How to Replace Inline Skate Wheels

The normal wear and tear of inline skates dictates that you change the wheels as often as necessary for safety and precision. If you notice worn spots on your wheels or your skates are slower than they used to be, it's time to change your wheels. This is not a complex task and if you are familiar with your skates you should be able to do this with a minimum of time and cost. This maintenance should be done whenever necessary.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft scrub brush
  • Allen wrenches
  • Wheels
  • Spacer and bearings
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the skates on a table and brush them with a dry scrub brush to remove all surface dirt, particularly around the wheels. Finish one skate before beginning the second. Remove the axle from the front wheel by unscrewing it with an Allen wrench. Do this carefully and slowly so as not to damage the carriage of the skates.

    • 2

      Remove the front wheel by gently pulling it out. Take out the spacer and bearings from the wheel. They should come out together, and if they are intact, you can use them in the new wheels. If you have any doubts, use the new spacer and bearings. Take one of the new wheels and place the new spacer and bearings into the new wheels. Repeat until all the wheels are done.

    • 3

      Place the new wheels back into the wheel frame, then replace the axle, Tighten the axles on aluminum spacers by turning the Allen wrench as far as it will go. If your spacers are plastic, tighten the almost all the way and then loosen slightly.

    • 4

      Test and spin the wheels; they should spin freely and evenly. If they seem stiff, loosen the axle a bit at a time until the wheels spin freely. If the wheels seem wobbly, tighten the axle a bit at a time until the wheels no longer wobble.