Skateboard Trucks

A Brief History

Skateboard trucks are a critical component for any skateboard set up. They perform the basic function of attaching the wheels to the board, but they also define how the board will trim, carve, and kick turn, as well as pop. The main aspects that define how a skateboard truck performs is its geometry, bushings, tightness, and chosen method of manufacture. In this article, we will look into what helps skaters achieve the feeling and board control they are looking for.

Kingpin

The kingpin is a good place to start. The kingpin will play a quite pivotal role in just how well a truck responds to trim and carving turns. A more upright kingpin, will allow the truck to turn more freely. Allowing a greater range of motion. This also in turn shortens the wheelbase from axl to axl with respect to deck drillings. On the other hand, the more offset the kingpin, the less the truck will carve, this also creates a longer resulting axl to axl wheelbase with respect to deck drillings. Shorter wheelbases with upright kingpins will offer a more gentle and manageable pop, and increase carve factor for bowls, while offset kingpins with bigger wheelbases offer more responsive pop and stability. Traditionally, offset kingpin trucks were used on decks with shorter drilled wheelbases in the 90s for technical street skating, while upright kingpin trucks were used on decks with long wheelbase drillings in transition. Ultimately, it is rider preference, and there is no right or wrong answer.

Bushings

The shape and durometer of your bushings will affect the responsiveness and range of motion available to you. Cylinder shaped bushings provide more resistance while cones less. A low number, or softer bushing provides less resistance, while a high value, harder bushing provides more. You can combine the resistance, or lack of, provided by these two aspects to your advantage. Most bushing set ups have a cylinder on the bottom, with a cone top however, some riders will use double cones to increase carve, while others double cylinders for a very stable platform.

Forged Or Gravity Cast

These two methods of manufacture offer different qualities. Gravity casting offers an

affordable method, as well as super strong trucks, but only if they are designed to have

thicker, and less detailed components. Gravity casting involves hand pouring the molten

metal makeup into the mould and letting it settle under the influence of gravity, this results in a nice finish and robust skateboard truck. Forging sees the same use of a mould and the molten metal being inserted, only this time, it is forced into the mould under enormous pressure. This makes the matrix of the metal much more compact, and therefore stronger. This allows for thinner components as well as detailed elements upon them.

Baseplate, Hanger, Pivot Arm & Cup

The geometry on the baseplate will determine how the hanger sits and moves. The hanger is

designed to minimise stress on the baseplate, and conforms to the geometry the baseplate

establishes during design. The amount the pivot arm is offset, or is upright, will also help create the resulting feeling. Because the baseplate and its drill holes need to conform to standard deck drillings, it is usually the case that offset kingpin trucks have more upright geometry on their pivot arms compared to the offset pivot arms of their upright kingpin counterparts. The main things to consider here are clearance when performing nose and tail slides on ledges, and how this affects the likelihood of your wheels causing friction on the ledge.

How Tight Should My Trucks Be?

Loose trucks are generally associated with carving and bowl skating, while tighter trucks will help with stability and ease when performing technical flip tricks. That being said, loose trucks allow for recovery from dodgy landings, so again, it is ultimately down to rider preference. When setting up your trucks, consider after market bushings if you wish to change how they turn, harder bushings allow the same geometry to be accessed with a more stable ride overall. Or use softer, and potentially double conned bushings for more carve. Other things effecting trucks are if they have hollow axls and kingpins, as this will make them lighter, some models also blend magnesium with the aluminium to make them lighter still, however, these trucks are less durable. Finally, consider the deck you wish to put them on, how this will interact with the axl to axl wheelbase, and the effect it will have to turning and pop. Consider how you want to skate, and the feeling you want to experience.