How to fix an office chair that leans back

If your office chair leans backward, sitting on it can be uncomfortable, especially when doing desktop work. Normally, your chair should adjust and tilt smoothly depending on the office activities to help you in relieving backpressure.

Too much strain on it can be harmful to your back with time. The following tips will help stop the office chair from leaning back.

Why your office chair leans backward?

Your desk chair leaning backward is due to the following reasons;

Broken or damaged casters especially those at the back
Loose or bent seat plate
Change in the tilt tension

How to fix the problem

Follow these steps to fix the issue:

Inspect for any damaged caster

If the casters are deformed or broken, especially at the back, the chair will lean in that direction. All casters should touch the floor and be at the same level.

They usually break due to uneven weight distribution on the seat or manufacturing technical issues.

If a caster is damaged, you should replace it. It is impossible to buy one caster, consult your manufacturer on buying a matching set.
Use a screwdriver to remove the broken casters from their sockets.
Apply a little amount of spray lubricant at the base of each socket, to help reduce friction as you fix the new casters
In case you don’t have a lubricant, use petroleum jelly like Vaseline.
Drive in the new casters into its socket using a rubber mallet by tapping gently or a little push with your hands.
Test your chair if it’s still leaning.

Examine your seat plate

Lay your chair on the side to check the seat plate. It is black, painted steel under your chair.
Tighten any loose screws, replace the missing ones, and test if the chair still leans. If the chair again tilts backward, you should replace the seat plate.
Ensure you order the appropriate match for your chair brand that will fit and replace the deformed one.

Adjust the tilt tension in your chair

Sit on the chair with your feet on the floor and your back positioned on the backrest.
Push the knob under an office chair and tilt the seat forward, then release it.
Push the tilt adjustment down, release the knob, ensure your chair is in a reclined position, and your feet touch the floor.
If the position is comfortable, lock my office chair.

Conclusion

Try the above-explained tips in fixing your chair, but if they don’t work, it is a high time you plan on purchasing a new office chair. It may be too expensive to fix a new seat plate and caster, and still, they don’t work so before purchasing consult and weigh your options.