How To Remove Casters From Office Chairs? Apply For All Types

With office chairs, you can conveniently move around without having to stand up…

…All thanks to its casters.

However, casters can wear out after a few years. That’s expected as it goes through a lot each day.

If that happens, it won’t turn anymore or it’ll turn in all directions, making it hard for you to roll it where you want.

If your office chair is facing this problem, it’s time to replace the casters.

Of course, you can’t replace it without first removing the old ones.

How do you remove it?

Here, we’re going to teach you the 4 ways that remove all types of office chair casters.

Even if your casters are fine, this is still important to learn.

Why? Because there are times when you need to remove it to replace another part of your office chair. Or, if you want to change the casters to better ones.

The 3 Types of Office Chair Casters

Before we get to that, you should first know that there are 3 types of office chair casters. There’s the threaded stem caster, the grip stem caster, and the plate mounted caster.

It’s important to understand the difference between the 3. This way, you’ll know how to remove whatever caster your office chair has.

Threaded Stem Casters

This type of caster has a screw-like top with some nuts and washers.

Now, it’s easy to guess how this can attach to an office chair.

The sockets of an office chair’s legs also have threads. As the caster’s threads lock into the socket’s threads, they’ll secure together.

Grip Stem Casters

Grip stem casters come in different lengths, but all have the same function.

Above the caster, there’s a metal stem sticking out. On top of the stem is a groove with a split steel ring.

The way it works is that, inside the leg’s socket, there’s a ridge. When the stem is inserted inside the socket, the groove will clip onto the ridge. The ring then expands outward to secure the stem and caster in place.

Plate Mounted Casters

The plate-mounted caster is pretty self-explanatory.

Above the caster, there’s a plate mount with four screw holes on each edge.

To secure it, 4 screws are driven in the office chair’s leg sockets.

One thing you should know, office chairs usually don’t use this type of caster. It’s used more for moving furniture, such as cabinets and whatnot.

We included it here, though, because your office chair might be one of the unusual ones with this type of caster.

The 4 Ways to Remove the Different Office Chair Casters

If you need to remove your office chair’s casters for whatever reason, you might be a bit hesitant. You have no idea how it’s done.

The good news is that all types of office chair casters are super easy to remove!

It’ll only take a few minutes with minimum effort and tools.

Depending on what type of caster your office chair has, you’ll have to remove it differently.

We’re going to teach you how to remove each type. For the grip stem caster, we’re going to show you the 2 ways to remove it.

So let’s get to it!

How to Remove Threaded Stem Casters

Since this works like a screw, you remove it how you would any screw.

To do this, turn the chair upside down, hold onto the caster and turn it clockwise. Make sure you grip the whole caster instead of just the wheels. It won’t unscrew if you’re turning the wheels only.

Keep on turning it until the caster comes out.

If it’s hard to turn, or if it won’t budge at all, spray WD-40 and let it sit for a while. This is to loosen up the rust.

How do you know if your office chair’s casters are a threaded stem?

Well, try twisting it, if it doesn’t release from the socket after a while, it’s probably a grip stem caster.

How to Remove Plate Mounted Casters

Since plate mounted casters are not common in office chairs, we won’t spend much time on it. Also, these casters are the easiest to figure out.

You can tell right away if the caster is plate mounted. Plus, you won’t have to second guess how to remove it.

It’s that obvious!

Turn the chair over. Use a screwdriver to remove the 4 screws securing the plate to the office chair’s legs. Once those screws are gone, the caster will fall off.

That’s it.

How to Remove Grip Stem Casters by Pulling

Since grip stem casters are a bit more technical, you might think, “this is where it gets complicated.”

That’s not the case at all!

As we mentioned, it’s all super easy to remove.

Again, the first step is to turn the chair over for easy access to the casters.

From there, grip the leg with one hand and the caster on the other. Then, yank the caster out.

The quick, strong pull will release the groove from the ridge. The split steel ring won’t be able to hold against that kind of force.

If you’re having a hard time pulling it off, you’ll need a few tools to help you. These are a hammer , pliers , and a flathead screwdriver .

Wedge the flathead screwdriver between the caster and the leg. Gently pry it outward.

With that, the metal bulge at the bottom of the stem will come out a bit. Now, switch your flathead screwdriver there for stronger leverage and continue prying outward.

You can do that until the whole stem comes out, along with the caster.

But if you can only pry it out halfway, you need the pliers and hammer.

Grip the pliers onto the exposed stem, then hammer the pliers outward. Remember, only hit the pliers with the hammer and never the caster as it can get ruined.

What this does is gives enough force to push the whole stem out.

Here’s a video showing how to do this:

How to Remove Grip Stem Casters by Lifting the Pin

Some office chairs use a sort of pin to hold the caster in place. To remove it, the pin needs to be lifted out of the stem’s groove.

However, the pin is inside the socket. How can you get to it?

Office chairs with this type of locking mechanism have a small hole on the tip of each leg. If it doesn’t, then remove the caster by the pulling method.

If it does have, get something that can fit inside the hole, maybe a nail.

All you need to do is push the nail inside the hole. When it can’t go any deeper inside, pry the nail upwards. That’ll lift the pin and allow the caster to fall off.

Here’s a helpful video that’ll show you how it works:

Conclusion

So these are the 4 ways to remove any type of office chair casters.

Now that you know how it’s done, and how easy it is, you’ll be removing office chair casters without hesitating.