If your trucks feel too twitchy at speed or too stiff to carve, the fix usually isn’t the trucks themselves — it’s the bushings inside them. These small urethane rings control how much your trucks turn, and swapping or adjusting them is one of the cheapest ways to transform how a board feels.
What Bushings Actually Do
Bushings sit inside your truck’s pivot, cushioning and controlling how far the truck leans and turns when you shift your weight. Softer bushings turn more easily; harder bushings resist turning and feel more stable at speed.
Bushing Hardness Explained
Soft (Under 90a)
Very responsive, easy to carve, popular with cruisers and lighter riders. Can feel too loose and unstable for technical street tricks or higher speeds.
Medium (90a-95a)
The standard most decks ship with — a balance of turning response and stability that works for most street and park riding.
Hard (95a+)
Stiffer, more stable at speed, favored by heavier riders or anyone doing technical tricks who wants the board to stay predictable mid-air and on landings.
Bushing Shape Matters Too
Barrel Bushings
Firmer and more resistant to turning at the edges of the lean, giving more predictable, controlled turns.
Cone Bushings
Softer and more responsive right from center, giving quicker, looser turning — popular for carving and cruising.
Barrel/Cone Combos
A common setup pairing a barrel bushing on the bottom with a cone on top, aiming for a middle ground between stability and responsiveness.
How to Adjust Turning Without Replacing Bushings
Before buying new bushings, try adjusting your kingpin nut. Tightening it firms up the turn and adds stability; loosening it makes the board turn more easily. This is the fastest, free way to fine-tune feel before spending on new parts.
Matching Bushings to Your Riding Style
- Cruising: Soft bushings, cone shape, for easy carving at low speed.
- Street/technical tricks: Medium hardness, barrel or barrel/cone combo, for control without excess turning during flip tricks.
- Downhill/high speed: Hard bushings, barrel shape, for stability and predictability at speed.
FAQ
How do I know if my bushings need replacing?
If your trucks feel loose and sloppy even after tightening the kingpin nut, or the bushings look cracked or squished out of shape, it’s time to replace them.
Do heavier riders need harder bushings?
Generally yes — a heavier rider will compress soft bushings more than intended, which can feel unstable. Sizing up in hardness usually corrects this.
Can I mix bushing hardness on the same truck?
Yes, this is common — a softer bushing on top and firmer on the bottom (or vice versa) is a popular way to fine-tune feel.
Will new bushings fix wobbly trucks?
Often, yes, if the wobble is caused by overly soft or worn-out bushings rather than a mechanical issue with the trucks themselves.
Final Thoughts
Bushings are one of the cheapest, easiest upgrades on a skateboard, and most riders never touch them. If your setup feels wrong for how you actually ride, tune your kingpin nut first, and consider a bushing swap before assuming you need new trucks. See our Skateboard Truck Size Guide for choosing the right truck width to pair with them.
