Skateboard Bushings

What hardness bushings do you need?

Bushing hardness (durometer) decides how easily your trucks turn:

• Softer (78a to 87a) — turn more easily and give a loose, reactive feel. Suit lighter riders and anyone who likes a carvy, responsive truck.
• Medium (88a to 92a) — a balanced middle ground, the most versatile for average-weight riders.
• Harder (90a to 96a) — resist turning more for a stable, controlled feel. Suit heavier riders and higher-speed skating.

Rider weight matters as much as preference: a heavier rider compresses a soft bushing too far, so they generally want a harder one for the same feel a lighter rider gets from a soft one.

What is the cone and barrel setup?

Each truck takes two bushings, and their shape changes the feel. Most riders run a slightly harder or cone-shaped bushing on top and a softer barrel on the bottom, which gives an easy initial turn with good rebound and stability. Barrel-barrel is more stable for downhill; cone-cone is looser and more reactive. Swapping shapes and hardnesses is how you dial in exactly the turn you want.

How do you know when to replace bushings?

When your trucks feel sloppy or cracked even after adjusting the kingpin, or when you cannot get the turn feel you want by tightening or loosening. Bushings compress and crack over time, especially cheaper stock ones. Fresh bushings are a couple of dollars and can transform how a board rides.

Do bushings fit all trucks?

Bushings are broadly standardised, and most standard skateboard bushings fit most standard trucks. Some brands have their own shapes, and longboard trucks use larger bushings than street trucks. If you are unsure, bring your trucks into our Richmond store and we will match the right ones.

Trucks · Hardware · Longboard Trucks · Complete Skateboards