The axle washer mega-thread

[JB77]

Lot of axle washer chit chat out there. Figured it would be a good idea to consolidate it all into one thread.

What are you guys running on your rides?  Flatsos, singles, doubles?  Triples, even? 

I like to switch it up now and then.  Depends on my mood.  Sometimes I throw the cupped ones on that are like the thickness or two or three flatsos.   

Check these bad boys out.  The darker one on the right is one of the cupped jammies...

[Firebert]

I like the thick silver ones Ace uses with the rounded edge for the side that contacts the bearing.

[arrbee]

Currently running Venture Hi 6.1, 2 washers on the inside (closest to grinding area), 1 washer on the axle nut (threads side of the wheel) all the small flat ones that come on Ventures.

Been running this way forever, pushes the axle nut out a little further on the threads and reduces fucking up those threads for when it comes time to replace wheels and bearings. I still hit it with the re thread tool to make sure there isn't rogue shards of metal that would fuck up the nut.

[yourbreakfsat]

Whatever comes with the trucks.

[Ok]

Currently running Venture Hi 6.1, 2 washers on the inside (closest to grinding area), 1 washer on the axle nut (threads side of the wheel) all the small flat ones that come on Ventures.

Been running this way forever, pushes the axle nut out a little further on the threads and reduces fucking up those threads for when it comes time to replace wheels and bearings. I still hit it with the re thread tool to make sure there isn't rogue shards of metal that would fuck up the nut.

did you size up? l assume you like it, what are the benefits of the 6.1s?

i use whatever washers are on hand, but they 'need' to be the same type. i like 3 washers per wheel. sometimes i try to put the wheels further out, sometimes in....

[Mantracker]

Does anyone know what to call these specific washers if you were to order from a hardware store? Thinking I'll just add a box of these onto my shops next order and have a bunch of them lying around

8mm or 5/16 x ?

[Lloyd Braun]

3/8” washers? Idk the overall diameter for the washer but I believe truck axels are 3/8”

[SneakySecrets]

I can remember with crystal clarity the exact moment I found out that they aren’t symmetrical.  It was like my own personal 9/11, and life’s never really been the same since. 

[stets]

I've been skating some 8.35 inch Ace 44's during most of COVID isolation. I skate 8.5 or 8.6ish boards for the most part, so the 55's at 9.0 inches are toooo big. (why on earth don't they make a size in between??)

Anyways, to bridge the gap I've found these wide washers that I guess freestylers have been using for years?


If you use a slightly thinner nut, like those titanium ones people have posted before, you can fit these on the inside of the wheel, one normal washer on the outside, and it kicks it out to be more like an 8.5 truck.
https://www.sk8kings.com/steel-axle-spacers-18-four-pack.html

[hobochimp]

I like the thick silver ones Ace uses with the rounded edge for the side that contacts the bearing.

This is the correct answer

[j....soy.....]

Speed rings bro.....

I rid extended races.....tight.

[JB77]

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I like the thick silver ones Ace uses with the rounded edge for the side that contacts the bearing.

[close]

This is the correct answer

I just got my first set of Ace’s and you’re right.  Great axle washer design!

[arrbee]

Expand Quote

Currently running Venture Hi 6.1, 2 washers on the inside (closest to grinding area), 1 washer on the axle nut (threads side of the wheel) all the small flat ones that come on Ventures.

Been running this way forever, pushes the axle nut out a little further on the threads and reduces fucking up those threads for when it comes time to replace wheels and bearings. I still hit it with the re thread tool to make sure there isn't rogue shards of metal that would fuck up the nut.

[close]

did you size up? l assume you like it, what are the benefits of the 6.1s?

i use whatever washers are on hand, but they 'need' to be the same type. i like 3 washers per wheel. sometimes i try to put the wheels further out, sometimes in....

I did, I went from 5.8 to the 6.1. I was running 5.8's on 8.25, with the most recent Quasi drop I didn't like that the 14.25 WB 8.25's (or at least the ones my local got in) didn't have the square nose so I bumped up to 8.5 and switched to the 6.1.

So far its working out, I was even able to get the 6.1's on a 8.375 and surprisingly the axles don't hot rod. This combo does make flip tricks a bit more difficult especially with conical wheels. I am liking the 6.1 so far, I will probably bounce back to 5.8 occasionally as I have 1 or 2 more 8.25's to get through in the stack of supplies.

[Ok]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Currently running Venture Hi 6.1, 2 washers on the inside (closest to grinding area), 1 washer on the axle nut (threads side of the wheel) all the small flat ones that come on Ventures.

Been running this way forever, pushes the axle nut out a little further on the threads and reduces fucking up those threads for when it comes time to replace wheels and bearings. I still hit it with the re thread tool to make sure there isn't rogue shards of metal that would fuck up the nut.

[close]

did you size up? l assume you like it, what are the benefits of the 6.1s?

i use whatever washers are on hand, but they 'need' to be the same type. i like 3 washers per wheel. sometimes i try to put the wheels further out, sometimes in....

[close]

I did, I went from 5.8 to the 6.1. I was running 5.8's on 8.25, with the most recent Quasi drop I didn't like that the 14.25 WB 8.25's (or at least the ones my local got in) didn't have the square nose so I bumped up to 8.5 and switched to the 6.1.

So far its working out, I was even able to get the 6.1's on a 8.375 and surprisingly the axles don't hot rod. This combo does make flip tricks a bit more difficult especially with conical wheels. I am liking the 6.1 so far, I will probably bounce back to 5.8 occasionally as I have 1 or 2 more 8.25's to get through in the stack of supplies.

Nice!
8.75 trucks worked real real decent for me on kickflips, switchflips, the like. It was just anything with a flip and a rotation (basically 360 flips) that I just could not figure out. That and my mcl is torched, heavier setup means shorter session for me. Kickflips feel way better tho, and I can not do them as lazy.
8.75 trucks totally go on 8.38s, look cool as well.
s/o the reply

[arrbee]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Currently running Venture Hi 6.1, 2 washers on the inside (closest to grinding area), 1 washer on the axle nut (threads side of the wheel) all the small flat ones that come on Ventures.

Been running this way forever, pushes the axle nut out a little further on the threads and reduces fucking up those threads for when it comes time to replace wheels and bearings. I still hit it with the re thread tool to make sure there isn't rogue shards of metal that would fuck up the nut.

[close]

did you size up? l assume you like it, what are the benefits of the 6.1s?

i use whatever washers are on hand, but they 'need' to be the same type. i like 3 washers per wheel. sometimes i try to put the wheels further out, sometimes in....

[close]

I did, I went from 5.8 to the 6.1. I was running 5.8's on 8.25, with the most recent Quasi drop I didn't like that the 14.25 WB 8.25's (or at least the ones my local got in) didn't have the square nose so I bumped up to 8.5 and switched to the 6.1.

So far its working out, I was even able to get the 6.1's on a 8.375 and surprisingly the axles don't hot rod. This combo does make flip tricks a bit more difficult especially with conical wheels. I am liking the 6.1 so far, I will probably bounce back to 5.8 occasionally as I have 1 or 2 more 8.25's to get through in the stack of supplies.

[close]

Nice!
8.75 trucks worked real real decent for me on kickflips, switchflips, the like. It was just anything with a flip and a rotation (basically 360 flips) that I just could not figure out. That and my mcl is torched, heavier setup means shorter session for me. Kickflips feel way better tho, and I can not do them as lazy.
8.75 trucks totally go on 8.38s, look cool as well.
s/o the reply

Yeah, I should have said rotational flip tricks, my switch flips are smacking bottoms of my feet and feel real good. My regular kick flips haven't been the same since I tweaked my ankle a few years back, the only time I do them is into grinds or manuals. My 3 flips aren't as fast to whip around but I'm figuring it out.

[Ilya Oblomov]

Whatever comes stock with the trucks. One on the inside and one on the outside. I like my nuts flush to the axles so they don't get ground at an angle. I stripped too many nuts trying to navigate fucked up threads before I figured this out.

[Mbrimson88]

Does anyone know what to call these specific washers if you were to order from a hardware store? Thinking I'll just add a box of these onto my shops next order and have a bunch of them lying around

8mm or 5/16 x ?

I sourced my own in bulk after having issues getting the normal ones through skate distros and local hardware stores didn't carry them (so got them from ebay from where ever in China) but these were the dimensions on two different lots, the silver very thin and I can fit 4 of them on each axle, but the black ones are more the standard size and I fit 3 of those:

Specifications:

Color: Silver
Outer Diameter: Approx. 11mm / 0.4inch
Inner Diameter: Approx. 8mm / 0.3inch
Thickness: Approx. 1mm / 0.04inch



Color: Black
Outer Diameter: Approx. 11mm/0.43inch
Inner Diameter: Approx. 8mm/0.31inch
Thickness: Approx. 1.2mm/0.04inch


Some I had previously were all kinds of messed up, but these latest two lots only took a week or two to get here and were pretty good quality, all uniform in size and work well.

I can send you a link if you want, otherwise just look up "skateboard axle washer" and go from there.  Most look like packs of 100 for US$5.00 or so.

[Mbrimson88]

For my own setups, on new trucks I use three on the inside, wheel sitting with just a bit of play / movement, with the wheel nut flush with the end of the axle, which works well for 149s on 8.5 size boards.

On older setups where the axle ends are worn I find two washers on the inside with some movement in the wheel and the nut on comfortably the best option.

I have to have the wheels still being very free, the bearings not tightened down so there is some play, but I don't get how some people ride things so tightly done up there is no noise and the board sounds like a wet log when you drop it.

I like my Spitfires to screech when I slide.

[Mbrimson88]

On another note, I never take everything off a board all at once and stand a board on the axles to change two at a time, but almost every time kids change over their setups, everything comes off and more often than not there are washers and things left behind, which is why I have so many washers to use in the spare parts area.

Given trucks all come with two on each axle end, they will still work fine but as I said, for me one more makes it just sit so much better without the nut being further down on the axle or having a huge amount of play in each wheel.

Indy bearings come with full sets of 8 washers and 4 spacers, as do Black Panther bearings and I would imagine a lot of other brands too that I cannot recall right now.

[johnes]

does the rounded side of washer go against the bearing or the flatter side?
I’ve never known this.

[Mbrimson88]

does the rounded side of washer go against the bearing or the flatter side?
I’ve never known this.

Sometimes it wouldn't make a difference with the smaller washers, but for the bigger washers, definitely the rounder or the side with the minimal contact area, so it only touches the bearing inside rim and nothing else.

From the first post / pic, if those bigger ones were round the wrong way those bearings might not move at all.

[Croquet temper]

One on each side of the wheel because that’s how little thought needed to be put into it tbh. Sometimes you just have to skate and adapt to your setup just like you were doing when you learned all those tricks in the first place.

[hillbilly shifty]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

I like the thick silver ones Ace uses with the rounded edge for the side that contacts the bearing.

[close]

This is the correct answer

[close]

I just got my first set of Ace’s and you’re right.  Great axle washer design!

the mini logo speed rings are this style. flat on one side + rounded on the other. Pack of 100 for 6 bucks. love 'em

[Mantracker]

Expand Quote

Does anyone know what to call these specific washers if you were to order from a hardware store? Thinking I'll just add a box of these onto my shops next order and have a bunch of them lying around

8mm or 5/16 x ?

[close]

I sourced my own in bulk after having issues getting the normal ones through skate distros and local hardware stores didn't carry them (so got them from ebay from where ever in China) but these were the dimensions on two different lots, the silver very thin and I can fit 4 of them on each axle, but the black ones are more the standard size and I fit 3 of those:

Specifications:

Color: Silver
Outer Diameter: Approx. 11mm / 0.4inch
Inner Diameter: Approx. 8mm / 0.3inch
Thickness: Approx. 1mm / 0.04inch



Color: Black
Outer Diameter: Approx. 11mm/0.43inch
Inner Diameter: Approx. 8mm/0.31inch
Thickness: Approx. 1.2mm/0.04inch


Some I had previously were all kinds of messed up, but these latest two lots only took a week or two to get here and were pretty good quality, all uniform in size and work well.

I can send you a link if you want, otherwise just look up "skateboard axle washer" and go from there.  Most look like packs of 100 for US$5.00 or so.

Thank you so much for this info!! Would gnar if I could.

[manysnakes]

Does anyone else just pick these up off the ground at the skatepark? I have a little tube with like twenty in there, all collected from the spot where the kids sit and work on their boards

[JANUS]

I can remember with crystal clarity the exact moment I found out that they aren’t symmetrical.  It was like my own personal 9/11, and life’s never really been the same since.

My life has been a lie.

[Mbrimson88]

Does anyone else just pick these up off the ground at the skatepark? I have a little tube with like twenty in there, all collected from the spot where the kids sit and work on their boards

Pretty funny, cause I have the habit of picking them up too, at skateparks and off the floor of the shop.

Kids just don't realise how much their setups change without them, including why their bearings are rubbing on the truck hanger and then every time they need to change wheels, I need to rethread the truck axles.

[sketchyrider]

Does anyone else just pick these up off the ground at the skatepark? I have a little tube with like twenty in there, all collected from the spot where the kids sit and work on their boards

this, pretty much any hardware gets pocketed, mostly just nuts and spacers.