Hello everyone,
I have noticed that one of the drawer slides on my IKEA Malm chest of drawers is bent, causing the drawer to stick and not slide properly. I want to replace the bent metal slide, but I’m unsure how to proceed since the rails are screwed into the cabinet and partly consist of a combination of ball-bearing slides.
My questions:
1. Do I need to replace the entire slide assembly, or is it enough to replace individual parts?
2. What is the best way to remove the slide without damaging the screws or the wood?
3. Are there any special features of Malm drawers I should be aware of, such as mechanical locks, special clips, or similar?
4. After replacement, are adjustments necessary to ensure the drawer slides smoothly again?
I would really appreciate practical tips and shared experiences. Thanks in advance!
I have noticed that one of the drawer slides on my IKEA Malm chest of drawers is bent, causing the drawer to stick and not slide properly. I want to replace the bent metal slide, but I’m unsure how to proceed since the rails are screwed into the cabinet and partly consist of a combination of ball-bearing slides.
My questions:
1. Do I need to replace the entire slide assembly, or is it enough to replace individual parts?
2. What is the best way to remove the slide without damaging the screws or the wood?
3. Are there any special features of Malm drawers I should be aware of, such as mechanical locks, special clips, or similar?
4. After replacement, are adjustments necessary to ensure the drawer slides smoothly again?
I would really appreciate practical tips and shared experiences. Thanks in advance!
Hello Fredsar,
I would like to answer your questions in detail, as the Malm drawer slides are somewhat special.
1. Replacement of the slide unit:
Usually, with IKEA Malm dressers, the entire drawer slide is replaced because the individual parts (especially with ball-bearing slides) are structurally firmly connected. Replacing single defective components such as ball bearings or plastic clips is generally not practical because they are either permanently installed or located in hard-to-reach areas.
2. Disassembly:
The slides are typically attached to the cabinet with small Phillips screws. Tip: fully remove the screws first. Be careful here, as the wood in IKEA furniture is often particleboard or MDF and can tear out if too much force is applied. It’s best to use an electric screwdriver with torque control or carefully unscrew by hand.
Note that the drawer must be fully pulled out to remove it. Some models have a small plastic tab or metal clip at the back of the slide that needs to be pressed or released to detach.
3. Special features:
Malm slides have these locking systems. They are not always immediately visible, so check carefully whether your slide has such a lock. If you simply force the slide out, you may damage it. Proceed slowly and carefully.
4. Adjustment:
After installation, you should pull the drawer in and out several times to set the runners. If necessary, you can slightly loosen the screws to make minor positional adjustments to ensure smooth operation.
By the way, do you know the length of the slides? 35 cm (14 inches), 45 cm (18 inches), or 50 cm (20 inches)? Replacement slides need to fit exactly.
Best regards and good luck!
I would like to answer your questions in detail, as the Malm drawer slides are somewhat special.
1. Replacement of the slide unit:
Usually, with IKEA Malm dressers, the entire drawer slide is replaced because the individual parts (especially with ball-bearing slides) are structurally firmly connected. Replacing single defective components such as ball bearings or plastic clips is generally not practical because they are either permanently installed or located in hard-to-reach areas.
2. Disassembly:
The slides are typically attached to the cabinet with small Phillips screws. Tip: fully remove the screws first. Be careful here, as the wood in IKEA furniture is often particleboard or MDF and can tear out if too much force is applied. It’s best to use an electric screwdriver with torque control or carefully unscrew by hand.
Note that the drawer must be fully pulled out to remove it. Some models have a small plastic tab or metal clip at the back of the slide that needs to be pressed or released to detach.
3. Special features:
Malm slides have these locking systems. They are not always immediately visible, so check carefully whether your slide has such a lock. If you simply force the slide out, you may damage it. Proceed slowly and carefully.
4. Adjustment:
After installation, you should pull the drawer in and out several times to set the runners. If necessary, you can slightly loosen the screws to make minor positional adjustments to ensure smooth operation.
By the way, do you know the length of the slides? 35 cm (14 inches), 45 cm (18 inches), or 50 cm (20 inches)? Replacement slides need to fit exactly.
Best regards and good luck!
PLOMA schrieb:
The slides are usually attached to the cabinet with small Phillips screws.That is correct and important: Ideally, use a screwdriver with the appropriate tip to avoid damaging the screws and stripping them.
PLOMA schrieb:
For Malm slides, there are these release mechanisms.To add: IKEA Malm drawers are typically full-extension with soft-close or push-to-open mechanisms. Depending on the model, the release systems may vary.
Recommended procedure:
- Fully pull out the drawer and locate the releases on the underside of the slide.
- Usually, press these releases upwards or inward to detach the drawer from the slide system.
- Then, use a screwdriver to remove the slides.
Replacement is always done in pairs since both slides should be the same length. Newer slides are available from IKEA as spare parts and can be found using the dresser’s serial number or by measurements.
After installation, check that the slide is aligned horizontally. An incorrectly mounted slide can cause sticking or binding.
Hello Fredsar,
I can understand why this issue worries you a bit when a drawer no longer slides properly—it’s really frustrating.
To summarize the key points: The drawer slide should be completely removed by first taking out the drawer itself. This often requires pressing or lifting small release mechanisms, as previously mentioned. After that, you can unscrew and detach the slide.
If you’re unsure which replacement slide to buy, check the IKEA page or get one with the same dimensions and suitable for the weight of your drawer.
After replacing it, be patient if the slide sticks a little. Repeatedly pulling out and pushing in the drawer usually helps to normalize its movement.
Good luck! If you have any more questions, just ask 🙂
I can understand why this issue worries you a bit when a drawer no longer slides properly—it’s really frustrating.
To summarize the key points: The drawer slide should be completely removed by first taking out the drawer itself. This often requires pressing or lifting small release mechanisms, as previously mentioned. After that, you can unscrew and detach the slide.
If you’re unsure which replacement slide to buy, check the IKEA page or get one with the same dimensions and suitable for the weight of your drawer.
After replacing it, be patient if the slide sticks a little. Repeatedly pulling out and pushing in the drawer usually helps to normalize its movement.
Good luck! If you have any more questions, just ask 🙂
Hey Fredsar!
It’s great that you want to repair the drawer yourself 🙂
I’ve done this several times and can only recommend: Take your time when disassembling, and keep the screws safe!
Replacing the entire runner is usually the best solution, as individual parts can be quite fiddly. You’ll see that once you install the new runner, the drawer will slide like new again!
When putting the drawer back in, just try it out calmly; sometimes the runners need to “wear in” a bit. It’s easily manageable. Good luck, you’ve got this! 🙂
It’s great that you want to repair the drawer yourself 🙂
I’ve done this several times and can only recommend: Take your time when disassembling, and keep the screws safe!
Replacing the entire runner is usually the best solution, as individual parts can be quite fiddly. You’ll see that once you install the new runner, the drawer will slide like new again!
When putting the drawer back in, just try it out calmly; sometimes the runners need to “wear in” a bit. It’s easily manageable. Good luck, you’ve got this! 🙂
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