What is a Bushing?
What is a Bushing?
If you are new to Skateboarding, Roller Skating, or E-Skating, welcome! This article will help you understand what a bushing is and why you should consider changing them in your set up. Which is why we have so many options and what all those options change.
This is just a brief synopsis, and we recommend you read the linked articles for a more in depth look at the topics covered here.
What is a bushing?
Bushings are small pieces of urethane that slide down the kingpin and support the hanger. (picture). They are intended to allow the skateboard trucks to turn under the rider’s weight.
Bushings deform under pressure. When you’re turning on your board, your weight presses on the trucks which force the bushings to deform. Softer bushings will deform more, allowing your trucks (and therefore the whole board) to turn more. Harder bushings deform a lot less, which will make your trucks more difficult to turn.
Why Should I Change My Bushings?
We make bushings out of high performance urethane. Our compounds are designed to give energy back to the rider, as well as giving them control over their ride. Stock bushings are often either too soft or too hard, and are not responsive enough for most riders. If you’ve never changed your bushings, you’ll feel a huge difference in how your board or skates handle when you do. Plus, it’s a relatively inexpensive option, and much safer than riding with loose trucks or without the proper hardware.
Why Are There So Many Options?
We offer so many different options so that you can find the perfect set up. Your weight, riding style and personal preference affect which durometer (hardness), formula, and shape you should choose. We offer different height options because trucks are designed differently by brand, and need different heights to perform as they should- check out Bushing Geometry and Bushing Heights for more.
Where to Start
Most important is getting the correct heights- check out our compatibility list to see if your trucks are already in our system! If they’re not, go to heights and measure your current bushings.
Formulas and Rebound
Once you know what heights will fit your trucks, choose your formula. Our bushings can be put into three main categories, based on which formula of urethane they are made out of. We have three formulas, and they all have specific characteristics that usually lend themselves to certain types of riding. They are APS, which has a lively feel, KranK, which is stable and hardens when tightened, and WFB, which has an internal lubricant and feels very fluid.
The most important trait of a urethane is its level of rebound, and how the rebound behaves. Rebound is a compound’s ability to give energy back to you. An easy analogy is a rubber ball- they have high rebound, and will bounce back to you. A rock, on the other hand, has low rebound and won’t bounce back to your hand if you throw it on the ground.
Durometer (Duro)
Durometer is the scientific word for hardness in urethanes and rubbers. It’s measured from 0 to 100, with 100 being the hardest. We consider 90-97.5a to be hard, 80-88a to be medium hard, 70-78a to be medium soft, and 60-68a to be soft. Typically heavier riders will want higher durometers, and lighter riders will want lower durometers. We recommend you look at our weight charts to give you an idea of what each durometer will feel like depending on your weight.
Shapes
We offer four main shapes of bushings, and a few extra shapes for specific trucks. The shape of a bushing changes how it turns, because there is either more or less urethane that needs to be displaced.
Cone: Our Cones are the least resistive shape. They have less material on the top, so it takes less force the more you turn, and you can make your turns faster.
Barrel: Barrels are our ‘standard’ shape. They take the same amount of force to turn them at the beginning of your turn as when you’re deep in a turn.
FatCone: Our FatCones (a large inverted cone) provide a different style of resistance, where it requires more force to get deeper into a turn because they flare outwards.
Chubby: Chubbys are our most stable shape, and they take the most force to turn.
We also make custom shapes for specific trucks which you can find at alternate bushings.
Durometer and Shape at play
Durometer, when paired with different shapes, is what determines the level of force it takes to turn your trucks. Typically heavier riders will need higher durometers, and lighter riders will need lower durometers. You can also opt to go for a Cone if you want more carve, or a Fatcone or Chubby if you want more stability. Durometer and shape both affect the turnability or stability of your trucks, but a general guideline for more turnability is softer and smaller shape, whereas harder and bigger shapes will give you more stability.
It might take a bit of experimentation to find your perfect set up. Start by analyzing your riding style and picking a formula. Then, check out the weight chart for your chosen formula, and choose a shape and durometer combo that suits your riding style preferences. And finally, either order through the compatibility list, or measure your bushings and order by height.
If you need help, you can always contact us!