How to Fix Squeaky Longboard Trucks (Guide-2024)
Squeaking is the most common complaint about trucks. Usually, it is an indication that something in your truck setup needs to be adjusted or lubricated. This blog covers all aspects of fixing squeaks when they arise, including which issues are usually caused by loose kingpins, pink bushings, and not tightening the axle nuts enough. If you’ve tried everything and can’t seem to fix your squeak, it may be time to replace some worn-out bushings.
Longboarding is a great way to get around, but those pesky squeaky trucks can be a real drag (pun intended). Luckily, there are a few simple ways to silence the noise. First, make sure that your trucks are properly tightened. If they’re too loose, they’ll start to rattle and squeak. Second, check your kingpin nut and make sure it’s screwed on tightly. A loose kingpin nut can also cause squeaking.
Finally, if your trucks are still squeaking after tightening them, you can try lubricating the axles with WD-40 or another similar product. Just apply a small amount to the axles and bolts and you should be good to go! With these tips, you’ll be able to enjoy your longboard in silence.
How To Fix Squeaky Longboard Trucks
First things first: How do you know if noise is coming from the pivot cups or the bushings? The best way is just to put a finger on one of your best wheels as it’s spinning and see what location is making the noise. If you feel it in at the pivot cups, continue on with this article. If it’s coming from the bushings you are riding on, check out our guide to longboard bushing replacement.
Follow the 7 Key Steps:
1-Take Your Trucks Apart
By using the appropriate sized wrenches and sockets just take your trucks apart. If your kingpins are covered in a plastic shield, remove them before continuing. If your truck’s bushings have a C-shaped metal protector around them you can remove that too.
2-Remove the pivot cup:
Remove the pivot cup from each truck by sliding it out of the baseplate, making sure to keep track of which washer goes on which side. This will be important in the next step when you replace them.
You’ll notice that most longboard trucks (besides Bear) have two metal washers moving around on either side of the pivot cup. These are there to reduce friction between the cup and the baseplate while also preventing lateral movement of your trucks. The kingpin goes through one side of each washer, and a different-sized bushing goes on the other side of each washer to adjust the turning range (more on that later).
3-Placing the Washers Back:
We can stop our trucks squeaking carefully by placing the washers back in their original positions. Look at where each truck’s kingpins are currently sitting, and make sure that when you put the metal washers back on, they are separated by roughly 1/3 of an inch.
4-Clean your pivots:
Clean your pivots with a Q-tip or some paper towel. If they are dirty, you can try scrubbing the pivot cup with the appropriately sized Allen key wrapped in a rag. Make sure to get up around the edge of your washer so that it doesn’t get too tight while reassembling them.
5-Finally Lube Your Bushings:
When you put your trucks back together, make sure to lube your bushings. Longboard bushings are made of a hard urethane material that doesn’t offer much in the way of lubrication, so a little bit goes a long way. Use whatever lubricant you want on them – we recommend Bones Speed Cream or Veilance Wheel Oil.
6-Fix clicking/popping trucks:
We can fix clicking/popping trucks by tightening the axle nuts. If your truck is clicking or popping when you turn, move to the next step. Loosen the two nuts on top of each baseplate where your wheels are mounted. Take off both wheels and then tighten each nut back up until they are snug. This will prevent your kingpins from moving around too much while riding, and it will also quiet your trucks.
7-Make sure to always tighten your axle nuts all the way:
Make sure to always tighten your axle nuts all the way. If you can’t get them all the way on and there is a little bit of play where you can move the nut up and down while it tightened down, this is the reason your trucks are squeaking. Go back to step three and make sure you’re using the appropriately sized wrench when tightening them.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is it normal for a longboard to squeak?
With proper lubrication, most longboard trucks are silent for their entire lifespan. Kingpins are typically not the culprit of squeaks – they are designed to pivot in their bushing seats completely smoothly. If you have squeaky bushings but no screeching when turning, it may be time to replace them.
How do I get my truck to stop squeaking?
If you don’t have the appropriate size wrench, get one. Seriously – they’re cheap and having a properly sized tool will make your life A LOT easier. For trucks over 10 years old, it might be time to replace the pivot cup itself. We sell replacement cups for Paris, Caliber II, Randal, and many more.
Is it normal for new skateboard trucks to squeak?
No. New trucks should never squeak, but there is a chance that you have a faulty pivot cup that needs to be replaced.
How do I fix my longboard truck rattles?
The rattling is probably from your axle nuts, so check out what we wrote above about tightening them. If your axle nuts are tight and you still have a rattle, there’s a chance that the spring in your baseplate (the part below the pivot cup) might be too strong.
This means that it takes too much force to turn your baseplate, so it will rattle when you ride. Use two nuts (one on each side) to lower the spring tension by half an inch. This should reduce the rattle substantially.
