Skateboarding can be a fun and active way of spending your free time. Apart from being a great full-body work out it has other benefits. For example, building core strength, balance, and confidence in young ones.
A skateboard can turn by itself mostly if the bushings in the truck have a problem or the hardware is worn out.
These problems will automatically ruin the fun of skateboarding since you can get into an accident if not fixed.
I cover details of why your skateboard turns by itself in this guide. let’s get to it!
Why is My Skateboard Turning by Itself?
Why is my skateboard turning by itself? Your skateboard can turn by itself due to bad bushing, too loose or too tight trucks, malfunctioning pivot cup bushing, bent truck axles, broken bearings, warped skateboard deck, pushing mongo, steering by leaning, deformed base plates and tore mounting holes, and, loose or unattached screws, nuts, bolt, and other hardware.
below, I elaborate on why your skateboard is turning by itself!
1. Bad Bushing
The most common problem that may cause a skateboard to turn by itself is cracked or dried bushings. (Bushings are the plastic pieces at the center of a truck).
It is advisable to keep checking on your bushings and pivot cups since they tend to lose flexibility from steering, weather conditions, and impacts with time.
This problem happens because you steer more in one direction than the other, resulting in uneven squash.
Even though your bushings may be new, the squash on one side may lead to a misalignment.
It would be best if you leaned in the opposite direction of where your board is directing you.
This activity will help to even it in a day after skateboarding or some time.
If they still look sufficient, now check if they are evenly pinched.
Adjust the nuts to realign the trucks, ensuring they have the same tightness; this calls for either tightening them up or loosening them.
Try skateboarding and check if there is a difference. It is also advisable to replace the bushings if you find cracks and tearing.
Bushings are not expensive (but be careful not to buy the cheaply produced polyurethane from some companies), which will make a huge difference.
2. Too Loose or Too Tight Trucks
There is a possibility that one Truck is either loose or tight, causing the deck to steer in a certain direction.
If the trucks are too loose, you should try to tighten them. Screw the nut to the bolt since they tend to cause the board to deviate from their path.
Stand on the deck and quiver the board from one side to the other using your weight.
They should realign while you skate and ensure that both trucks are tightened evenly.
If the pivot is moving around a little, this could be another cause. Replace them (pivot cup) if you note any sign of tear and wear.
Please make it a trial and error game; try loosening them and tightening them until you get them right. I.e. not too right and not too loose.
3. Fagged or Malfunctioning Pivot Cup Bushing
Remove the kingpin to check if the pivot cups have a problem. Open the base plate where they are located and see if they still fit as purposed or if there are some twists. Replace the cracked ones.
4. Cheap Walmart or Toy Store Deck
Try spinning the wheels using your hands to see how long they can rotate.
If it turns for less than four seconds, this indicates that you got the wrong skateboard, and if only one of them stops spinning after a few seconds, it’s either a tight nut or a bad bearing.
I don’t disrespect people using the cheap Walmart, but I think it’s better to save for a better skateboard.
5. Worn Wheels
Some wheels tend to wear fast before others, depending on your stance and turning preferences.
If one of your wheels wears faster, there is no need to replace it; rather, fix this by swapping the wheels or flipping them, which will make some change.
Follow these rules if you have a chance to exchange your skateboard wheels around;
- The left front wheel should go to the rear right.
- The right front wheel should go to the rear left. And the vice verse.
6. Bent Truck Axles
bent truck axles are not that common but can happen to any truck brand. This problem mostly occurs due to the skateboard’s ghost turning.
The bent axles tend to destroy the bearing, which in turn may cause the wheels to block.
To ensure that your axel is ok, remove the wheels and check if they are straight. If they are giving you headaches, you should replace the axles.
7. Broken Bearings
Checking and cleaning the bearings is good since they collect a lot of dirt and dust.
Broken approaches lead to accidents due to wheel wobbling. Well-maintained paths will always ensure stability.
8. Warped Skateboard Deck
To check if your skateboard is warped, put it on the ground and see if all four wheels are touching the ground.
If one or two wheels fail to touch the ground, remove the Truck. Lay the deck on the floor and check if there are distortions or twists.
If you find a problem with a new deck, return it to the store and if you own it for a while, check the trucks.
They may be screwed too right or even have irregular wheels. Don’t decide on purchasing a new deck when you have not checked the alignment of the trucks and the wheels.
9. Pushing Mongo
Always avoid using your front foot since this may also cause skateboard turning since it’s hard to maintain balance. Avoid pushing mongo.
10. Steering by Leaning
The skateboard may turn in one direction because you either turn to the back or front side. This action results in the bushings slightly crushing on one side.
Swap the trucks around to even them out; eventually, with time, this will make a difference.
11. Deformed Base Plates and the Torn Mounting Holes
Whenever you skate for a while, the hardware wears down. At times the baseplates tend to show tears where the bolts and nuts are attached.
In some cases, even the plate itself can deform. The cracks near the mounting holes are common, mostly after extensive use.
The Truck is a bit crooked, and this causes the skateboard to turn. A deformed mountain hole is rare unless something went on wrong during production.
Take off the trucks, check the mountain holes, and if they are stretched, this calls for a basement replacement.
11. Loose or unattached Screws Nuts, Bolts, and Other Hardware
Finally, inspect your skateboard and see if;
- The large nut in the Truck is tight.
- The wheels are attached properly. I.e. if the nuts at the side of the truck axles are well tightened, ensuring that the wheels are spinning.
- The screws and nuts attaching the Truck are not able to move.
- There are faulty spacers somewhere between the bearing and fix it.
This is a quick summary of how you can fix your wagging skateboard.
Why is My Skateboard Turning By Itself? Wrapping Up
Why is my skateboard turning by itself? This is simply because of the; bad bearings, squashed bushings, coned wheels, loose screws, loose trucks, bent axles or even the skateboard deck.
Those longboarders and cruisers experiencing skateboards turning by themselves should go through this guide. I hope it will be of great help.
