When using Khiro bushings...

[Ghost of York]

Should I use a washer or metal guard to protect the rubber from the kingpin?

[n3rrd]

Should I use a washer or metal guard to protect the rubber from the kingpin?

Do you mean between the bolt head/nut and the top bushing? The washer provides a larger, more consistent surface for the bushing to compress against.

If you mean along the shaft of the kingpin, to prevent the bushings from getting shredded, I saw (I believe here or on pavedwave) using things like electrical tape, heat-shrink tubing, or that rubber goo used to re-coat tool handles to dull the threads on the kingpin and prevent the insides of the bushings from getting torn up.

http://pavedwave.myfastforum.org/Khi..._about104.html

There is the link I was thinking of. Various methods are tested here.

[bowlfreshener]

Unless you are using the Aluminum or gold insert bushings, you will need a washer to protect the top of the bushings...If its along the shaft, then its what the previous poster said, but in my 20 or so years of skating, I've never thought about the insides of the bushings getting torn up...not to say it doesn't happen, but I've never had any first hand experience with such phenomena...