Roller skates are sports equipment, and like any equipment, they need maintenance too so they can perform properly and support the skater. Certain parts of the roller skates expire and will need to be replaced. If worn out parts are not replaced, this affects the skater's performance on skates.
To start, here's a chart of the roller skate anatomy so you can familiarize yourself with the different parts of a roller skate. Pay attention to where you can find the Cushions, pivot cups, bearings, and toe stops:
These are the roller skate parts that need to be replaced when worn out:
Cushions
Cushions or bushings act as the shock absorbers of the roller skate. They allow skaters to access their edges and do turns and maneuvers with their skates. These get worn out and need to be replaced in time. If the skates don't feel as responsive as before, or when it's hard to access your edges, it may be time to replace the cushions.
Cushions need to be checked every 6 months or less depending on how often you skate. They're supposed to be soft and rubbery. When they turn hard and unresponsive, it's time to replace them. Some can last years before they become hard and unresponsive.
You can watch this video for a guide on how to change roller skate cushions.
Pivot cups
Pivot cups are these small rubber things that go in between your trucks’ pivot arm and your plate. They act as a smooth barrier that lessens friction between your trucks and plates. These small pivot cups also affect your skating because they allow your trucks to move smoother. If your skates start to feel weird or not as responsive as before, don’t just check your cushions, check your pivot cups too!
Check you pivot cups at least once a year or more frequently depending on how often you skate. Replace them when you see holes and tears.
You can watch this video for a guide on how to change roller skate pivot cups.
Bearings
Bearings are what make the roller skate wheels spin. Each roller skate wheel needs 2 bearings, 1 in front and 1 at the back of the wheel. 1 pair of roller skates has 8 wheels, so you will need 16 pcs of bearings for a complete set.
Replace the bearings when they are rusty and the wheels don't spin smoothly anymore.
You can watch this video for a guide on how to install bearings on roller skate wheels:
Toe stops
Toe stops are the brakes for roller skates. Skaters use these to stop. Skaters can also use these to perform moves. There are 2 types of toe stops: bolt on and adjustable toe stops. The on on the photo are adjustable toe stops.
You replace the toe stops once the rubber compound is already scraped off an you hit metal already.
You can watch this video for a guide on how to replace bolt on toe stops.
There are also 2 types of adjustable toe stop housings.
- You can watch this video for a guide on how to replace adjustable toe stops that use lock nuts
- You can watch this video for a guide on how to replace adjustable toe stops that use allen locks
You can get all these parts and more on our website. Cushions, pivot cups, bearings, and toe stops are all available on our website!
