I’m having this really annoying problem with my rear truck on one side, the bearing keeps slipping out of the wheel ever so slightly after every slappy and locking the wheel up. I’ve had this happen on 95a 60mm OJ’s, 95a 57mm Dogtowns, and now tonight on some 60mm 93a Dragons (holy fuck the best wheels for indoor if you haven’t tried them buy them just for that reason they actually allow you to skate like you’re outside).
I’ve tried running spacers and those proved to be useless. The axle (AF1 44’s) is not bent. I tried tapping the axle itself real hard on the ground without the wheel on while keeping the other one on to see if maybe it was axle slip, but I don’t think that’s the problem as I couldn’t get it to “slip” and make the one with the wheel on seize up. I don’t recall this happening with 97a+ in hardness with spitfires or any other wheel.
Anyone ever experience this? Is it just the softer wheels not having a plastic core to hold the bearings in? Bearings I’m using are Bronson Raw’s which I never thought these things would be legit but they really are hauling ass and not seizing up on their own.
You might have figured it out, as per other comments, but I would ask / check these things just to make sure:
1. Skate the board backwards (if possible) and do the same trick you do - slappies shouldn't need kicks or direction like some other tricks, but I don't know what you are riding.
2. Rotate the wheels and see if it is that position more so than one particular wheel
3. By using spacers and checking things are almost locked down (add a washer in the middle area with spacer if needed) so there is no play, does this solve the issue?
Note: I prefer to run normal bearings in wheels, no spacers with some play so am not a fan of this, but this is what I had to do with one set of wheels that the middle area was coming loose. Ended up putting the Bones Race Reds in there - the ones with the built in spacers and it solved the problem with the wheels too. Not saying you have to get those, but there are other brands that do them too, but they definitely solve any and all wheel bearing seat slip issues, even if it makes the board sound different, at least you will not have to deal with pushing the wheel back on correctly after every run.
Added this link just to show you, in case anyone doesn't know, they have the extra built in middle area, which acts like a spacer, only it is preventing any movement in the bearing, axle position, etc. The "go fast down hills" type of people use them a lot, and I wasn't really that keen on them, but they worked for those wheels, so I came away with a different perspective after that.
https://bonesbearings.com/bones-reg-race-reds-reg-skateboard-bearings-8-pack