If you’re like most people, you spend a good amount of time sitting in your office chair. And if you’re like most people, that chair has wheels on it. But what happens when one of those wheels breaks? In this article, we will discuss how to replace the wheel on an office chair. in just a few simple steps!
Replacing Wheel On Office Chair
Your office chair has cheap plastic wheels. Are they hurting your hardwood floors? Or do the castor wheels just fall apart? Almost every office chair that rolls have wheels that are easy to take off and put back on. Here is a step-by-step guide with pictures on how to change the wheels on a chair.
How To Replace Chair Wheels
Follow these steps to change the swivel chair wheels on your office chair:
- Take the office chair’s wheels off.
- Check the caster’s type and size.
- Choose and buy brand-new wheels to replace the old ones.
- Take off any extra chair wheels.
- Change out the office chair’s wheels.
Step 1: Remove Office Chair Wheels
How to take the wheels off your office chair is simple and easy to understand. Almost always, you don’t need any tools. In this step, only one caster wheel will be taken off to figure out how big and what kind it is.
95 percent of office chair wheels have something called a “grip ring stem.” The top of this metal stem has a split ring in the shape of a “C.” The grip ring can be squeezed or stretched to lock the stem into the chair base’s socket. Most of the time, you can just pull this type of caster off.
Follow these steps to remove your office chair wheels:
Lay The Office Chair On Its Side.
Turn your office chair on its side to get to the wheels on the bottom.
Pull Out Chair Wheel (Hands, Gloves, Towel)
Grab a wheel firmly and pull it away from the base of the chair. This should take the wizard out of the socket. If you can’t get a firm grip on the caster, use a glove or an old towel instead. The stem may be welded or bolted in place if your chair wheel won’t budge.
If Stuck, Pry The Chair Wheel With A Screwdriver
If you think you have a grip ring stem that won’t come out, try prying the caster out of the chair base socket with a large flat-bladed screwdriver. Let the caster’s stem soak in WD-40 or some other lubricant for a few hours and try again.
Step 2: Verify Caster Type And Size
After taking off one caster wheel from the base of the office chair, the type and size of the stem can be seen. Remember that the wheel and stem sizes of 95 percent of office chairs are the same.
Verify Stem Type
Check the diameter and length of the stem with a ruler. Most chair caster wheels have a standard size of seven-sixteenths inches (0.4375″) in diameter and one and seven-sixteenths inches (0.6875″) long. The stem should fit snugly into the socket on the chair base. If it is too small, get a bigger caster. Too big, and the caster may fall out or not roll smoothly.
Measure Stem Size
The grip ring’s stem should be measured for its diameter and length. Most likely, they will be 7/16″ wide and 7/8″ long. The picture below shows measuring calipers, but you can also use a ruler or measuring tape.
Step 3: Select New Replacement Chair Wheels
Even though every office chair you’ve ever bought has had the same black plastic double-wheel casters, there are better options out there. Some of the problems you’re having with these wheels can be fixed by getting better casters. Most of the time, a heavy-duty, single-wheel caster that can be used on all types of flooring is the best chair wheel.
Rollerblade office chair wheels are a popular choice because they are thought to be the most versatile casters for swivel chairs.
When buying new chair wheels, you should pay attention to the following things:
- Every kind of floor is safe (hardwood, laminate, tile, etc.)
- Steel frame with 500+ lb ball bearings in swivel and wheel for easy rolling
- Rolling and swiveling don’t make any noise as they move.
- Materials that can be used over and over again for years
- Goods that come with a warranty
What if the carpet in your office is thick and soft? That’s an excellent question! This is hard because chair wheels were not made to work well on thick carpets. So, there isn’t a perfect caster for this type of floor. A heavy-duty caster should have wheels that are wider. On a thick carpet, a caster with 3″ wheels will move a little bit easier than one with 2″ wheels. Use a plastic floor mat to make it easier for you to move around. In this case, the only thing we would suggest is a chair mat. Other than on soft carpet, chair mats aren’t needed and can even be harmful.
Step 4: Remove Remaining Chair Wheels
After you get your new set of casters, follow the steps in step 1 to take off all the old wheels. Take off the rest of the office chair’s wheels. Follow the steps in step 1 to take off the other worn-out plastic chair wheels.
Step 5: Install Your New Wheels
To put on the new chair wheels, put the caster stem all the way into the socket on the chair base. This is the last step in replacing chair wheels with stems that have a standard grip ring.
Change out the office chair’s wheels.
Even though the stem may be the right size for the chair’s base, you can’t put it in. This could be because of the grip ring on top of the stem. Once the wheel has been put into the chair base, it is held in place by this ring, which is meant to be squeezed. If the stem goes into the hole but doesn’t come out of the grip ring, try the following:
- Put grease jelly or WD-40 on the grip ring directly.
- To squeeze the grip ring, use pliers.
Final Thoughts
You’ve successfully replaced the wheel on your office chair! Now, it’s time to test it out and make sure that everything is in working order. Spin around a few times, lean back, and take a seat. If everything feels solid and secure, you’re ready to get back to work.
