How To Remove Wheels From Office Chair

The casters on your office chair are a primary component; you can roll around on your chair instead of sitting in just one place because of them. But after using your share for a certain period, you may notice a slight wobbling and the wheels leaving marks on your floor. So what to do in this scenario?

Easy! You can just remove the caster wheels from your office chair and replace them with new ones. Moreover, it is an easy process, and you can do it yourself with the help of a few tools. But how to remove wheels from office chair?

What is the impact of damaged office chair casters?

The chair casters have an essential role; if they get damaged, your chair will also face some wear and tear. And the device is not restricted till there. You will notice unusual stress and damage on your hardwood floors and carpets.

It will negatively impact the design and construction of the chair, after which it will start falling out even further. It is not always economical to replace the entire chair. So if you want to save a few bucks, you can simply replace the casters.

How to know when to replace the casters wheels of your office chair?

If you have used an office chair, you know where the casters are mounted. These clusters are made of a stem or brace and wheels. Some chair models contain different components, but every design has a constant stem and wheels.

How are the customers usually selected? That depends on how frequently you use the office chair, its weight capacity, and the materials used. Smaller wheels will be the better pick if your chair is more petite. But these wheels cannot support heavy weight, and you will realize that while rolling. You cannot also go for too large wheels, as they tend to dig into the floor.

Hence it is essential to investigate the condition of your floor where you use the chair often. If you see too many scratches or cannot roll smoothly, it is time to replace the casters. We do not recommend purchasing a new chair as it is not cost-effective.

How to remove wheels from office chair? 

Before going ahead to remove the wheels from your office chair, you have to conduct an assessment of the casters. First, analyze what your floor looks like where you use the chair most. 

Then figure out how the chair behaves when you place it on a smooth surface. You should be able to hold its normal position without extra support from your side. Take a few steps back to ensure that the chair stays standing.

As mentioned above, no wheels are significant, and you must know beforehand if any residue is left on them. It can include small chips of wood, fibers, threads, etc. If you notice any of that, you must bid farewell to those wheels immediately so your floor does not have to take any more damage.

Let’s have a look now at the steps regarding how to remove wheels from office chair.

Step #1 Flip the chair upside down.

The first step you need to take is to flip the chair upside down. After you do this, the head of the chair will be on the ground while the wheels will be in the air.

It will give you better access to the casters on the bottom, and you will be able to remove them quickly. If you face any difficulty while turning the chair due to its heaviness, you can always take help from a friend or family member to do it.

Step 2- Start twisting the threaded casters clockwise to remove them.

Casters with threaded stems like a screw will release if you twist them out enough. If you do not know the kind of casters present in your chair, you can figure it out soon enough by drifting the casters clockwise. Once you start twisting, observe if it is moving in the direction you are rotating. If it does that, continue the process, and it will pop right out.

Step 3- Use lubrication.

Sometimes the screw system might not work correctly as there is too much friction between them. The lubricating oil can be a boon to fixing the screw system in this scenario. Try applying the oil to the spot where the casters are joint to the chair.

Next, hold the caster using one hand and the chair leg using the other hand, and give it a firm pull. The casters should come right off immediately. Lubricating oils are readily available in any hardware store.

And if you notice that you are not getting a firm grip and it has become very slippery, try using a towel or gloves for a better grip. In some office chairs, you will notice a swivel plate instead of a stem, which looks square-shaped and attaches to the chair leg. It is not particularly common, but you can use a screwdriver to get rid of the plate in this case.

Step 4- Use a screwdriver and pry bar if the above method does not work.

Sometimes you may notice that the casters suffer from rust and do not budge even after applying force and lubricating oil. In this case, you can take the help of a broad flathead screwdriver to do the job.

The wider the head of the screwdriver, the easier it will be to get it done. Sometimes you may see screwdrivers as wide as even 13mm. You can also use a pry bar with a nail-pulling slot at the end. However, make sure that the slot should fit the caster stem perfectly.

To use the screwdriver efficiently, get it right between the chair and the caster, and turn it slowly until you notice the caster moving upward away from the chair. If the caster does not move, you can try rotating the screwdriver around the caster to experiment with different angles and check which one gives you higher leverage to pull out the caster.

If you are using a pry bar, position the nail-pulling slot at the exact spot between the chair and the caster over the stem. Next, you will notice the caster popping out once you pull on it slightly. If you are not able to do this process alone, you can take help from another person and ask them to pull the chair from the other side.

That’s it! The steps are straightforward, and now you know how to remove wheels from office chair.

Now, after removing the old casters, you have to replace them with new ones, right? But you cannot randomly use any type of casters for office chairs. There are some factors you need to consider before making the purchase.

Factors to consider before purchasing replacement caster wheels.

After removing at least one caster wheel from the base of your office chair, you can figure out the size and stem type. Most office chairs use similar wheel and stem sizes, but it is still recommended to get a clear idea, so you do not buy incompatible caster wheels.

Figure out the stem type.

Different office chairs might have different stem types. The stem is the part that is made of metal and connects the caster to the chair. The most common one that you will find on office chair wheels is the grip ring stem. Apart from that, there is a grip neck stem caster, threaded stem caster, and stemless or open socket casters.

Grip stems usually pull out like a plug from a socket, while threaded casters have a screw that you can screw into the chair. In case your office chair has a swivel plate, you can measure the width of the plate. It is a critical step in replacing chair wheels and will give you a better idea of what to purchase.

Measure stem size.

Next, you need to measure the length and diameter of the grip ring stem. In most cases, the diameter is approximately 7/16″, and the length is about 7/8″. You can use calipers to measure it if you have it at home, but you can always go ahead with a simple ruler.

Twin wheel or single wheel caster?

A single-wheel caster is more reliable since it is less likely to fail due to fewer parts. On the other hand, twin-wheel casters are more durable since the weight is distributed relatively evenly. In office chairs, twin-wheel casters are usually used, while single-wheel casters are primarily found in industrial settings.

While buying casters for your office chair, there are some features you need to look for.

• They should be compatible with maximum floor types (e.g., hardwood, tiles, laminated, etc.).
• They should not make much noise while rolling on the floor.
• A steel frame is preferable for higher weight capacity.
• The materials used should be durable, even utilizing the chair often.
• Make sure the product has a warranty to back its quality.

The type of surface you have in the area where you will use the chair the most will play a key role in determining the kind of casters you should choose.

For example, plastic carpet casters are ideal if your space has carpet or soft surfaces. However, hard floor casters will be the better pick for hardwood and carpeted floors as they are compatible with both.

For thick, plush carpets, look for heavy-duty caster wheels with a larger diameter. You can also use our chair mat for better protection.

How to install new caster wheels in your office chair?

Now you know what to measure and the factors you need to consider before purchasing new caster wheels for your office chair. But how to install these new ones?

For standard casters like grip casters, all you need to do is just post the stem of the caster wheel into the chair leg until the bottom of the chair leg fits snugly against the top of the caster wheel. You may notice that even though the chair base is compatible with the stem size, it is still difficult to insert it correctly. It can be due to the grip ring on top of the stem.

If you find it too hard to get the caster into the hole, you can use some lubricant to drive it in smoothly. Another alternative is to use a rubber mallet and tap it gently to move the caster in.

In the case of threaded casters, align the threaded stem with the leg of the chair and screw it in until you notice that it does not turn anymore. And if your caster wheels come with a swivel plate, you can use a screwdriver to install it easily.

Conclusion.

The abovementioned steps will help you learn how to remove wheels from office chairs. You can always refer to videos as well to view the steps. However, as mentioned in the article, it is also vital to get the measurements of the wheels right so that the replacement you purchase is compatible.

When it comes to replacing the casters and wheels of office chairs, you will be more than able to do it alone. But in case you want any help or support, you can always come back to this article to get a good guide and take the help of someone too.

Related:

How To Remove Gas Lift From Office Chair

How to Reupholster an Office Chair