Gear Care and Repair — Inline Skates

Inline skates are built to last, but without proper maintenance, inline skates may lose their original ride and handling, or become unsafe. Always refer to the owner's manual for specific information on skate maintenance.

Wheels
Inline skate wheels are made of urethane and will wear down over time. A worn wheel is slow, but worse, it may be unsafe.

Be proactive and rotate your wheels frequently. This will even out wear and prolong a wheel's "like new" feel. Wheel wear first appears on the inside edges. At the first sign of wear, remove all the wheels from the frame and turn them inside out, so the inside of the wheel is now on the outside. At the same time switch the first wheel with the third, and the second with the fourth — this pattern was developed because the front and rear wheel wear out faster.

The rate of wear is determined by the skating surface and temperature, the skater's weight, and the type and quality of the wheel. Severe conditions can cause wheels to abrade or loosen. Never skate on a wheel that is not completely intact. Also, avoid over- or under-tightening the wheels to the frame. Spin the wheels after tightening to check for wheel play.

Bearings
Bearing are used to reduce friction between the skate wheel and its axle. The ease of an inline skate's ride depends on the condition of its bearings. They will get dirty from exposure to water, dirt and other elements and should be kept absolutely clean for optimal performance. During normal skating conditions, a skater need only wipe off surface contaminants with a dry cloth. If exposed to water or dirt, however, more aggressive measures are called for (water causes bearings to rust and dirt scratches their surface).

To Clean Your Bearings

Remove the wheelfrom the frame and pop the 2 doughnut-shaped bearing housings out of the hub using a bearing removal tool. The bearing spacer will also come out. If the bearings are serviceable (see your owner's manual), pry off the metal or plastic shield that covers the ball bearings located inside the housings. If the shields are not removable, simply clean the outside with a dry cloth. Don't remove the bearings from the housing — they aren't meant to be removed and replaced.
Soak the bearings(leave them in their housing as you can damage or lose the bearings if you remove them) in Simple Green or some other biodegradable detergent to remove old lubricant and grime. You can use solvents if you wish, but biodegradable cleaners are cheaper, easier to dispose of, and much safer to use. How long you soak them depends on how dirty or dried out the bearings have become. Previously maintained bearings won't need to soak very long. Dry and/or gritty bearings may need to soak overnight. You may need to use a brush or swirl the bearings around to make sure you break up the dirt and grime. Some skaters find that ultrasonic cleaners are ideal for cleaning bearings.
Rinse the bearingswith hot soapy water to make sure you clear out the solvent.
Dry the bearingswith a hair dryer to make sure all traces of water are gone.
Replace the bearingsin the housing.
Re-lubricate the bearings. Use oil, cream/grease, Teflon-based lubricants or wax/paraffin. Most people use grease or oil, but the choice is yours. Oiled bearings have slightly less resistance, but need to be maintained more often (as often as once a week). It is helpful to have a small hypodermic-style oil applicator to let you get the oil in where you want it. Note: Use only a few drops of oil per bearing. Over-lubricating will make the bearings more sticky and more prone to attracting dust and grime. Spin the bearing to spread the oil around inside. Grease works well, but newly greased bearings may take a little time to expel any extra grease and move the rest out of the way. After lubricating, let the bearing sit for an hour, and wipe it off.
Reassemble the bearing assemblyby replacing the shields and putting the housings and spacer back inside the wheels. The housing you just serviced should be oriented towards the inside of the wheel — contaminants have a tougher time getting into the bearings from the inside.

Brakes
Certain conditions, such as hills or rough pavement, can quickly wear down your brake. It is critical to check the brake often to assure that there is always enough rubber left to be effective — never go past the wear line molded into the brake. Always replace worn brakes with the manufacturer's recommended part. And inspect the brake for loose mounting screws. To change the pad, remove the mounting screw from inside the pad, insert the mounting screw into a new pad and reattach it to the brake bracket.