Posted on August 30 2026
Learning how to adjust skateboard trucks is an important part of skateboard maintenance. Your truck adjustment affects how your skateboard turns, feels and responds when you ride.
Whether your skateboard trucks feel too loose, too tight or unstable, adjusting them is quick and easy.
What You Need
All you really need is a skateboard tool.
Step 1: Find the Kingpin Nut
The kingpin is the large bolt running through the centre of your skateboard truck.
The kingpin nut controls the compression of your truck bushings.
This is the nut you'll adjust when tightening or loosening skateboard trucks.
Step 2: Tighten Your Skateboard Trucks
To make your skateboard trucks tighter, turn the kingpin nut clockwise.
Start with a small adjustment.
Avoid cranking the nut down as far as possible.
Step 3: Loosen Your Skateboard Trucks
To loosen your skateboard trucks, turn the kingpin nut anticlockwise.
Again, make small adjustments.
Step 4: Test Your Skateboard
Stand on your skateboard after making an adjustment.
Lean from side to side and see how the board responds.
Then take it for a short ride.
Step 5: Adjust Again If Necessary
Skateboarding is personal.
If your trucks still feel too stiff, loosen them slightly.
If they feel unstable, tighten them slightly.
Keep making small adjustments until you find a setup that feels comfortable.
What About Skateboard Bushings?
If your trucks don't feel right even after adjusting the kingpin, your skateboard bushings may need replacing.
Bushings control much of the turning response of your trucks.
Different skateboard bushings can make your trucks feel significantly different.
Don't Over-Tighten Your Trucks
Constantly tightening the kingpin isn't always the solution.
If your bushings are worn or damaged, replacing them can be much more effective.
Over-tightening can also change the way your bushings perform.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you adjust skateboard trucks?
Use a skate tool to tighten or loosen the kingpin nut in the centre of each truck.
Which way do you turn skateboard trucks to tighten them?
Turn the kingpin nut clockwise to tighten it.
Which way do you turn skateboard trucks to loosen them?
Turn the kingpin nut anticlockwise to loosen it.
How much should I adjust my skateboard trucks?
Make small adjustments, usually around a quarter turn at a time, and test your board between adjustments.
