How to Get a Bearing Out of a Skateboard Wheel

2 min read Published
A close-up of a hand using the axle of a skateboard truck to pry a bearing out of a wheel.
A close-up showing what it looks like to remove a bearing from a skateboard truck. (Photo: Halfpiped)

Removing skateboard bearings from your wheels is quite straightforward once you get the angle right. You only need a skate tool or wrench, and you can use the truck axle itself to pull the bearing out. Here’s my guide on how to, based on my experience on fixing and repairing rusty boards for almost a decade.

Prepare the Wheel

Start by using your skate tool or wrench to remove the axle nut and washer. Slide the wheel off the truck, then place the nut and washer somewhere safe so you do not lose them.

Use the Truck Axle to Remove the Bearing

We can start by removing one bearing. Slide the wheel back onto the truck axle, but only let the tip of the axle enter the edge of the bearing.

Then, hold the wheel at roughly a 30-degree angle instead of sliding it fully flat onto the axle. You can use your other hand to hold the skateboard deck steady as you would have to yank it out for the next step.

Once the axle has caught the inside of the bearing, gently pull the wheel towards you using your wrist only, your arm shouldn’t be moving. The bearing should slowly start coming out of the wheel.

Afterward, flip the wheel around and repeat the same process to remove the bearing on the other side.

Close-up of how your wrist should look when removing skateboard bearings from a skateboard wheel.
How your wrist should bend and how to grip the wheel when removing skateboard bearings from a skateboard wheel. Photo: Halfpiped

What to Do if the Bearing Is Stuck

If the bearing is still stuck, it is not the end of the world. This is quite normal with harder skateboard wheels, especially wheels with a durometer of 100A or higher, as the wheel is more solid instead of slightly malleable.

Repeat the same pulling motion until part of the bearing starts to come out. Then, rotate the wheel slightly to the left or right and try again from a different angle. This helps loosen different sides of the bearing instead of pulling from the same spot repeatedly.

Once around 30% to 40% of the bearing is tilted outwards, it should become much easier to remove completely.

If nothing is working and the bearing is still stuck, no worries. Feel free to contact me through Telegram, WhatsApp or email via Halfpiped’s contact page with a video of the current status of your bearing, and I be happy to help guide you through it.