Ball-bearing drawer slides include a number of functions and are quite functional. There can be a problem with the slides in one of your drawers if you find that it isn't running as smoothly as it once did. Therefore, understanding how to fix drawer slides with ball bearings is crucial. The drawer may move quietly and smoothly thanks to the ball-bearing feature. They may, however, become rusty, stuck, loose, or sticky for a variety of causes. You might need to grease the bearings or adjust the screws to address problems with your ball-bearing sliding drawers.
Proper Procedure To Troubleshoot Or Fix Ball Bearing Drawer Slides
Slides with ball bearings are simple to install and troubleshoot. They are sturdy and powerful as well. However, occasionally they deteriorate, gather dirt, or get sticky. That's particularly true when they're in oily, dirty, or high-traffic areas. Fortunately, locating and resolving the problem with ball-bearing drawer slides is simple. Furthermore, they only malfunction due to a small number of issues. What to do if your drawers are giving you trouble is as follows:
Remove The Drawer
You must first identify the precise cause of the problem. You should do this by taking the drawer out of its cabinet and looking at the slides. This is usually a crucial step because you can't see those slides well unless you fully remove the drawer. The steps for removing the drawer with ball-bearing slides are as follows:
- Verify that the contents of the drawer are not the cause of its malfunction (in certain cases, you may only need to rearrange the objects in the drawer).
- If there are no issues with the items within, empty the drawer to make removal simpler.
- The drawer should be pulled out all the way. Make sure the plastic levers are where they should be on both sides, which is where the inside metal track meets the larger bracket-shaped slide.
- Put both hands on the sides of the drawer. Depending on the type of drawer, pull up one plastic lever and push down the other (test both ways to learn which way each one goes).
- It should glide into your hands with ease if you pull out the drawer.
Identify The Problem
It should be simple to identify the issue with the drawer now that you've taken it out. Actually, there aren't many potential problems with ball-bearing sliding drawers. Therefore, locating the issue requires little effort. Consider the following ideas:
- Make sure there are no objects stuck behind the drawer that is preventing it from moving.
- Make sure there is nothing between or inside the tracks by taking a closer look at them.
- Check for bends or breakage at the ends and along each runner.
- Check to see whether any accumulated dirt or debris is lodged inside those metal balls.
- Verify any loose screws in the drawer and on both sides of the cabinet.
Troubleshoot The Issue
Knowing exactly what's wrong with your drawer will make it much easier to remedy the problem. If there are no obstructions in the runners or behind the drawer, the problem can be with the slides themselves. Usually, the simplest and most direct solution is to lubricate the ball bearings. However, in some circumstances, you might have to completely change the slides. Overall, because these adjustments are simple to complete, expert assistance is not necessary.
Attach The Drawer Back In Place
It's time to fasten the drawer back into place after you've fixed the slides. Simply complete the following:
- With both hands, hold the drawer upright.
- Align the cabinet's tracks and the drawers.
- Connect the tracks on both sides by securing them.
- Till the plastic lever clicks, fully press the drawer.
- Check the drawer's functionality by opening and closing it several times.