Rollerblading is a fun activity. You can go on many adventures around the neighborhood and they also make the best transportation. Aside from that, it is very important to take care of your rollerblades. That squeak is an awful noise to listen to. Instead of taking your rollerblades to a skate shop, fix them yourself. Here’s how to fix squeaky rollerblades.
What Does the Squeak in Rollerblades Mean?
Upon hearing a squeak, crunching, or grinding noise in your rollerblades usually means that you have dirt stuck in the wheels. The bearings need to be cleaned. Or you should lubricate the bearings.
Are the Bearings Important?
Bearings for rollerblades are very important. Without them, your rollerskates would never move at the pace that you want them to. Typically, rollerblading owners should own 2 bearings per wheel.
What Kind of Bearings Should I Have?
Ceramic bearings are the best. The huge benefit is that they don’t rust. They are self-cleaning, lighter than metal, and stronger. These bearings also can withstand higher speeds and acceleration capability. There is less heat resistance, and they have a higher spin rate.
- Sealed or Shielded Bearings
Every skate bearing is known as a casing. The casing keeps the internal parts of the bearing protected from the elements of the terrain you skate in. Casings are present in two forms. A sealed casing or a shielded casing.
- Sealed
Sealed bearings are sealed. They are not removable and are not easy to get inside for cleaning purposes. Sealed bearings are found on lower-end, inexpensive skates. They are not interchangeable. Water, dirt, and dust can easily get into sealed bearings which results in that awful squeak noise.
- Shielded
Shielded bearings are more serviceable. Typically it is found on middle- or upper-end skates. They provide a metal cap. It pops off to access the inner workings of the bearings and allows for easy cleaning and lubrication. Or there is a seal around the cap which you must remove before removing the cap. If it does not have a seal, simply remove the shield.
Taking Care of Rollerblades
As mentioned, it is very important to take care of rollerblades. Rollerblade wheels especially. Keep your wheels lubricated to ensure that they keep rolling. It is recommended that you clean, rotate, and lubricate your wheels whenever you see dirt accumulating. Take the time to clean them when you see one side of the wheels wearing down more than the other side.
How Often Should I Lubricate the Wheels?
In an ideal world, you should clean your bearings every time you use your skates. But that takes time. Lubricating the wheels is not an easy process. Taking the bearings apart and cleaning them is a time consuming and it’s a dirty task. The best way to tell if your bearings need cleaning is to flip your skates and spin the wheels.
Do the wheels spin freely? Listen to any interesting noises. These noises include crunching or squeaks like a mouse. Once you make sure that there or no mice in the vicinity, search for dirt or debris in the bearings. It’s time for a good cleaning now.
How to Lubricate the Wheels
Cleaning and lubricating rollerblading wheels are not the same things. Allrollerbladers should be aware of the difference between bearing cleaners and bearing lubricators.
lubing your bearings trap dirt and particles. It and makes it really difficult to clean those bits out. Those particles are what damage bearings. Do not use any products like WD-40. They leave behind a film that accumulates dirt and dust.
Orange 409 cleaner will wash your bearings. Spray the bearings and use newspaper instead of a towel or a rag. Clean them until no more dirt is discharged. Do not rinse the wheels with water. Water already messes up the wheels if you go through a puddle on the street. Just let the bearings air dry and continue to lubricating.
Step by Step Process of Lubricating the Wheels
Once you have cleaned the bearings correctly it is recommended to apply lubrication to your bearings. Products such as Bones Speed Cream and Lynx Swift Lube are the best lubricant products. The heavier the lubricant the longer it will last and you won’t have to clean and lube your bearings as often.
- Step 1: Start by removing all the wheels from the rollerblade. Loosen and remove the axle with a special tool that will allow you to remove the wheel and bearings. If the bearings do not loosen from the wheel immediately, then you can pry out the bearings with a small flathead screwdriver.
- Step 2: This is going along with step 1 regarding what type of tool you should use. Place the tip of a screwdriver in the center hole of the rollerblading bearing. Then gently pry and move the screwdriver around the circumference until the bearing pops out. Use the opposite end of the screwdriver to push the bearings into the new wheels.
- Step 3: Do not, and we repeat, DO NOT misplace the bearings. That is very bad news for you and your rollerblades which will easily fall apart. Keep a container nearby and place the bearings in it.
- Step 4: Then pour enough clean, conventional motor oil to cover the top of the bearings. While the bearings are soaking, twist the wheels of the rollerblades so that they wear evenly on both sides.
- Step 5: To clean your bearings, begin by wiping each bearing off with a paper towel or a cloth. This will remove any excess dirt. It is also recommended that when cleaning your bearings that you purchase a bottle of bearing cleaner.
- Step 5: Rotate the front wheels with the back, as well as turning the wheels over from one side to the other. You can also wash the wheels by wiping them down with water and mild soap.
Cleaning the Bearings on Rollerblades
Other than the wheels on the rollerblades you can also give the bearings a good clean, too. They are another reason why your rollerblades squeak. Seal the lid on the plastic container and let the bearings absorb overnight. Letting the bearings soak removes the dirt particles that have built up in the bearings and also acts as an added lubricant to the bearings.
After your bearings have had a few minutes to sit, once the bearings are finished, wipe the excess oil with a paper towel. Following that, insert the bearings back into the wheels. And then place the wheels back on the axle. Tighten it very well so the rollerblades don’t fall apart the next time you use them.
What Cleanings Should I Use?
Bearing cleaners come in aerosol cans that allow the cleaner to simply be sprayed on. You can also purchase a bottle that allows you to fully submerge your bearings for soaking. Follow the directions very closely to ensure proper care is being taken of your bearings. If you do not purchase a cleaner, DO NOT USE WATER. Just wipe them off.
Other lubricants you can use are gels or oils. Typically they are faster. However, they do require more maintenance because they do not last as long. It is worth noting that re-lubricating a bearing with a different type of lubricant isn’t bad, but matching them is preferable.
How Do I Make My Bearings Last Longer?
To refrain that squeak from coming back, you have to take good care of your rollerblades. We will say this as many times. Taking care of your rollerblades means that they will last a longer life expectancy.
- Stay Away From Water
Another way to keep your rollerblades up to date is to avoid water. Water ruins rollerblades or any type of skates. A splash of water results in the lubrication becoming diluted. It can eventually lead to the bearings to rust.
As you can probably guess, skating on rusted bearings are neither fast nor smooth. Our advice to you. Skip skating through puddles.
- Don’t skate on Grass
Did those squeak noises start after you went rollerblading in a grassy area? Just like puddles, don’t skate in the grass. For all you beginning skaters out there It is recommended that to skate off the grass rather than on it. We all have our own learning techniques. Don’t be embarrassed if you are not up to speed like the other skaters.
Just stay off the grass as much as possible. We understand that most kids like to walk or skate into the grass on purpose. The grass is filled with dirt. When these particles clog into the bearings, it seals them up and can cause them to seize up.
- Skate More on Trails
Trails are the best place for skaters. However, it depends on how dirty the trail is. Depending on how much dirt there is your bearings are going to get very clogged. Rollerblading is fun, but it is not fun having to clean out the wheels after that. Keep your skate bearings clean.
