ᐅ My KALLAX unit squeaks after installing the casters – any ideas for a fix?

Hello everyone,

I recently equipped an IKEA KALLAX unit with four casters to make it easier to move. However, after installing the casters, I noticed that the furniture occasionally squeaks when being moved. These are the standard plastic casters commonly used for KALLAX. The squeaking mainly occurs on smooth floors and sounds to me like friction somewhere around the caster axle or the connection to the unit.

I would like to fix this issue permanently without major modifications or adding extra parts. Maybe some of you have had similar experiences or know an effective solution to reduce or completely eliminate the squeaking?

Thanks in advance for your tips!

The squeaking usually comes from the axle or the roller bearing. Try applying some silicone spray or another lubricant. This will generally eliminate the noise.

Lidan56 schrieb:
The squeaking usually comes from the axle or the roller bearings.

That is correct. KALLAX casters often have simple plastic bearings, which can squeak when dry.

Here are some practical solutions I recommend:

1. Cleaning: Remove the casters and thoroughly clean all moving parts from dust and residue with a dry cloth.

2. Lubrication: Use a odorless silicone or Teflon spray, as these lubricants do not attract dust and do not damage the plastic components.

3. Alternative casters: If the noise persists despite lubrication, it may be worth investing in high-quality ball-bearing casters, which often run more quietly.

4. Check the installation: Incorrect assembly can also cause friction – check all screws and ensure the caster mounts are properly positioned.

Regarding "without much effort and additional tinkering," lubrication is the most effective and easiest solution.

Galateo schrieb:
This is the standard plastic caster set commonly used for KALLAX. The squeaking mainly occurs on smooth floors and in my opinion sounds like friction somewhere on the caster axle or the connection to the unit.

In addition to the suggestions, I would like to address the floor surface: sometimes the squeaking is caused by the interaction of plastic casters with certain floor coverings, especially on smooth materials like tiles or laminate.

It can help to lightly roughen the casters with fine sandpaper or apply a thin felt covering. This changes the friction and can reduce the noise.

Please note that too rough a surface can damage the floor finish, so be careful when sanding. In my experience, lubrication combined with a slight abrasion of the caster surface is a good compromise for quieter use.