Hello everyone,
I have an issue with my IKEA Malm drawers. The rollers that the drawers normally glide on are broken or not working properly in several drawers. As a result, the drawers are difficult to open or no longer fit correctly in the track.
I am particularly interested in how you best solve this problem: Is it worth replacing individual rollers, or is it better to replace the entire drawer slides? Are there any recommended replacement parts that are especially durable, possibly even from third-party suppliers?
Tips on disassembling and assembling the drawers would also be helpful, as I prefer not to risk damaging the slides and want to avoid costly repairs.
I appreciate any professional advice to restore the functionality of the Malm drawers.
I have an issue with my IKEA Malm drawers. The rollers that the drawers normally glide on are broken or not working properly in several drawers. As a result, the drawers are difficult to open or no longer fit correctly in the track.
I am particularly interested in how you best solve this problem: Is it worth replacing individual rollers, or is it better to replace the entire drawer slides? Are there any recommended replacement parts that are especially durable, possibly even from third-party suppliers?
Tips on disassembling and assembling the drawers would also be helpful, as I prefer not to risk damaging the slides and want to avoid costly repairs.
I appreciate any professional advice to restore the functionality of the Malm drawers.
Hello elbepe,
First of all, it’s good that you described the problem so precisely, because with MALM drawers the damage location is usually fixed – most often it’s the small rollers and the sliding rails that make up the mechanism.
Basically, you can either replace just the damaged rollers or renew the entire rail system. The decision mainly depends on how severe the damage is.
If only a few rollers are broken and the rails still glide smoothly, replacing the rollers usually suffices. You can get these as spare parts from IKEA or third-party suppliers. Make sure the rollers have exactly the same diameter and shape, otherwise they won’t fit properly.
For installation, I recommend removing the drawer completely and changing the rollers in a calm environment. Sometimes clips or small screws need to be undone. It is important that everything fits snugly after reassembly, so the drawer doesn’t wobble or scrape.
If the sliding rails are rotten or bent, a full replacement is better. You could switch to high-quality ball-bearing rails at the same time, which make opening much easier and are more durable.
What size and depth is your drawer? That can help when looking for spare parts.
Good luck with the repair!
First of all, it’s good that you described the problem so precisely, because with MALM drawers the damage location is usually fixed – most often it’s the small rollers and the sliding rails that make up the mechanism.
Basically, you can either replace just the damaged rollers or renew the entire rail system. The decision mainly depends on how severe the damage is.
elbepe schrieb:
Is it worth replacing individual rollers, or is it better to replace the complete sliding rails?
If only a few rollers are broken and the rails still glide smoothly, replacing the rollers usually suffices. You can get these as spare parts from IKEA or third-party suppliers. Make sure the rollers have exactly the same diameter and shape, otherwise they won’t fit properly.
For installation, I recommend removing the drawer completely and changing the rollers in a calm environment. Sometimes clips or small screws need to be undone. It is important that everything fits snugly after reassembly, so the drawer doesn’t wobble or scrape.
If the sliding rails are rotten or bent, a full replacement is better. You could switch to high-quality ball-bearing rails at the same time, which make opening much easier and are more durable.
What size and depth is your drawer? That can help when looking for spare parts.
Good luck with the repair!
As a supplement: I have replaced the rollers on MALM drawers several times without changing the tracks. The important thing is that you can precisely identify the replacement parts. IKEA uses different roller sizes depending on the drawer model and production year.
Absolutely crucial! A replacement roller that is even slightly different can cause the drawers to wobble or sag. It’s best to compare your damaged rollers with IKEA or the appropriate online store and order the exact model.
If you can’t find original rollers, high-quality universal rollers from furniture accessory suppliers can work well—but you need to measure very carefully.
Before installation, thoroughly clean the rollers and tracks and, if necessary, lightly lubricate them (e.g., silicone spray); this improves how smoothly they operate.
Cleaning alone often already results in noticeable improvement before you actively replace anything.
Domau0 schrieb:
Make sure the rollers have exactly the same diameter and shape
Absolutely crucial! A replacement roller that is even slightly different can cause the drawers to wobble or sag. It’s best to compare your damaged rollers with IKEA or the appropriate online store and order the exact model.
If you can’t find original rollers, high-quality universal rollers from furniture accessory suppliers can work well—but you need to measure very carefully.
Before installation, thoroughly clean the rollers and tracks and, if necessary, lightly lubricate them (e.g., silicone spray); this improves how smoothly they operate.
Cleaning alone often already results in noticeable improvement before you actively replace anything.
Hello elbepe and all repair heroes,
what a classic issue! 🙂 I’ve had the same problem with my MALM drawers before and learned: you don’t always have to reinvent the wheel here – a bit of patience and the right materials make all the difference.
Very important. I prefer to spray silicone lubricant because it doesn’t attract much dirt but still allows smooth movement. I wouldn’t recommend oil, as it tends to attract dust and makes things worse.
When changing the rollers, it’s also a good idea to check the drawer for any cracks in the wood – sometimes that’s the real cause of the problem.
If you like, try used replacement rollers from eBay or similar platforms; some offer original IKEA parts at great prices – saving money and helping the environment.
Everything will glide smoothly again once you find the right combination – fingers crossed :-)
what a classic issue! 🙂 I’ve had the same problem with my MALM drawers before and learned: you don’t always have to reinvent the wheel here – a bit of patience and the right materials make all the difference.
Gino38 schrieb:
Before installation, thoroughly clean the rollers and slide rails and, if needed, lubricate lightly
Very important. I prefer to spray silicone lubricant because it doesn’t attract much dirt but still allows smooth movement. I wouldn’t recommend oil, as it tends to attract dust and makes things worse.
When changing the rollers, it’s also a good idea to check the drawer for any cracks in the wood – sometimes that’s the real cause of the problem.
If you like, try used replacement rollers from eBay or similar platforms; some offer original IKEA parts at great prices – saving money and helping the environment.
Everything will glide smoothly again once you find the right combination – fingers crossed :-)
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