Skateboard Trucks

Skateboard trucks connect the wheels and bearings to the deck. The skateboard trucks are composed of two parts, the baseplate and the hanger.

The top part of the skateboard truck is the hanger, it is screwed to the deck.  Beneath it is the hanger.  The axle runs through the hanger.  Between the baseplate and the hanger are bushings that provide a cushion mechanism for turning the skateboard. The bushings cushion the truck when it turns. The stiffer the bushings, the more resistant the skateboard is to turning. The softer the bushings, the easier it is to turn.  Bushings come in varying shapes and durometers.  A bolt called a kingpin holds these parts together and fits inside the bushings. Tightening or loosening the kingpin nut will adjust how easy the trucks are to turn.  The trucks can be adjusted loosely for better turning and tighter for more stability.  The position of the hanger respect to the baseplate is also determined by the pivot, a rod that slots into the corresponding seat in the baseplate. The pivot stops the hanger from rotating around the kingpin. The pivot must allow some movement around the bushings and therefore is not a perfect fit. The space between the pivot and its seat in the baseplate is filled by a pivot cup, a plastic part that will take most of the wear and tear of the pivot and assist in centering the hanger.