If there’s one thing your deck absolutely must have, it’s quality trucks!
There are different types of trucks. Most are cast trucks, meaning the truck pin is cast in a mold with liquid aluminum and then pressed into shape. Another method is cold forging. Here, the metal is forged into its shape under extreme pressure. Such trucks are an intermediate step toward CNC trucks, as they offer similar stability and precision. The high-tech variant is CNC trucks. They are machined from a large block of aluminum using a metal milling machine. This process is more complex than casting, which accounts for the higher price of CNC trucks. However, the CNC process has the advantage of allowing for different geometries and being significantly more precise. When riding, though, this difference is usually only noticeable to highly advanced riders or professionals. But regardless of which manufacturing process was used, axles always consist of the following parts:
Speedrings
[> fig. 01]
Speed rings are small spacer rings on your axle pin that ensure your ball bearings run smoothly. You need two speed rings per wheel, which you slide onto the outer sides of your ball bearings between the hanger and the nut.
Hanger
[> fig. 01]
It consists of an axle pin to which the wheels are attached, and the pivot. This round metal piece fits into the baseplate and is the linchpin of the truck. Various characteristics of the hanger are crucial for the truck’s steering behavior, such as the width: the narrower it is, the more agile it is, since the wheels have to cover a shorter distance when turning a corner. For decks no wider than 22 cm, it is recommended to use 150-mm trucks. For all other boards, 180-mm trucks are typically used. Even wider trucks, at 200 mm and above, are mainly used in downhill sports. They provide greater stability at higher speeds.
Bushingseat and rake
The bushing seat is also located on the hanger. On most trucks, the bushing is enclosed at the edge by the hanger. Depending on how high the metal is there or how tightly and steeply it encloses the bushing, different riding characteristics result. If the bushing seat is fairly flat and shallow, the truck usually steers very easily and is better suited for cruising and carving. If, on the other hand, the bushing seat is very restrictive—that is, tight-fitting and steep—then the truck is very stable, even at higher speeds. The axle pin geometry is also crucial for a truck’s ride feel. If the axle pin is slightly offset and not in the same plane as the pivot, it is referred to as a rake truck [> Fig. 02].
Rake axles feel significantly “livelier” than axles without rake [> Fig. 03]. This makes them very popular among cruisers and carvers. Additionally, you can rotate the hanger 180° (flip it), which flattens the axles and makes them ride smoother.
However, freeride and downhill enthusiasts usually prefer trucks without rake, as the steering response is more linear with these.
Kingpin
[> fig. 01]
The kingpin is a bolt that holds the baseplate, hanger, bushings, and washer together. It should not wobble if possible, otherwise there is a risk that it will break. By tightening the kingpin nut, you can also adjust the steering response of your truck. When you tighten it, the bushings are pressed more firmly against the hanger and the baseplate. This increases the counterpressure of your bushings slightly, making your truck a bit more stable. If your truck still feels too soft despite the kingpin nut being tightened, you should buy harder bushings. If, on the other hand, your truck isn’t soft enough, you can also loosen the nut slightly. But be careful! The hanger shouldn’t wobble when you move it by hand.
Washer
[> Abb. 01]
These are the metal plates that sit on top of the bushings. They come in two types: flat washers and cup washers, which have a rim around them that encircles the bushing. Washers have a significant impact on steering behavior. <br/><br/>Flat washers, for example, allow the bushing to bulge out at the sides, giving it even more room to deform. That’s why flat washers also create more lean. In contrast, cup washers prevent this bulging of the bushings and thus significantly limit the lean. They provide a more stable feel to the truck.
Baseplate
[> Abb. 01]
This is the foundation of every truck. It is mounted to the deck using screws. There are at least four holes in the baseplate for this purpose. There are two types of hole patterns: (slightly longer) old-school and new-school hole patterns. Old-school holes are the most common in the longboard scene, since longboards are used for grinding less frequently, so the more stable option is preferred. On some baseplates, the kingpin is permanently mounted; on others, it can be removed.
Baseplates come in various angles. The degree number indicates the angle of the pivot relative to the baseplate. The angle is crucial for steering behavior and for the height of the truck. If the angle is low, the truck is very flat and rides very sluggishly [> Fig. 04]. Such trucks are popular among beginners in freeride or downhill, as they are very stable at high speeds but still steer well at normal speeds. This allows you to gradually build up to higher speeds. If you don’t ride downhill or freeride, you should always choose a 50° truck [> Fig. 05]. It offers a good balance between agility and stability.
