How to Remove Bindings from Old Skis

If you have purchased used skis, or pulled old skis out of storage, you may find that the bindings need to be replaced. Your bindings are one of the most important parts of your ski equipment, as they help to make the skis responsive to your weight and movement. Without proper bindings, you'll find that skiing is not only more difficult, but it's also more dangerous. Read on for a brief overview of how to remove bindings from old skis so that you can install new ones.

Tools and Materials Needed

This project only requires a few tools, and most can be found around the house. In addition to the old skis themselves, you'll need the following tools:

  • Phillips head screwdriver
  • 2 Flathead screwdrivers
  • New bindings with binding screws

Step 1—Locate the Bindings and Remove the Cover

Flip the skis onto the ground so that you can see the base of the binding. Look to the rear part of the binding, located toward the back end of the ski. You'll see a filler cover that is attached over the top of the binding and which is designed to help keep the screws of the binding in place. Although it may appear that it is screwed in as well, most of these filler covers are actually just pushed into the opening of the binding and can be pried out with one of the flathead screwdrivers.

Step 2—Remove the Rear Part of the Binding

With the cover off of the back portion of the binding, you can remove the screws in this piece by using the Phillips screwdriver. Keep the screws in a safe place and remove the back part of the binding carefully.

Step 3—Remove the Front Portion of the Binding

The front part of the binding is typically slightly more difficult to remove than the back. Use one of the flathead screwdrivers to pry into where the boot fastener attaches to the binding. You should be able to unlock the boot fastener mechanism, providing access to the binding cover beneath it. Use the other flathead screwdriver to pry up on the filler cover on the front of the binding, thereby removing it in the same way as you did with the back portion.

Step 4—Take Off the Binding

Look for the screws in the middle section of the binding and the screws at the front section of the binding. Remove all of them with the Phillips screwdriver and pull both remaining portions of the binding off of the ski.

You're now ready to install the new binding. Follow the instructions with the binding equipment to install it properly. It's important that you tighten and adjust the binding to the proper levels before you attempt to use the skis.