Tuning Your Setup: Bushings, Pivot Cups, Grip, and Hardware

Bushings are the urethane, rubber, or silicone rings that sit around the kingpin and control how the truck turns. Hardness is measured on the A-scale (durometer): lower numbers compress more easily and allow more lean and turn; higher numbers resist compression and increase stability. Teak Tuning's documented Pro Duro Bubble Bushing range uses a proprietary silicone blend in 51A (extra loose / maximum truck movement), 61A (loose / very responsive), and 71A (medium / crisper movement with moderate range). FlatFace offers Blistered-branded bushings described as having high rebound and responsiveness, as well as Mike Schneider Pro Bushings with a distinct material and two top bushing hardness options.^{1, 2, 3, 4}

• 01Lower durometer (softer) = more lean and turn, looser feel.
• 02Higher durometer (harder) = less lean, more stability and return.
• 03Teak Tuning documents 51A, 61A, and 71A as their three released durometer tiers.
• 04FlatFace carries Blistered bushings and Mike Schneider Pro Bushings as upgrade options.
• 05Blackriver documents replacement-bushing hardness by named tier and color rather than a published numeric durometer.
• 06Dynamic sells spare bushings with pivot cups, documented as medium hardness with no published numeric durometer.
• 07Worn or flattened bushings can make a truck feel looser than its rated durometer suggests; inspect before attributing handling changes to bushing hardness alone.
• 08Most fingerboard trucks use a pair of bushings (top and bottom); some advanced tuning uses different hardnesses for top and bottom.

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The pivot cup is a small cup that sits inside the baseplate and holds the truck hanger pivot in place. It allows the hanger to rock side to side as the truck turns. Worn or degraded pivot cups can make the truck feel sloppy or unpredictable independent of bushing hardness. Replacement pivot cups are available from several brands. Blackriver sells pivot cups documented in five hardness variants, each identified by color: hard red, medium black, classic white, classic orange, soft blue, and super soft white. FlatFace sells Basic Pivot Cups (packs of two, random color) and V2 Pivot Cups designed specifically for Blistered trucks. Piro and SouthSoft produce urethane pivot cups marketed for specific truck fits, including Blackriver and some Dynamic-compatible SKUs.^{5, 6, 3, 7, 8, 9}

• 01Blackriver documents five hardness options for their replacement pivot cups, color-coded for quick identification.
• 02FlatFace V2 Pivot Cups are specifically designed for Blistered trucks; Basic Pivot Cups fit a wider range.
• 03SouthSoft Pro Pivot Cups document Blackriver fit, and some SKUs also document Dynamic compatibility for standard-kingpin trucks.
• 04Piro pivot cups are sold as urethane and compatible with Blackriver trucks.
• 05Blackriver super-soft pivot cups are documented by retailers as a two-piece set rather than individually sold cups.
• 06Upgrading pivot cups is often a low-cost first tuning step before changing bushings.
• 07A worn pivot cup can make an otherwise-stiff truck feel unexpectedly loose.

Grip tape keeps fingers connected to the deck and affects how tricks are initiated, caught, and controlled. The two main types are foam grip tape and sandpaper (grit) grip tape. Foam tape is described by Teak Tuning as the most common type in fingerboarding; it is soft on fingers while still providing grip. Teak offers foam tape in documented thicknesses from 0.5mm ultra-thin to 1mm standard, with pre-cut options sized for common deck widths. Sandpaper grip tape provides a textured, gritty surface; it can be harder on fingers during long sessions and tends to wear down faster, but is preferred by some riders for dark slides and specific tricks. Caramel Fingerboards documents that grit level can be varied on sandpaper tape, allowing riders to customize grip intensity. FlatFace curates third-party tape brands and does not produce a house foam tape. Blackriver sells branded Riptape with documented textures and dimensions.^{10, 11, 12, 13, 3}

• 01Foam tape is the most documented and widely used type in the pro fingerboard community.
• 02Teak Tuning documents 0.5mm and 1mm foam tape options; thinner tape lets you feel the deck shape more directly.
• 03Sandpaper grip is preferred by some riders for dark slides and offers a more abrasive surface.
• 04Blackriver Riptape is documented in Classic and Slim & Catchy textures, with pre-cut and uncut dimensions.
• 05Pre-cut tape is sized for specific deck widths; universal sheets require trimming.
• 06Tape is applied adhesive-side down; a mini file or straight edge is used to trim edges flush.
• 07Used tape on a deck being sold should be disclosed; buyers may prefer fresh tape.

Hardware refers to the mounting screws, lock nuts, kingpin, kingpin nut, and washers that hold a fingerboard setup together. Kingpin tightness directly affects how firmly the bushings are compressed, which changes how the truck turns. Looser kingpin settings allow more responsive truck movement; tighter settings increase stability. Community and retailer guides consistently document that the kingpin nut should only show one or two threads beyond the nut when properly tightened, and that overtightening can strip the kingpin or crack bushings. Mounting screws attach the baseplate to the deck; screw length must match hole depth. Teak Tuning documents 5mm standard screws and 6mm extra-long screws as compatible with Teak, Blackriver, Y-Trucks, and Dynamic trucks. O-rings are documented by SavageShredz as an additional tuning element that sits on the kingpin above the hanger to fine-tune compression without changing bushings. Washers affect how bushing pressure is distributed across the bushing face.^{4, 14, 15, 16}

• 01Kingpin nut tightness compresses bushings and changes truck response; adjust in small increments.
• 02Overtightening the kingpin nut can damage the kingpin thread or crack bushings.
• 03One to two exposed threads past the kingpin nut is the commonly documented target.
• 04Teak Tuning documents 5mm standard mounting screws and 6mm extra-long screws for risers or thicker decks.
• 05O-rings on the kingpin provide an additional compression layer between bushing and hanger.
• 06Washers distribute bushing pressure; their material and size affect rebound.
• 07Mounting screws must match hole depth; screws that are too long can split the deck or leave exposed points.

When dialing in a fingerboard setup, the recommended approach documented in community guides is to address parts in order of impact and reversibility. Starting with pivot cups is low-cost and can fix sloppy response without changing anything else. Moving to bushings changes the fundamental response curve and should follow pivot cup inspection. Kingpin tightness is an adjustment that can be iterated without any part changes; adjusting it while bushings are in place is the fastest way to identify a preferred range. Tape is typically the last change because it does not affect truck response but does affect grip and feel on flip and catch. Hardware (screws and washers) is addressed only when something is worn, missing, or causing a specific problem.^{4, 14, 16, 3}

• 01Step 1: Check and replace pivot cups if worn — low cost, high impact on slop and return.
• 02Step 2: Adjust kingpin tightness to find a comfortable response range with existing bushings.
• 03Step 3: If response still does not feel right, try different bushing hardness.
• 04Step 4: Add or change washers and O-rings to fine-tune compression without swapping bushings.
• 05Step 5: Replace or upgrade grip tape last, once truck feel is established.
• 06Step 6: Address mounting hardware only when a problem (missing screw, stripped kingpin) requires it.

Tuning parts appear in Kingpin listings as standalone items (bushings sold separately, pivot cups as spares, grip tape packs) or as part of complete or truck listings. Buyers searching for tuning parts typically look for brand, hardness, and compatibility. Sellers who include these details in titles and descriptions make their listings easier to find and evaluate. Vague descriptions like 'tuning kit' without naming the bushing brand, hardness, or pivot cup brand reduce buyer confidence. Marketplace listings for tuning parts benefit from close-up photos that show condition (flat spots on bushings, wear on pivot cups, cleanliness of unused tape).^{3, 5, 10, 2}

• 01Include bushing brand and durometer (e.g., 'Teak Tuning 61A bubble bushings') in the listing title or first line of description.
• 02For pivot cups, state brand and any documented hardness or truck compatibility.
• 03For grip tape, state type (foam or grit), thickness if known, and whether pre-cut or full sheet.
• 04For tuning hardware (O-rings, washers, screws), state quantity and compatibility where documented.
• 05Photograph all tuning parts laid out flat for easy condition assessment.
• 06Avoid vague 'various tuning parts' listings without itemizing what is included.