Steps for Replacing Inline Skate Wheels

The wheels on roller blades tend to wear down the fastest. By changing them, you can usually restore that new skate feel. Fortunately, this is a task you can manage on your own with ease—just adhere to this guide, and you will be gliding along quickly.

Essential tool: Allen key or a skate-tool (Certain skates may require two tools, one for each side of the wheel).

Use the tool on the bolt securing the axle. Sometimes, as illustrated in the above picture, two tools or Allen keys are necessary. Once the bolt is loosened, you can take out the axle and screw. Don't forget to remove the worn wheel from the frame as well.

This is a prime opportunity to clean the frame and bearings. We suggest wiping off any dirt with a dry cloth from the area where the wheel was mounted.

With a skate-tool or Allen key, take out the bearings from the old wheel. If you plan to reuse the bearings in the new wheel, clean all the dirt off the bearings with a dry cloth. Cleaning your bearings may also be beneficial.

Read more: How to clean your bearings

In addition to bearings, a spacer is located within the wheel. This spacer needs to be utilized in the new wheel as well (Note: some skates feature spacers that are split into two or three parts).

Position the bearings and spacer inside the new wheel. They should fit securely. (If the bearings do not fit snugly, it can cause play in the wheel, which should be prevented. Seek out wheels with a tighter hub if necessary)

The new wheel is now set for installation. Insert it into the vacant spot in the frame.

Insert the axle through the wheel and secure it with the screw. Use the skate-tool to fasten the screw tightly yet ensure the wheel can still spin freely.

Proceed with this method for all the wheels. Fresh wheels are often larger in diameter compared to the worn ones. Consequently, your skating speed will increase, so exercise caution the first time you use your skates after swapping wheels.