Office chairs have wheels that are removable and replaceable, and chances are you want to know how to replace office chair wheels yourself. The chair wheels are usually removed and replaced when they are broken or falling apart, damaging the floors, or if they no longer swivel or roll smoothly. Unfortunately, they can also squeak or make noises and get tangled with hair or other debris.
Chair wheels may seem like a mundane thing to worry about, but a properly balanced chair is meant to facilitate good posture. You will significantly benefit from a great chair, but you can also get negative results from a bad one.
Most of the time, your posture is influenced by the balance of stability of the chair, where you spend most of your day in. If the casters are wobbly, they won’t be stable enough to maintain your balance and posture, leaving you with pains over time.
How To Replace Your Office Chair Wheels
Replacing the wheels of your office chair is easy to do on your own. Just follow these easy steps.
Step #1: Remove the wheels
In many cases, removing the office chair wheels is easy and does not require tools. First, remove one caster to identify the wheel size and type.
Most chairs have a “grip ring stem” that is a metal cylinder shape with a split ring in the form of a “C” near its top. This grip ring can be compressed or expanded accordingly, depending on the chair base.
To remove the wheels, carefully lay your office chair on its sides so that you have access to the caster wheels. Next, pull out the chair wheel by taking a firm grip and one wheel and pulling it away from the base. This should be enough to release the caster from the socket.
For threaded casters, remove the threaded stem by turning it clockwise. Threaded stem casters are screws, so keep twisting until the item comes out.
Step #2: Verify caster type and size
Once the caster wheel is removed from the base, you will be able to verify the stem size and type. The most common types are the grip ring stem caster, grip neck stem, threaded stem, and stemless or open socket caster.
While most office chairs come with the same black, plastic dual-wheel casters, there are plenty of available options as well. Many of the problems you have with your chair wheels can be solved by getting a higher-quality caster. For instance, you can opt for a heavy-duty single-wheel caster that is safe for floors.
Step #3: Install your new wheels
To install your new chair wheels, simply push the caster stem into the base of the socket. This works for the standard grip ring stem type.
If you are having trouble inserting the grip ring, check the top of the stem. The ring is meant to be compressed to hold the wheel in place once inserted into the base. If the stem goes into the socket but stops at the grip ring, you can lightly apply a lubricant jelly or WD-40 to the grip ring, or compress it using pliers to insert it into the slot.
For threaded casters, align the threaded stem with the leg and screw the caster in until it is tight or stops turning. Do the same for all the wheels that need replacing, and you’re done.
Tip: Test out your new chair casters
Start testing your chair by putting a little pressure on it to check if the wheels are stable. Then, sit in the chair to see how it feels.
Are the wheels balanced and secured in their place? If not, pull the chair back up and have a look.
This is to make sure that all of the wheels are locked in place. Go through all the steps if possible to avoid damaging the parts.
How To Choose The Right Office Chair Wheels
When selecting new chair wheels, you have to consider the following:
- Is it safe for different floor types, such as hardwood, laminate, or tile?
- Does the steel frame have a high weight capacity?
- Are there ball bearings in the swivel and wheel to help make the chair roll smoothly?
- Is the material durable enough for years of repeated use?
- Does a warranty back the product?
One of the problems that employees have is the plush carpeting. Unfortunately, chair wheels are never actually intended to perform well on thick carpets, which is why there is no right wheel for this type of floor.
Instead, you may opt for a heavy-duty caster with a larger wheel diameter, about three inches, so that it will move slightly easier. You may also opt to use hard floor or hard surface casters, which are explicitly made to roll across hard floors and even carpets easily.
Conclusion
Office supplies and furniture are often in high demand because they are used frequently and they tend to wear and tear over time. Smart office furniture is meant to be long-lasting and durable, but it’s also helpful to stay on top of maintenance. Therefore, you have to learn how to replace office chair wheels, especially if it’s for your health and safety.