How to Make a Skateboard Faster

Making a skateboard faster requires only a few tips and tricks and is not nearly as difficult as one would think. With some regular maintenance and a little bit of know-how, just a few adjustments can promote your board's longevity as well as making it more streamlined and fast.

Keeping good form can also improve your speed after you've modified your board. (Image: lzf/iStock/Getty Images)

Step 1

Replace your bearings with a ratchet tool. Bearings are rated with a code called an ABEC, which stands for Annular Bearing Engineering Committee. Different bearing sizes are designed for different purposes. A bearing with an ABEC code of three will be fairly slow, and the higher the rating, the faster the board. An ABEC of seven is perfect for a fast skateboard.

Step 2

Check your trucks to see if they are in usable condition. While skateboard trucks do not relate to speed, a rusty truck can cause the mechanics in a skateboard to run improperly. If they are old and worn, replace them.

Step 3

Replace smaller wheels with larger wheels. Larger wheels will make the skateboard faster. Longboards can have wheels up to 70mm, but for a regular skateboard, try a wheel of 58mm or so for speed.

Step 4

Clean and lubricate all moving parts of the skateboard. If you've replaced the bearings, trucks and wheels and still have a slow-moving board, it may just need a little lubricant, such as WD-40, to make it faster.

Things You'll Need

• Skateboard

• Bearings

• Wheels

• Ratchet

• Trucks

• Lubricant

Tip

When purchasing bearings, you may want to opt for ceramic bearings. While they are more expensive, they have a much longer life than steel bearings and generally do not need replacing.

Warning

Don't hesitate to take your board to a skate shop for help if you have trouble reassembling it. Safety is always a priority.