Sound is the first indication of how well your equipment is working. In the case of a skateboard, it’s the squeaky sound that you may notice more often. Stuck in the situation? We have got your back. Usually, skateboarders are familiar with this sound. It’s just a little trouble with some of its parts. Let’s discover them together.
Skateboards have several components that help in their movement. Generally, when some of the moving parts get rusty or are torn apart, they produce sound. That high-pitched sound is annoying but not dangerous. You may only need to replace that part and not the skateboard as a whole. So when you ask why does my skateboard squeak, one answer to that can be your negligence. Let me tell you how.
Why Does My Skateboard Squeak?
Your skateboard may be squeaking because of those corroded bearings or torn-off bushings. It can also be due to loose nuts on the trucks or broken wheels. The moving parts need attention and require scheduled service. You may be ignoring those parts to the point that they start making noise and it becomes obvious to you that there’s something wrong with it.
Let us configure all the possible reasons behind that clunky sound of your skateboard one by one.
Bearings
Hidden inside the wheels, bearings are the substantial part of the skateboard that allows free rotation. Following events can be the possible reason behind bearings making such noise.
- With time the dust particles settle in the spacing of bearings and cause the sound.
- Due to the over-usage of skateboards, the chances of bearings getting cracked increase.
- Overweight people also need to check their bearings randomly to avoid any hustle.
Bushings
Bushings are the soft rubber material inserted between the pivot cup and the trucks allowing the smooth turning of the board. Bushings are the prime reason behind the squeaky noise coming from the board. There are some reasons given below:
- Extra tight nuts of trucks can cause the bushings to press beyond their limit which is unsafe for the bushings.
- Long-term usage with a lot of weight also reduces the bushing’s life.
Wheels
Wheels get cracked and cause terrible sounds. You may need to check the wheels are safe and sound every two-three rides. Wheels tear apart for the following reasons.
- Skateboarding on a rough surface for too long can damage the wheels
- Intense usage of skateboards for doing tricks can also cause wheels to tear apart and produce squeaky sounds.
Riser pads
Riser pads are used for the adjustment of the height of the deck. No doubt riser pads are a great addition, but most of the time they are the reason behind that clunky sound. So the following can be the possible reason behind that sound.
- Loosen nuts of riser pads can cause a clunky sound from the skateboard.
- Damaged riser pads due to bad weather conditions also produce noise.
Pivot cups
Pivot cups also get damaged over time. Therefore, serious attention should be paid to them. Most riders ignore this reason, but seeking its health continuously can help you a lot against squeaks.
- Again, overweight riding can be the reason for torn-apart pivot cups.o
- Rough usage/ bad weather can also rust the pivot cup and product cracks.
Given above are all the possible reasons behind that troublesome sound of your skateboard. You are now familiar with the problem. The next part is how to fix squeaky trucks on a skateboard. let’s get started with the solution.
How to Fix Squeaky Trucks on a Skateboard
Fixing the squeaky trucks is not a big deal. You just need to know where the sound is coming from and you are good to go. The following points will help you to go through the process of getting rid of squeaky trucks. This guide will lead you to the perfectly working skateboard.
The first part of this process is to check where is that sound coming from. The above-mentioned reasons are all you need to pay attention to. The truck mainly consists of a hanger, wheels, bearing, riser pads, and the pivot cup.
Any damaged part can produce that irritating sound. A close examination of those parts of the truck can solve your problem.
Loose Nuts
- Start with the loosened nuts. Make sure that the trucks are properly attached to the deck. loose trucks also produce sound.
- Take a screwdriver and a wrench, and tighten every single nut or screw, especially the four on the corners. Be aware of over-tightening the nuts, you may get in further trouble.
- Ride the skateboard and observe if you hear the noise.
- If the noise is still there, replace the nuts. Maybe the rusty nuts are causing looseness. Check again. If still there’s noise coming from your skateboard, move to the next step.
Torn Apart Bearings
- Move the wheels around and check whether the sound is coming from them or not. If the noise is from those nuts, there’s some problem with the bearings.
- Take the bearings out, and rotate them. If you feel resistance in the free movement of bearings, they may be corroded or rusted.
- Lubrication is the quickest way to get rid of noisy bearings. use olive oil or machine oil and place it in the lining of the bearings.
- Place the bearings inside the wheels and rotate them. If you don’t hear the noise, give it another check. Install the wheels on the skateboard and give it a test ride. The weight sometimes presses the bearings and produces sound.
- In this case, you may need to replace the bearings because the bearings are torn apart somewhere inside.
Flattened Wheels
- Check the wheels for cracks. Sometimes due to overuse, the wheels get flattened, and you need to check their proper working.
- Put oil inside the wheels and check for its proper working. If it solves the problem, then you are good to go.
- If you find an observable crack in the wheels, it’s time to change them. Get a good pair of wheels, the earlier have severed their part of life.
Worn Out Bushings
- Our next concern should be the bushings. Bushings cause the squeaky sound most of the time. Check if they are extraordinarily pressed. Examine closely to find a crack in them.
- Lose the kingpin and let the bushings breathe. Don’t be serious. I mean take the bushing out and let them get back into their original position.
- See if there’s a crack or not. If not, then wax them and lubricate them. Place them back into their position and check for squeaky sounds.
- You don’t hear the sound anymore? Congrats! Your problem is solved.
- Still, there’s a sound after some time. It’s time to replace them. Bring new bushings and place them in both trucks.
- By this time, your skateboard must be sound-free. The bushings are mainly the reason behind that squeaky sound. Therefore a scheduled checkup is necessary.
Bad Riser Pads
- Lastly, you need to check the riser pads. For that, you may need to unscrew the trucks and find the relative error.
- Riser pads sometimes get under pressure and lose their strength. Therefore, you may need to repair them more often.
- Once the riser pad is destroyed, there’s no alternative but to change it. Get new pair of appropriate riser pads and install them between the trucks and deck.
- Screw the nuts carefully, and give it a test ride. The trucks should be working well without producing sound.
- If the problem still exists, move forward with the next step.
Loose Washers
- The washers used between the kingpin and the bushings also cause that squeaky sound. The oversized washers overlap the bushings and cause them to tear apart. There are a couple of solutions to this problem.
- I would suggest you replace the washers right away. It is not much expensive so you should get the right sized washers before it damages other parts as well.
- While waiting for the right washers to come, you can do some relevant jobs. Such as glue and sticking the washers around the nuts.
- You can also use a thread to tighten up the washers closely on the nuts. Most of the time it solves the problem. Otherwise, you can replace them with others.
These are some relevant ways to get rid of that embarrassing sound. Mostly it’s the bushing that is causing the noise. Other times, it can be the wheels, bearings, or nuts. To enjoy skateboarding to its fullest, you have to take care of that skateboard just like you take care of yourself. Everything that you ride needs attention. Whether it is your car, your bicycle, or a skateboard. I would say that you should keep a regular check to avoid ending up in a bad situation.
Here are some other concerns that people mostly have with their skateboards. Let’s see what are those.
Level of Concern for Squeaky Sound
The squeaky sound does not indicate a sudden danger. Yes, it can be troublesome if you ride for a long time with this sound. Because there’s some problem in the trucks of your skateboard. However, you can still cruise in your local area.
Better to be cautious and look for the problem as soon as possible. Lubrication can also work if you check on time. Otherwise, you may also have to replace that part altogether.
Perfect Time to Replace Trucks
Trucks are strong metal and they don’t need replacement more often. However, the small parts that make up the trucks require replacement.
- Replacing the parts of trucks depends on their usage. If you are a longboard cruiser, you may need to change the trucks quite early than casual skateboarders do.
- Similarly, quality matters. The cheaper they are, the more easily they will tear apart. Therefore, you will need to change them accordingly.
- The area where you skate also plays a significant role in the life of skateboard trucks. The warmer the weather is in that region, the more the chances of corrosion and rust.
- If you are overweight, the skateboard trucks are facing more pressure. Therefore, replacement becomes a constant requirement.
The Solution to Squeaky Skateboards
The Squeakyskateboards have the following two solutions
- Lubrication
When the skateboards become noisy, you need to lubricate the skateboard wheels. In fact, lubrication solves the problem 90% of the time. Generally, only two parts can be lubricated.
- Bushings
Just take the bushing out of the kingpin, and put some oil or wax over it and the problem is solved.
- Bearings
Bearings lubrication is a little bit long process. First, you have to clean it up with alcohol. Dip a cotton in the alcoholic solution and rub it over the bearings. Some people also cover the bearing up in an alcoholic cotton pad. After some time, change the position of the bearing. Then apply machine oil over it and place them back in the wheel.
- Replacement
When the lubrication does not work. In other words, when the situation gets worse, the ultimate solution is a replacement. Bearings, riser pads, nuts, and washers may need replacement.
So that’s all you need to do with the noisy trucks. Keep in mind that whatever solution you opt for, use quality material to extend the life of trucks.
FAQs
- Is it normal for my skateboard to squeak?
Rough and stressful skateboarding makes it normal to hear a squeaky sound from your skateboard. However, it is not so normal in casual skating. Generally, it means that the trucks are torn apart. Therefore, you must check the skateboard trucks to ensure safe skateboarding
- How do I lubricate my skateboard?
Mostly, people use machine oil or olive oil to lubricate the skateboard. Bones speed cream is also helpful in lubricating the skateboard. Bearings work well with the Bones Cream and become more speedy.
- Is WD40 good for skateboards?
WD40 is not a reliable source of skateboard lubrication. You can use Bones speed cream to lubricate the skateboard bushings and trucks.
Final Words
The squeaky sound is due to those worn-off bearings. There’s not much to worry about. However, timely lubrication can save you from the complete replacement of trucks. The more you delay the process, the riskier it can get. Therefore, the suggested way is to check your trucks consistently.
Before asking someone, why does my skateboard squeaks, check the parts of the trucks and sort out the problem. Given above are several ways to check for the proper working of the skateboard. Bushings and rusted pivots are the prime reasons behind squeaky sounds. If nothing works, consult a specialist.