How long do skateboard bearings last? It depends on your riding style and the bearing quality.
Usually, Skateboard bearings last about 1 to 2 years. You can extend the life of skateboard bearings by taking good care and cleaning them regularly.
Skateboard bearings are the heart of the board. Skateboard Bearings allow you to roll, do tricks and grind.
In this article, we go into detail about how to take care of bearings and how you can increase the life expectancy of your bearings.
How To Make Your Skateboard Bearings Last Longer?
Here are some tips:
1. Clean Your Bearings Regularly
Bearings get dirty over time, which causes them to wear out faster. Cleaning them regularly will help keep them in good shape for longer. To clean them, you can use a toothbrush and some rubbing alcohol. Just be sure not to get any liquid into the center holes where the axle goes through.
2. Don’t Put Oil On Dirty Bearings
Putting oil on dirt bearings will not help them work properly because dirt and dust will block their ability to spin.
You need to make sure your bearings are clean and dry before applying any kind of lubricant or oil onto them so that it doesn’t clog up their inner workings.
However, Some people think that adding oil will make their bearings spin faster, but this isn’t true at all.
You should only add oil when your bearings are squeaking loudly or making other noises that aren’t normal (for example, if they don’t sound like they’re spinning).
Remember that adding too much oil can cause also damage your bearings over time because it tends to attract dirt and sand particles, which can wear down your bearings faster than usual.
3. Avoid Skating While Raining
Always avoid skating on wet and swollen surfaces and in rainy weather. The problem is that when the bearings get wet, they can rust very quickly. So if you want to extend the life of your skateboard bearings, avoid skating in the rain.
4. Don’t Go With Cheaper Once
Cheaper skateboard bearings are not as good as their expensive counterparts. They are less durable and don’t last long. So if you want to extend the life of your skateboard bearings, go with better-quality ones that can withstand heavy use without getting damaged easily.
5. Use A Good Skate Bearing Tool Kit
A good skate-bearing tool kit will help you easily take out the old bearings and install new ones on your board without causing any damage to them or your board in general. You should also need the best skateboard bearings lubricant to make your skateboard bearings last longer.
When Should You Replace Your Skateboard Bearings?
The following are some warning signs that indicate it’s time for new bearings:
1. If you have rusty skateboard bearings:-
Rusty bearings won’t roll as smoothly as new ones would, so if your bearings are showing signs of rust, then it’s time for a replacement.
2. If shields and balls are missing:-
If any shields or balls fall out during riding, then this means the bearing has reached its life expectancy limit and should be replaced immediately.
3. If you feel roughness and stiffness:-
If your ride feels rough or stiffer than usual, this could indicate problems with your bearings.
You can read here about How to replace skateboard bearings
How To Clean Skateboard Bearing?
Before you start cleaning your bearings, make sure you have all the tools needed to do the job correctly. These are the followings:
- Skate tool or wrench
- Razorblade or safety pin
- Rag or paper towel or toothbrush
- Bowl Container or jar to soak bearings
- Skateboard Bearing Lubricant
Here are 5 Easy Steps:
1. Remove Wheels
Firstly, you need to remove the skateboard wheels. This will make cleaning easier and faster, but it’s not necessary if you have a tool to help with that process.
2. Remove Bearings & Shields
Next, remove both bearings and shields from the trucks by pulling them out with a pair of pliers or another tool. You may need to loosen the bolts on each side before pulling them out completely.
3. Soak Bearings In Cleaner
Once you’ve removed all of your bearings, soak them in a cleaning solution for at least 30 minutes.
4. Dry And Re-Lubricate
After soaking, remove each bearing from its casing and let it dry completely before re-lubricating it with a high-quality lubricant like Bones Speed Cream or Bones Reds Bearing Grease. Make sure each bearing has a little bit of grease inside.
5. Re-attach Your Bearings
Reinstall the bearings in your wheels and re-attach the bearing shields.
Wrap-Up On How Long Should Skateboard Bearings Last
The bottom line is that skateboard bearings need to be maintained if you want them to last long.
Without proper maintenance, bearings with high-quality internals still have a limited lifespan. And no matter who manufactured them, it’s all too easy for them to dry out, rust, and become useless when neglected.
Follow the tips laid out above. With proper maintenance, your bearings should last you quite a while. Make sure that you clean, tighten, and re-lube them regularly to make sure they last even longer.
