ᐅ After moving, the casters on the Kallax shelves no longer stay securely in place – any tips?

Hello everyone,

I recently moved my Kallax shelf, and now I’ve noticed that the caster wheels I attached at the bottom no longer fit securely. They wobble and can be easily moved without locking or holding properly.

The wheels were firmly attached and stable before, and I haven’t changed the mounting method—just moved the shelf. Has anyone experienced caster wheels becoming loose or failing to grip properly after a move? Are there any tips to securely fix the wheels again or maybe alternatives that can be used on a Kallax shelf?

I would like to avoid buying new wheels completely if there is a simple way to make them tight again.

Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!

onbau schrieb:
The casters were previously fixed and stable, and I didn’t change the mounting method – just relocated them.

That really sounds frustrating, especially if everything was secure before. I had a similar issue after a move; the screws weren’t as tight anymore because the shelf shifted a bit during transport.

Maybe the threaded holes loosened slightly? Sometimes a few washers help improve stability, or if possible, re-screwing into a slightly denser material—for example, using a small wall plug or a piece of wood as padding.

It’s also worth checking if the casters are mounted completely straight. Sometimes the angles change during a move if the shelf gets a bit warped.

Your problem shows how differently moving can affect things—I hope you find a quick solution so the Kallax rolls smoothly again and stands safely. 🙂

onbau schrieb:
I would like to avoid buying new casters completely if there is any simple suggestion on how to secure them properly again.

In general, there is a critical point when attaching casters to Kallax furniture: the casters are usually screwed in using a threaded bolt into pre-made threaded holes. These threaded holes are either riveted or pressed into the MDF wood and can feel loose if the surrounding material swells slightly due to movement or moisture damage.

My suggestion would be the following multi-step approach:

1. Remove the screws and carefully inspect the threaded holes. Are they damaged or stripped?
2. If there is slight looseness, try improving the screw fit by using wood glue and small wood shavings or wooden wedges to give the thread better grip. Let the glue dry before reattaching the caster.
3. Alternatively, thread inserts (Helicoils) can help if the thread inside the hole is damaged. These are installed to create a new, solid thread.
4. If possible, replace the original threaded casters with casters that use a plate mounting. These are screwed in with multiple screws, which increases stability.
5. Check if the shelf itself has slightly warped after moving. A warped Kallax can prevent even tightening.

One more question: are the casters screwed in from the inside of the shelf, or is the screw simply inserted into the hole from the outside?

Knowing your exact setup would help me assess your approach better and provide more targeted advice.

If the rollers are loose, you can wrap the thread with PTFE tape. This usually helps them grip better. The main goal is to increase friction on the thread.

Check if the threaded hole might be worn out. Apply wood glue and some wood shavings into the hole, then firmly screw in the roller and let it dry. After that, it often holds very securely again.

bapar schrieb:
If there is slight looseness, you can try improving the screw fit with wood glue and small wood shavings or wedges

I tried that as well, and it helped a lot. For me, it was a simple and effective solution back then.

You just need to be patient because the glue must be completely dry. If you rush, it won’t hold properly.

Also, I would make sure that the rollers don’t have any dirt in the threads before screwing them back in. Sometimes lint and dust accumulate there, which prevents a secure fit.

Good luck, it will be fine! 🙂