changing or upgrading to metal wheels

[nachoman]

In addition to what has already been said, I will note that there are slight differences in axle length between brands. Sometimes it makes no difference, but I am told some brands of wheels will fit too tight in some brands of trucks. I havent run into this, but if this happens, you can either try a different brand of wheels, or buy one of those reamers to ream out the journals on the trucks. Most hobby shops and micro mark sell them.

Plastic wheels have a worse rap than they probably deserve. Start replacing the wheels that are causing you problems now. Some people actually prefer plastic wheels because they are less noisy and non-conductive. To each his own, i guess. I replace any derailment prone wheelsets with metal, but the ones that work fine, I leave as they are.