How to Quickly Fit Skate Bearings Using a Bearing Press

Pablo
Jun 8
3 min read

If you've ever fitted a set of bearings into roller skate wheels, you'll probably know there are several ways to do it.

The most common method is to use the axle on your skate trucks to press the bearings into place. It works, it's free and many skaters have been doing it for years.

However, if you regularly change wheels, build skates or suffer from hand and wrist problems, there is a much easier option: a bearing press.

What Is a Bearing Press?

A bearing press is a simple tool designed specifically for installing bearings into wheels.

Instead of using force through your hands, the tool applies even pressure directly to the bearing, helping it slide smoothly into place.

The result is:

Faster bearing installation
Less effort
More consistent results
Reduced risk of damaging bearings
Less strain on your hands and wrists

For anyone building multiple sets of skates, it's one of those tools you wonder how you ever managed without.

Can You Use Your Trucks Instead?

Absolutely.

Many skaters install bearings by placing them on the axle and pushing the wheel onto them.

There's nothing wrong with this method and it works perfectly well for occasional use.

However, there are a few drawbacks.

The process can require quite a bit of force, especially with tight-fitting wheels and new bearings.

If you're fitting sixteen bearings into a complete set of wheels, your hands can quickly start to feel it.

As someone who's not getting any younger and suffers from arthritis, I can definitely appreciate anything that makes workshop jobs easier on the joints.

Why I Prefer a Bearing Press

The biggest advantage is consistency.

The press keeps everything aligned while applying force evenly across the bearing.

That means:

Less chance of crooked installation
Less chance of damaging bearing shields
Faster assembly times
Less stress on your fingers, thumbs and wrists

When you're fitting bearings regularly, those small benefits soon add up.

How to Use a Bearing Press

The process is straightforward.

Step 1: Insert the First Bearing

Place the bearing into the wheel and position it on the press.

Apply steady pressure until the bearing seats fully into the wheel hub.

Step 2: Fit the Spacer

If you're using bearing spacers, insert the spacer into the centre of the wheel.

The spacer sits between the two bearings and helps maintain proper alignment.

Step 3: Install the Second Bearing

Position the second bearing and repeat the process.

Apply pressure until both bearings are fully seated.

Step 4: Repeat

Repeat for the remaining wheels until your set is complete.

Once you've done a few wheels, the process becomes incredibly quick.

Are Bearing Presses Worth Buying?

For casual skaters who only change wheels once every few years, perhaps not.

However, if you:

Maintain your own skates
Own multiple sets of wheels
Regularly swap setups
Build skates for friends
Run a skate workshop
Have arthritis or hand pain

A bearing press is a worthwhile investment.

They're relatively inexpensive and can save a surprising amount of time and effort.

A Small Tool That Makes a Big Difference

There are plenty of skate tools that look useful but spend most of their life sitting in a drawer.

A bearing press isn't one of them.

It's one of those workshop tools that gets used regularly and makes a repetitive job faster, easier and more comfortable.

Can you fit bearings using your trucks?

Of course.

Will a bearing press make the job easier?