How to Change Skateboard Bearings, Step by Step (2026)
Swapping bearings takes about 10 minutes with a skate tool. Here's how to get the old ones out and the new ones in without damaging them.
When to Replace Bearings
Bearings let your wheels spin. Replace them when they're noisy, gritty, rusty or slow even after cleaning, or if a wheel wobbles. Sometimes a good cleaning brings them back. Most skateboard bearings are a standard size called 608 (8mm bore, 22mm outer diameter, 7mm wide), so they fit almost all skateboard and longboard wheels.
What You Need
- 8 new bearings (2 per wheel).
- A skate tool (or a 1/2-inch wrench).
- Optional: bearing press/puller, spacers and speed rings (washers).
Step 1: Remove the Axle Nut and Wheel
Use the skate tool to unscrew the axle nut. Slide off the outer speed ring and the wheel. Keep the nuts and washers together.
Step 2: Pop Out the Old Bearings
Slide the wheel back onto the axle just far enough that the axle catches the inner ring of one bearing. Tilt the wheel and lever it gently to pop the bearing out. Flip the wheel and repeat for the second bearing. A bearing puller makes this easier.
Step 3: Remove the Spacer
If your wheels have spacers, take them out and keep them for the new bearings.
Step 4: Press In the New Bearings
- Put a bearing on the axle with its shield facing out.
- Place the wheel over it and press straight down firmly until the bearing seats fully.
- Remove the wheel, add the spacer, then press in the second bearing on the other side the same way.
Press evenly so the bearing doesn't go in crooked.
Step 5: Put the Wheel Back On
Slide a speed ring onto the axle, then the wheel, another speed ring and the axle nut.
Step 6: Tighten Correctly
Tighten until the wheel stops wobbling side to side, then loosen a quarter turn or so until it spins freely. Too tight and the bearings drag; too loose and the wheel wobbles.
Repeat for All Four Wheels
Bearings and Tools
Bones Bearing Press / Puller
A tool for pressing bearings in and pulling them out of wheels.
Check Price on AmazonAbout ABEC Ratings
ABEC is a tolerance standard from the bearing industry. A higher ABEC number means tighter manufacturing tolerances, but it doesn't directly measure speed or durability for skateboarding. Some brands, like Bones, use their own ratings instead of ABEC.
Bearing Care
- Avoid water and puddles.
- Clean and lube when they get gritty; see how to clean wheels and bearings.
- Store your board indoors.
Shopping for bearings? See skateboard bearings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bearings does a skateboard need?
Eight: two in each of the four wheels.
Are all skateboard bearings the same size?
Most skateboard and longboard bearings are the standard 608 size (8mm bore, 22mm outer diameter, 7mm wide).
What does ABEC mean?
ABEC is a tolerance rating system for precision bearings. Higher numbers mean tighter tolerances, but it doesn't directly measure skateboard speed.
Do I need bearing spacers?
Spacers are optional. They sit between the two bearings in a wheel and can help bearings stay aligned when axle nuts are tightened.
How tight should axle nuts be?
Tighten until the wheel has no side-to-side wobble, then back off slightly so it spins freely.