboard Trucks Need Replacement
Here are some key indicators that it’s time to consider replacing your longboard trucks or their components:
Visible Damage and Wear
- Cracks or Warping: Inspect your baseplates and hangers for any visible cracks or warping. These damages compromise the structural integrity of the trucks, impacting your riding experience.
- Bent Axles: Check the axles for bending, as bent axles can affect wheel alignment, making it difficult to maintain a straight line.
- Damaged Bushings: Worn, dry, or cracked bushings can lead to unresponsive turning and an unstable ride.
- Worn Pivot Cups: A deteriorated pivot cup can cause your trucks to rattle and hinder turning smoothness.
- Kingpin Issues: A bent or damaged kingpin affects the trucks’ responsiveness and stability.
Performance Issues
- Wobbly Ride: If your longboard feels unstable or excessively wobbly even after adjusting the trucks, it might indicate internal damage or worn components.
- Difficulty Turning: Difficulty in initiating or controlling turns suggests that your trucks may be damaged, or bushings may be worn out.
- Unusual Noises: Strange noises, such as squeaking, creaking, or rattling from your trucks, might indicate a loose or damaged part.
- Wheel Bite: If you experience wheel bite, where the wheels come in contact with the deck, it may be a sign that your trucks are too low, have bent hangers or your bushings are worn, causing them to compress too much.
Exploded view of longboard trucks
Non-Branded or Low-Quality Trucks
- Generic Trucks: If your setup came with unbranded or generic trucks, they might not be made to withstand the rigors of regular use. These can be prone to breaking, so consider upgrading to a reputable brand.
- Inferior Completes: Low quality complete longboards sometimes include inferior trucks that are likely to break sooner than later.
Upgrading Your Ride Experience
- Trying Different Styles: Experimenting with different truck types, shapes, and sizes can improve your ride. Different trucks cater to different riding styles, with lower trucks often preferred for technical riding and higher trucks for carving.
- Performance Enhancement: Sometimes you just want to try new trucks from different manufacturers to see if they offer a better feel, or higher performance.
The Importance of Quality Trucks
Investing in quality longboard trucks from reputable manufacturers like Independent, Paris, Caliber, Gullwing, or Bear Trucks can significantly improve your performance and safety. These brands are known for their durability and responsiveness, so you won’t be disappointed.
While it might be tempting to go for cheaper, generic alternatives, they often fail to provide the necessary support and responsiveness, potentially compromising your safety and skating experience. It’s essential to choose trucks that are made with high quality materials and designed to handle regular use, jumps, drops, and various terrains.
When to Replace Parts Instead of the Entire Truck
Sometimes, you can extend the life of your trucks by replacing individual components. Common parts you can replace include:
- Bushings: Worn bushings can affect turning responsiveness, and upgrading them can provide a more refined feel.
- Pivot Cups: Damaged pivot cups can cause rattling and hinder turning; replacing them can restore smooth operation.
- Kingpins: Bent or damaged kingpins compromise truck stability; replacing them can restore the integrity of your setup.
- Washers and Nuts: While small, these components can wear out or get lost over time. Replacement is easy and inexpensive.
- Baseplates and Hangers: Although less frequent, replacing a baseplate or hanger can be an economical solution instead of buying a whole new set of trucks.
Conclusion
Knowing when to replace your longboard trucks or their components is crucial for a safe and enjoyable ride. Regularly inspect your trucks for any visible damage or performance issues. Don’t hesitate to replace damaged parts or upgrade to better quality trucks. Whether you’re cruising or tackling challenging terrains, proper truck maintenance is essential for optimal performance, stability, and safety.
Remember, investing in quality trucks and performing regular maintenance is always cheaper and better than dealing with injuries from broken equipment. Make sure to visit your local longboard shop for advice and recommendations, and always prioritize safety over cost savings.
By understanding when to replace your trucks, you’ll ensure your longboarding sessions remain safe, smooth, and fun.
