The Thunder Thread

[Slave IV]

Update on the TII mushy feeling. Third session on the trucks, they have totally changed. Still a different turn but found that stability on center. When they were brand new I could easily push the wheel to the deck with my hands, now I have to really give her hell to even get close. I might be crazy but I felt them more impact the trucks took the more the bushings firmed up, instead of just breaking in with lots of side to side carving?

I’m really liking these now. I was pretty worried I was going to hate them at the first session.

Glad to hear! Some people have mentioned after they firm up, they get softer again and I’m not sure what the characteristics are at that point but I’m glad mine were mostly broke in to what I think is the firm setting when I got them.

I’ve been riding my AF1 8.5” trucks on my 8.375” deck with wheel wells and still getting a lot of wheelbite. Considering swapping in my T-II even though they are wider than I want for the deck at 8.75”. If it keeps bugging me for a while, I’ll probably do it just to see.

[SwitchBenihana]

Mine are pretty well worn at this point. Still great for what they are but haven't found the pop sweet spot on any deck really.

[moykky]

Mine are pretty well worn at this point. Still great for what they are but haven't found the pop sweet spot on any deck really.

I've used them in 6.5 tail and 14.25 wheelbase, didn't like it. I feel that it should be less than 6.5 tail for me and more than 14.25 wheelbase. But then it would be another niche deck dimensions that are next to impossible to find
Never tried ACEs, but I'd like to like the T2's

[Mbrimson88]

.

The T-II 149s are working well on the 8.38 x 32.2 with 14.5 wb, especially more so on steeper boards I haven't really wanted to skate on Indy trucks before.  Another bigger board 8.75 with 14.6 wb that is almost too flat doesn't feel good on the T-II 151s, but the same shape in a steeper mold also feels better, so I am thinking I can skate steeper boards with the T-II trucks and more mellow boards on other trucks.

My usual go to was Indy standard 149s on mellow 8.38s and 159s on mellow concave 8.75s, for reference.


After the T-II bushings firmed up, everything feels really comfortable now as well, solid enough they don't feel mushy but very easy to turn and carve well, which is what I am happy doing, skating parks and transition more than anything else on them.

[hiljentaa]

Been skating after work in 15-20° weather and my trucks do not turn at all. Bushings are so frozen. Was never this bad out West, but not enough sun in the Midwest...

Are there any conical bushings I can use or modify to use in Thunders that don't freeze?

Might have to put on my old Stage 10 Indys.

[Dancing Horses]

Expand Quote

Mine are pretty well worn at this point. Still great for what they are but haven't found the pop sweet spot on any deck really.

[close]

I've used them in 6.5 tail and 14.25 wheelbase, didn't like it. I feel that it should be less than 6.5 tail for me and more than 14.25 wheelbase. But then it would be another niche deck dimensions that are next to impossible to find
Never tried ACEs, but I'd like to like the T2's

Palace does an 8.2 with 14.5 wb and short tail I think .

[myfeetarekillingme]

Been skating after work in 15-20° weather and my trucks do not turn at all. Bushings are so frozen. Was never this bad out West, but not enough sun in the Midwest...

Are there any conical bushings I can use or modify to use in Thunders that don't freeze?

Might have to put on my old Stage 10 Indys.

It may be idiotic to try this, but I’ve been thinking about bringing a small blow torch with me on these winter sessions to warm up my bushings and also help wax melt and settle into ledges. Of course would have to be super careful and use at a distance from the trucks haha

[standfast]

Expand Quote

Been skating after work in 15-20° weather and my trucks do not turn at all. Bushings are so frozen. Was never this bad out West, but not enough sun in the Midwest...

Are there any conical bushings I can use or modify to use in Thunders that don't freeze?

Might have to put on my old Stage 10 Indys.

[close]

It may be idiotic to try this, but I’ve been thinking about bringing a small blow torch with me on these winter sessions to warm up my bushings and also help wax melt and settle into ledges. Of course would have to be super careful and use at a distance from the trucks haha

Put some bones bushings in the thunders and you'll be aight.

[Benicio El Toro]

Something about the thunder bushings and winter does not mix.

Any specific duro for the bones?

[rawbertson.]

Something about the thunder bushings and winter does not mix.

Any specific duro for the bones?

dont overthink it too much -
If you like softer / harder than go with what you normally would just knowing they wont be as prone to the cold weather BS as thunder bushings are. if you want it to be like 1:1 with how it would be in the summer, then go softer than normal. but then know in summer they are gonna feel a lot wilder.

[Ok]

Something about the thunder bushings and winter does not mix.

Any specific duro for the bones?

only get the black ones/hard.
unless:

you do not hit your tail
you weigh the same as a child

[Mbrimson88]

Been skating after work in 15-20° weather and my trucks do not turn at all. Bushings are so frozen. Was never this bad out West, but not enough sun in the Midwest...

Are there any conical bushings I can use or modify to use in Thunders that don't freeze?

Might have to put on my old Stage 10 Indys.

This might not be a good option, but an easy test is just taking out the bottom washer and seeing if that will free up the turn on the trucks.  When it warms up, just put them back in and away you go.  Some people have even taken out both washers, but I don't know how cold it actually gets to need to do that, as well as the nut just on bushing doesn't end nicely in most cases.  That all depends on the trucks not being grinded down with the kingpin half smashed either, so you can easily change it out, but it is a simple enough test.

Besides that, just a flat washer on top with no washer on the bottom could also work - trying the one you get with your Bones bushings at any rate, with your original bushings, just to mix it up and see if it works.


Some people have said Indy bushings aren't so bad in cold, even though they still do change, but they come in conical shapes and a few duro options.

Shortys Doh Dohs also come in conical shapes and I seem to recall people saying they work on here, although I have never seen them or tested them.

[chillclinton87]

Might sound like a broken record, but i didn‘t like bones bushings as much as stock thunder bushings.

There are plenty of aftermarket bushings from thunder. Regular duro would be 90a. I found the red 90a duro bushings that come with the rebuild kit to not freeze. At least a few years back when we didn‘t have an indoor park due to covid

Don‘t get me wrong, bones bushings work but somehow don‘t sit flat but thats not too bad

[Richard Skidder]

Expand Quote

Been skating after work in 15-20° weather and my trucks do not turn at all. Bushings are so frozen. Was never this bad out West, but not enough sun in the Midwest...

Are there any conical bushings I can use or modify to use in Thunders that don't freeze?

Might have to put on my old Stage 10 Indys.

[close]

This might not be a good option, but an easy test is just taking out the bottom washer and seeing if that will free up the turn on the trucks.  When it warms up, just put them back in and away you go.  Some people have even taken out both washers, but I don't know how cold it actually gets to need to do that, as well as the nut just on bushing doesn't end nicely in most cases.  That all depends on the trucks not being grinded down with the kingpin half smashed either, so you can easily change it out, but it is a simple enough test.

Besides that, just a flat washer on top with no washer on the bottom could also work - trying the one you get with your Bones bushings at any rate, with your original bushings, just to mix it up and see if it works.


Some people have said Indy bushings aren't so bad in cold, even though they still do change, but they come in conical shapes and a few duro options.

Shortys Doh Dohs also come in conical shapes and I seem to recall people saying they work on here, although I have never seen them or tested them.

Yes, the yellow Doh-dohs cones are fantastic. The bottom bushing is the correct height and using the Thunder washers instead of the flat ones that come with the Shorty’s will feel EXACTLY the same as Thunder stock in the summer time.

[Obijuan91]

Do the yellow doh dohs last longer than the bones?

[Jort250]

Do Ace bushings freeze? I know Asta swears by them

[moonordie]

Do Ace bushings freeze? I know Asta swears by them

They don't. Beat bushings ever.

[Richard Skidder]

Do the yellow doh dohs last longer than the bones?

A lot longer. There’s no core to separate from. The yellows are a bit mushy at first. If you’re using the cup washer from your Thunders take a few minutes to break them in instead of cranking them down right away.

[Beardedpirate]

Do Ace bushings freeze? I know Asta swears by them

Haven’t used them in my thunders yet, but used them in my ventures and didn’t have an issues with them at all, no freezing, no cracking!

[manuduncan]

the t2's are the only thunder trucks i've ever rode, still on the same pair from when they were released to now and i've yet to crack or experience any issues with the bushings

usually ride aces and indys and i always pop in aftermarket bushings after 3-4 months

maybe they are using a new formula for the t2s?

[Obijuan91]

Expand Quote

Do the yellow doh dohs last longer than the bones?

[close]

A lot longer. There’s no core to separate from. The yellows are a bit mushy at first. If you’re using the cup washer from your Thunders take a few minutes to break them in instead of cranking them down right away.

This may seem like a dumb question then but since you said they start mushy I gotta ask if they dud the pop a bit? I had the Indy 88a on em a while back they were cool but they took away that thunder snap, at least to me it felt like they did.

[moykky]

the t2's are the only thunder trucks i've ever rode, still on the same pair from when they were released to now and i've yet to crack or experience any issues with the bushings

usually ride aces and indys and i always pop in aftermarket bushings after 3-4 months

maybe they are using a new formula for the t2s?

I was looking at those Grind King owners video series during last weekend, where he was going through different aspects of trucks and he mentioned that the "transparent" (thunder, venture) bushings are usually of worse quality than the opaque ones (ace, indy, slappy). And he was specifically mentioning that thunder might have been changing the formula to T2's since it needs to withstand more due to turning more deeply. It looks different, so must be different?
Anyways, the video series in question are mainly a Grind King truck advertisement but they still have good information here and there. Sorry that I'm too lazy to find them and link...

But another thing, the Doh doh's cone shaped bushings should fit Thunders? And are more durable? I have this problem with Thunder and Venture that the top bushing spits after a (short) while. I have harder bushings now in test if they last longer, but it's not optimal since I'd like to have the stock blue bushings, they're almost perfect nut flush. What I actually did was sanded the harder top bushing a bit, to have it little bit more responsive (not enough though).

[rawbertson.]

I went to the Hockey Arena with my T2s and I noticed the bushings definitely felt stiffer than they did in the summer. But since they are quite turny it felt good enough, almost kinda perfect. it wasnt as brutal as T1s at all. temperature is probably just above freezing in there.

The new bushings are definitely way better than the old ones. i agree with the Grind King that translucent bushings dont seem as strong as the opaque ones for whatever reason. I even have thunders with opaque bushings and they seemed to be better.

[Slayer666]

i swear if u put any other bushings in thunders they ruin the turn and overall feel ur better off skating ventures at that point imo

[rawbertson.]

I just took a video of all my trucks and bushings and their current state

Indy BLue bushings seem fine, barely peeled from what i can tell, i dont think it will affect anything significantly
The Aces seem to barely peel, they dont crack in a bad way
The Lurpivs are actually amazing, they look brand new still. I haven't probably put as much time as I have on the aces though but its close. you can see ive still skated em a ton.

Both sets of Thunder T1 crap. clear and opaque. there is only 1 good one and thats just cuase i replaced it recently.
Thunder T2 have that tiny peel but i dont know if its a big deal. that may have come from skating in the cold actually. i dont tihnk it will affect them significantly but we'll see.

https://youtube.com/shorts/inka5GYyzl0

[skatebruh]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Mine are pretty well worn at this point. Still great for what they are but haven't found the pop sweet spot on any deck really.

[close]

I've used them in 6.5 tail and 14.25 wheelbase, didn't like it. I feel that it should be less than 6.5 tail for me and more than 14.25 wheelbase. But then it would be another niche deck dimensions that are next to impossible to find
Never tried ACEs, but I'd like to like the T2's

[close]

Palace does an 8.2 with 14.5 wb and short tail I think .

Palace also has an 8.38 with a 14.84" wheelbase and an even shorter tail

[myfeetarekillingme]

We had unseasonably warm weather yesterday and I was reminded of how good T1s can feel after spending several months on some Aces. I could feel the urge to skate Aces leaving my body as I landed trick after trick. Everything was popping so crispy and grinds were pinching almost effortlessly. God damn I love Thunders and I want this feeling to last

[Ok]

We had unseasonably warm weather yesterday and I was reminded of how good T1s can feel after spending several months on some Aces. I could feel the urge to skate Aces leaving my body as I landed trick after trick. Everything was popping so crispy and grinds were pinching almost effortlessly. God damn I love Thunders and I want this feeling to last

which T1s?
i made the mistake of getting hollow light 147s, back when i was skating smaller setups. too light.

cast 149s are nice.


i don’t get as tripped out about boards when i use thunders. meaning the thunders seem to match up
better, for me, with almost all deck dimensions

[JM]

Expand Quote

We had unseasonably warm weather yesterday and I was reminded of how good T1s can feel after spending several months on some Aces. I could feel the urge to skate Aces leaving my body as I landed trick after trick. Everything was popping so crispy and grinds were pinching almost effortlessly. God damn I love Thunders and I want this feeling to last

[close]

which T1s?
i made the mistake of getting hollow light 147s, back when i was skating smaller setups. too light.

cast 149s are nice.


i don’t get as tripped out about boards when i use thunders. meaning the thunders seem to match up
better, for me, with almost all deck dimensions

Cast T1’s had me feeling talented too. I share thee stoke.

[Murge]

Yall are making me want to throw T1s on a set up.