How to Clean Bearings

Bearings provide a smoother rotation for your skateboard's wheels by lowering the amount of superfluous friction. Each wheel comes with a set of bearings on either side that rest in the wheel's center. Cleaning those bearings regularly will ensure a better ride and an enhanced performance from your skateboard or inline skates.

Things You'll Need

  • Bearings
  • Safety pin or thumb tack
  • Jar or plastic container with lid
  • Tissue paper
  • Bearing cleaner
  • Bearing lubricant
  • Toothbrush or other small brush
  • Mineral spirits
  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Tap water
  • Towel or cloth
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the bearings. If they have detachable shields push the end of a safety pin or thumb tack inside the part of the C-ring that secures the shield to the bearing. Carefully raise the C-ring up and into the center part of the bearing and detach the shield without damaging it.

    • 2

      Wipe off the excess surface dirt from your bearings with a piece of tissue paper or an old toothbrush. Get to the area beneath the bearing's lip with a tissue covered fingernail and clean along the underside.

    • 3

      Place the bearings in a jar or plastic container with bearing cleaner or mineral spirits. Cover and shake well. Allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes.

    • 4

      Rinse the bearings with 99 percent Isopropyl Alcohol or tap water, depending on what the cleaner instructions specify. Shake off excess water and allow to dry.

    • 5

      Add several drops of lubricant inside the bearing. Spin the bearing to work the lubricant into all the moving parts.

    • 6

      Reinstall the shield that you removed in Step 1. Position it on the bearing, then slip the end of the C-ring in the groove that is adjacent to the shield. Move the rest of the C-ring around the groove until it locks into position.

    • 7

      Put the bearings back into the wheels and give them another spin to work the lubricant throughout the bearing.