Tips for choosing the right hardware and riser pads for a skateboard

What lenght for skateboard bolts?

The length of the bolts will depend on the thickness of the skateboard deck and the use or not of riser pads. It is important to choose the right length to prevent the screws from sticking out too much and being bothersome, and in some cases even dangerous. Here is a table of correspondence as an indication

Type of deck
Bolt lenght
Skateboard Flight / VX (thin decks)0.87" or 1"
7-ply deck without pads0.87" ou 1"
7-Ply deck with a 1/8" riser pad1.125"
7-Ply deck with a 1/4" riser pad1.25"
Longboard deck without pads1" ou 1.125"
Longboard deck with a 1/8" pad1.125" ou 1.25"

 

Should I use riser pads?

The use of riser pads is optional.

The pads have several functions: Reduce vibrations; increase the ground clearance, avoid direct contact of the metal of the trucks with the deck.

A thin and soft 1/8" shockpad type pad will damp vibrations and therefore increase ride comfort without significantly impacting the height. If your board contains fiber, it is strongly recommended to use a soft pad (aka shockpad) which will isolate the truck from the board and avoid damaging the fiber.
If you are using wheels larger than 54mm in diameter on a skateboard, chances are your wheels will bite the deck if you are not using pads. You will therefore have no choice but to raise your ground clearance. Depending on the height of your trucks, the diameter of the wheels chosen, and the depth of your concave, pads of more or less imposing thickness will be expected.
In skateboarding, a 1/8" pad is usually sufficient for wheels up to 56mm. For wheels from 56mm to 60mm, provide at least a 1/4" pad.
Some pads are wedged. They will make it possible to modify the behavior of the truck. Adding angle will allow more liveliness. However, a decrease in inclination will allow a gain in stability.