How to Customize Roller Skates

For skating enthusiasts, it is very common to change, customize and accessorize their skates. For almost any type of skates, there are many different products that you buy for customization. Whether you want to change them to enhance your performance or just to change the appearance, you can do this with complete ease and relatively low cost.

Things You'll Need

  • Bearing Removal Tool
  • Screwdriver
  • Two Allen Wrenches
  • Wheels
  • Frames
  • Laces
  • Bearings
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Instructions

  1. Wheels

    • 1

      Choose your wheels depending on what skates you have. For instance, aggressive skates will usually take smaller, more durable wheels that are designed for heavy impact.

    • 2

      Grip your Allen wrenches firmly in each hand and locate the bolts holding the wheels on either side of the frame.

    • 3

      Twist your right hand towards you and your left away from you to loosen the bolt. The bolt should separate into two pieces, so make sure you store them safely while you remove the wheel from the frame.

    • 4

      Position your new wheel in place and push both bolts into the allocated slots. Fasten them securely with your Allen wrenches and repeat the process for each wheel you wish to replace.

    Frames

    • 5

      Choose your frame accordingly to your skate. Most aggressive inline skates use a UFS frame that stands for Universal Frame System. This means that any brand of frame will fit any brand of skate.

    • 6

      Remove all wheels from your frame following the instructions in Section 1.

    • 7

      Locate either the screws or Allen bolts on the bottom of the skates.

    • 8

      Loosen the bolts or screw with a screwdriver or Allen wrench while securing the skate and frame.

    • 9

      Replace the old frames with the new ones and secure the screws or bolts, and then replace all wheels.

    Laces

    • 10

      Choose a pair laces that would be the right size for you skates. People who skate on quads usually like them to be quite thick and strong as they use them to tighten their boot. Meanwhile, aggressive inline skaters will choose their laces purely on appearance as they usually have no securing properties.

    • 11

      Secure your skates between you legs to ensure a comfortable working position.

    • 12

      Loosen you laces, starting at the top by removing them from their holes, and work your way down to the bottom.

    • 13

      Put in place your new laces, starting at the bottom and working your way to the top.

    Bearings

    • 14

      Choose your bearings according to how fast you wish to go. An important fact to remember is that a slower, high quality bearing will always outperform a quicker but cheaper bearing.

    • 15

      Remove your wheel from its frame as described in Section 1.

    • 16

      Use your bearing removal tool to easily pop the bearing out both sides. This tool is easily purchased online or at any store that sells roller skates.

    • 17

      Push your bearings back into the wheel either side, making sure you remember to replace the old bearing spacer as your new bearings will most likely not come with new spacers.