Bushings. Different types and how to set them up.

**gavmck** · 09-02-2009 02:10 AM

Shape:
The shape of a bushing gives a lot of it's feel (apart from the urethane compound). Standard shapes are 'stepped' like an eliminator or JimZ, Barrel or cone.

Cone shaped bushings do not have much support in the center and offer a greater turn depth. This makes them great for craving when you want a flowy ride that never goes in a straight line.

Barrels offer a stronger center point whilst still retaining a good bit of turn. They will offer less depth than a cone shaped bushing, but you get a bit more kick back out of the turns at the peak.

Stepped bushings offer the strongest center point and the least turn depth. This is why people often like them for downhill as they feel very 'stable' with the strong center point and do not turn too much so you drift out too far.

This pretty much covers it, when you mix, you get something in between.

**KCcarvin** · 09-17-2009 06:05 PM

Can you mix washers around to get a different feel just like bushings?
Has anyone experimented with this or should I go be the guinea pig? XD

**Terrorsathan** · 09-17-2009 06:10 PM

I've settled on purple Sabre 88a barrels all around and its perky

Also, I'm really diggin reflex 89a tall cone/barrels on my glider w/ indys

**Georgie808** · 09-17-2009 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by KCcarvin

Can you mix washers around to get a different feel just like bushings?
Has anyone experimented with this or should I go be the guinea pig? XD

Yeah O_O
It's kinda common knowledge.
Cupped restrict bushings more.
Flat are good.
None are not restrictive at all.

**gavmck** · 09-18-2009 02:16 AM

Yup, you sure can. Personally I like flat washers unless I'm trying to limit my turn depth to prevent wheelbite, but still keep that surfy middle point. Using cupped washers and eliminators will REALLY kill your turn depth if you need to...

**RyanTheMann** · 09-18-2009 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by KCcarvin

Can you mix washers around to get a different feel just like bushings?
Has anyone experimented with this or should I go be the guinea pig? XD

In addition to what was previously said, I'd like to add that I usually like to put a cup washer on top, especially with a conical bushing, because it tends to offer a more "progressive" turn; in other words, the more you lean, the more weight it takes for the trucks to continue to turn, if that makes sense.

**KCcarvin** · 09-18-2009 02:05 PM

haha, of course common knowledge, maybe I should have been more detailed.
Can you mix like, for example, a flat top washer and a cup bottom washer? etc.
oh and another question like that. has anyone here ever tried using a conical bottom bushing and a barrel top? just a random thought..

**gavmck** · 09-23-2009 08:47 AM

You can indeed mix washers for a different feel. I haven't experimented with is much, but it should give you a mix between the two. Currently I use a cupped bottom washer with a flat top on some bennets. It feels really solid in the middle, but when you put it in a turn it really dives over hard, quite fun and responsive.

**Pleinair** · 09-26-2009 02:08 PM

I read somewhere on these forums once that putting a taller bushing on top will give you more turn depth, mostly because there is more material to compress before you reach the washer. Therefore, a tall cone will have more turn depth than a short cone on top.

Is this true?

**8ftbed** · 09-26-2009 05:05 PM

Yes.
In fact I've went through at least 6 different combos in the last day on a PoolKing with darts. I wanted it to turn easier than with the stock clear yellow barrel and short cone. I could make it alright but adding cones or other barrels gave me too much turn meaning wheel bite. That's already with 1/2" riser and 61mm venom streetsnakes. Finally broke down and added another 1/4" soft riser.

**tandaman** · 09-27-2009 10:21 PM

**jessse** · 09-27-2009 10:29 PM

Im convinced to buy white jim-z bushings. How are they in crails???

**gavmck** · 09-28-2009 02:15 AM

Good day! I'm still new at longboarding and I was thinking of upgrading my stock bushings after reading this thread. I weigh 125-130lbs and my current setup is a Dervish flex 2, with Randal RII 180° trucks. I'm into cruising, carving and would definitely learn how to slide.

Orange sabre cones, perfect. Or you can try mixing all the venoms about. Standard and DH venoms are the same except you get a cone in the standard pack and an extra barrel in the DH pack.

Im convinced to buy white jim-z bushings. How are they in crails???

Unable to comment on crail I'm afraid, I've never even seen any in real life! They're VERY hard to come by here...

**tandaman** · 09-28-2009 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by gavmck

Orange sabre cones, perfect. Or you can try mixing all the venoms about. Standard and DH venoms are the same except you get a cone in the standard pack and an extra barrel in the DH pack.

Thanks for the insight man. Regarding the Sabre bushings, I saw the Sabre F/X-Type bushing 4-pack that includes two 86a cone-shaped bushings, and two 88a barrel-shaped bushings at Mile High Skates. Is it better than the orange and yellow venoms combined? Thanks!

**gavmck** · 09-28-2009 10:15 AM

Depends on what you prefer really. They both have a different feel that you really need to try to understand. Sabres have a more squishy feeling, wheras I think venoms have a more bouncy feeling. Hoever you don't really get that bounce until you hit the deepest part of your turn, whereas sabres have the squish all the way through and still bounce a good amount.

What the hell am I talking about? Oh dear bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy bouncy squishy....

Either should be rad!

**8ftbed** · 09-28-2009 10:31 AM

^^ That brings up an epiphany I had yesterday on a gardening break.

I realized my tastes in boards and broads seem to be the same.
Soft and bouncy in front.
Tight and firm in back.

...just sayin'

**tandaman** · 09-29-2009 01:14 AM

Originally Posted by gavmck

Depends on what you prefer really. They both have a different feel that you really need to try to understand. Sabres have a more squishy feeling, wheras I think venoms have a more bouncy feeling...

Ok, I guess I'll just mix up the Venoms w/ the Sabres and go on from there. Should I consider the purple Venom bushings(87a) for my weight(125-130lbs) or should I just go with the yellow and orange standard bushings? Thanks a lot man.

**gavmck** · 09-29-2009 02:03 AM

Nah, at your weight with that riding style you should go softer I think. I like the purple sabres and I'm ~200lbs!

**tandaman** · 09-29-2009 02:16 AM

Thanks a lot for the insights man. Can't wait to test those bushings. Cheers!

**engebo_kelsey** · 10-03-2009 10:54 PM

so, what's a good carvy setup with some randall's?

i also have a set of indy's and i hate them. the only good thing is how low they are. i can't get a good carvy feel on them, and i can't turn very well, which sucks, considering my setup is pretty much for campus cruising. is there a way to make them better? i tried to switch bushings around, but the kingpin is really short