As a longboard enthusiast with years of experience both riding and building boards, I’ve encountered my fair share of turning issues. A longboard that doesn’t turn well can be frustrating and even dangerous. The two most crucial elements influencing a longboard’s turning ability are the type of trucks and the hardness of the bushings. However, before you rush out to buy new gear, let’s explore some simple fixes that might resolve the issue without costing you a dime.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you diagnose and fix your longboard turning problems, starting with the easiest and least expensive solutions:
- Verify the correct truck orientation
- Adjust the kingpin tightness
- Consider replacing your bushings
- Explore different types of trucks
Paris V3 trucks on a longboard
Why is My Longboard Turning the Wrong Way?
This is an uncommon but confusing problem: your board turns left when you lean right, and vice-versa. The cause of this frustrating issue is simple – your trucks are installed backward. This is an easy fix; simply flip them around and ensure they are mirroring each other.
Correct Longboard Truck Orientation
When you look at the bottom of your longboard, the trucks should be mirror images of each other. If you’re using reverse kingpin trucks, which are the most common type for longboards, the kingpin should be positioned on the outside of the hanger, closer to the board’s tip and tail.
Standard kingpin trucks, typically found on skateboards, will have the kingpin on the opposite side of the hanger. Once the truck orientation is corrected, the board should turn in the intended direction. If the problem persists or your board is still not turning enough, let’s move to the next troubleshooting steps.
What To Do When Your Longboard Doesn’t Turn Enough
Several factors contribute to a longboard’s turning ability. The most important factors revolve around the trucks. Assuming your trucks are oriented correctly, proceed with the following solutions in order to get the desired turning feel.
It’s important to note that these solutions are most effective on actual longboards. These solutions may be less impactful on street decks or shorter cruisers. Also, very wide decks can impact the results. We’ll discuss those exceptions at the end.
1. Adjust the Kingpin Nut
The kingpin is the large bolt that secures the hanger to the baseplate. A kingpin that is too tight will make turning and carving difficult.
You can use a skate tool or adjustable wrench to loosen the kingpin nut. However, do this carefully, as a nut that is too loose can be dangerous.
Aim to loosen the nut enough so it applies slight pressure to the washer below, without being too loose. There shouldn’t be gaps between the bushing and hanger when pressure is applied, the bushing should compress slightly. Often, this simple adjustment is enough to improve your board’s turning. If not, let’s move to step 2.
2. Upgrade to Softer Bushings
If your longboard still isn’t carving to your liking, replacing the bushings with softer ones can make a significant difference. New bushings are one of the first upgrades many longboarders make, as they provide a more surfy feel and allow for deeper carves. Fortunately, bushings are generally affordable, costing around $5-$25. Bushings are located on the kingpin and sandwich the hanger.
Bushings are measured using the durometer scale, which is also used to measure wheel hardness. The durometer is indicated by a number followed by the letter ‘a’. The lower the number, the softer the bushing. The typical range for longboard bushings is from 78a to 98a.
Most longboards come with medium to medium-hard stock bushings. For more information about durometer, refer to the “Durometer A and B” section in the article “Hard VS Soft Wheels Explained”.
Softer bushings will enable deeper carves. First, check the stock bushings on your trucks for softness, shape and configuration (barrel/cone is the most common for a balance between stability and carving). Then, buy similar bushings but with a softer durometer, as the shape of the truck and hanger dictates what bushings will fit properly.
Even budget-friendly aftermarket bushings can perform well for casual riding, while more expensive bushings are worth considering for more intense riding styles.
3. Consider Different Trucks
If adjusting the kingpin and swapping bushings didn’t resolve the issue, it may be time to consider different trucks. While most longboards come with reverse kingpin trucks, some may have standard kingpin trucks. If you have standard kingpin trucks, you may want to switch to reverse kingpin trucks to achieve deeper carves.
If your longboard already has reverse kingpin trucks and you are still looking for more carving capabilities, you can explore unique truck designs. For instance, Original Skateboards S8 spring trucks use a spring instead of bushings, enabling significantly deeper carves.
Other less common but reputable truck options include Seismic (spring), Gullwing Sidewinders (double kingpin), and Revenge (torsion) trucks.
Before upgrading your trucks, assess whether your current board is suitable for such a change. In some cases, replacing the entire setup may be a more sensible approach. We’ll discuss those caveats in the next section.
Final Thoughts and Important Caveats
I hope this guide has provided helpful solutions. In most cases, these steps will solve issues of your board “not turning” or “not turning enough”. However, there are cases where increasing carving ability can be risky.
For instance, decks lacking wheel cutouts may experience wheelbite if carve-ability is increased too much. Solutions include adding risers, using trucks with longer hangers, or using smaller wheels. The board’s length can also affect its carving ability, so make sure that the board is the right length for you and for what you plan to do.
Increased carve-ability reduces stability, which can cause wobbles while riding straight. (Pro-tip: never ride straight downhill on a carving deck, always carve). Additionally, it makes it more difficult to perform slides.
Ruben Vee, the author of the article, smiling
Ruben Vee
I’m an experienced skateboarder who still enjoys riding. I started skateboarding 25 years ago and I am passionate about skateboard gear. I enjoy testing products and sharing my findings.
