How to Measure Wheel Bearings

The bearings of the skateboard allow you to increase your momentum by pushing off the ground. Long-boarders as well as street skaters utilize a series of ball bearings. Each urethane skateboard wheel houses two ball bearings. As of 2010, skate bearing manufacturers offer ceramic as well as titanium bearing models. Bones Bearings states that the best skateboard bearings are presently being made by Swiss engineers. (See References 1) Measure your bearings before purchasing a new set of wheels. This will ensure that your old bearings are compatible with the new wheel set.

Things You'll Need

  • Skate tool
  • Tape measure
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Instructions

    • 1

      Flip your skateboard onto its side to examine the wheels. Identify the largest opening in the skate tool. Lower it onto the bolt that rests over the center of the wheel. Rotate the handle of the skate tool to loosen the wheel bolt. Hold the skateboard wheel in the palm of your hand.

    • 2

      Locate the circular knob found in the middle of the skateboard tool. Hold the tool in your dominant hand. Insert the knob into the opening of the bearing. Put pressure on the handle of the skate tool. Rotate the tool back and forth to loosen the bearing from the wheel.

    • 3

      Press down on the side of the handle to pop out the bearing. Place the bearing onto a flat surface. Examine the metallic housing that surrounds the internal balls. Extend the tape measure and place it over the bearing. Measure from the top to the bottom of the circular housing.