Guide to Fitting Bearings in a Scooter Wheel

This guide will show you how to install and remove bearings in metal-core wheels, typically used for scooters, without any specialised tools.

If you've attempted to fit bearings in skate wheels, you may have found the task quite simple. The bearings are pushed in with the fingers and can be easily taken out using an ordinary skate tool. This simplicity arises because skate wheels frequently have a plastic core. However, scooter wheels differ as they have a metal core, making fitting bearings more challenging since metal does not offer any flexibility.

Consequently, when inserting or extracting bearings in your scooter's metal-core wheels, some tools are required. While specialised tools are available, they can be costly, so we present a method that avoids using any specialised tools. Nonetheless, we always advocate for professional, high-quality tools to prevent potential damage to the bearings during the process.

Installing Bearings in Metal-Core Wheels

Tools Required:

  • Axle bolt with screw
  • 5 additional or used bearings
  • Hex key

Steps for Installing Bearings:

  1. Utilise an axle bolt and five other/used bearings to press the bearings evenly into the wheel's core. This minimises potential damage to the bearings.
  2. If fitting is particularly tight, apply a metal washer (minimum diameter 22 mm) on both bearing sides. This distributes the pressure better and decreases the risk of damaging the bearings.

Removing Bearings from Metal-Core Wheels

Tools Required:

  • Axle bolt
  • Hammer

Steps for Removing Bearings:

  1. Initially, position the spacer (located between the bearings) centrally so the axle cannot pass through.
  2. With your hammer, strike the axle (inserted from side to side) to push the bearings out from the opposite side.

Note: If your spacer is self-centred, there is an increased risk of damaging the bearings when removing them.

In our video, a spacer without a flange (not self-centred) is used. This facilitates easier bearing removal and minimises any damage.

For those using a self-centred spacer, it is necessary to use a screwdriver and tap around the inner ring of the bearing to extract it. This method can easily destroy the bearings.


Refer to our guide on Purchasing Bearings for comprehensive information about bearings.

SkatePro