Introduction
A longboard is a type of skateboard with a longer wheelbase and larger, softer wheels. The two main types are “Cruiser” and “Dancer.” Cruisers are more stable but have little to no turning ability while dancers are much easier to turn but less stable. Regardless of your preference, you should always clean and maintain your longboard like you would any other electronic device (e.g., laptop). If not taken care of properly it will wear out faster than normal or worse!
It’s best practice to store it in an enclosed space that protects against the elements when not in use; it also helps keep dust off the bearings which can significantly decrease roll speed (think water resistance). To ensure safety, avoid storing it outside as the sun’s ultraviolet rays break down the materials from which a board is made of. Make sure you have a nice dry space that gets enough light to ensure your board lasts as long as possible.
Now, about how you should actually maintain your board:
While on flat ground, apply very light pressure on both your toes and heels to see if any side-to-side movement occurs. If the deck moves up and down or rolls forward or backward even slightly, most likely it is time for you to tighten its hardware (e.g., nut bumps). A simple way of checking this is by unscrewing each nut bump from its place and applying some thread locker (e.g., Loctite Blue 242) to the threads. Then screw it back into place, but be sure not to over-tighten the hardware (just enough to ensure no side-to-side movement occurs) .
While still on flat ground, grab your board and twist it frontside 180 degrees. If you feel any noticeable wobble occurring while applying very light pressure with your toes/heels again, then most likely it is time for you to tighten your truck bolts (e.g., by using a skate tool) .
Source: https://longboardpro.com/how-to-clean-longboard/
How Many Things Helps Solve the Problem?
If neither of these two things helps solve the problem of wobbling wheels/trucks , chances are that there might be cracks in one or more of your bushings. The best way to check this is by removing each individual bushing. You can do so by using either a skate tool or an allen wrench to push out the bushing.
If the metal bar that covers your kingpin is loose then it is recommended you tighten the nut with a skate tool. Try testing it again afterward, making sure to apply firm pressure with your toes/heels for this test.
If there are noticeable cracks in any of the bushings, then this means that they need to be replaced (ideally when worn-down enough where there is very little bump-absorption left). The best way to check if one or more of your bushings needs replacement is to remove each individual bushing (e.g., using an allen wrench or a skate tool ). If you find that one or more of the bushings are loose and/or cracked, then they need to be replaced. Also check for smoothness: if there is a lot of resistance and play in any of your trucks, this means those bushings need replacement as well.
Replacing your bushing is fairly easy. All it takes is a bit of muscle power with a few basic tools. You can choose from either solid or urethane (urethane being more expensive but also providing better shock/vibration absorption).