ᐅ Malm drawers are difficult to slide – how can the rollers be replaced?

Hello everyone,

Some time ago, I got a Malm chest of drawers from Ikea, but the drawers have become quite stiff and now only slide with difficulty. When I looked at the rollers under the drawers, I noticed that they can apparently be replaced.

However, I'm unsure about the best way to change the rollers without removing the entire drawer or damaging the rails. Is there a detailed guide or any tips on how to replace the rollers on Malm drawers to make them slide smoothly and cleanly again?

I would really appreciate any helpful advice or personal experiences, as I don’t want to take the chest apart without knowing the correct method. Thanks in advance!

sotuda schrieb:
Is there a precise guide or any tips on how to replace the rollers of Malm drawers to make them slide smoothly and cleanly again?

Hi,

if your Malm drawers are hard to open, it’s usually due to dirty or worn plastic rollers on the drawer slides.

The first step is to correctly identify the rollers: Malm drawers typically have rollers running on plastic tracks, which are secured with side clips or small screws.

Important steps for replacing the rollers:
1. Fully pull out the drawer—almost to the stopper.
2. Lift or tilt the drawer slightly at a certain point to allow the rollers to be removed. You can usually access the small plastic tabs or clips holding the rollers in place here.
3. The rollers can usually be removed without special tools by pulling them off the drawer slide or by unclipping them carefully using a small screwdriver.
4. Make sure to use replacement rollers of the same shape and size to maintain smooth operation.

A helpful tip: After replacing the rollers, it can be beneficial to lightly lubricate the plastic glides or tracks with some silicone spray—this significantly improves smoothness and helps prevent stiffness over time.

If you can provide more details about your exact model (for example, whether the rollers have a braking mechanism), I can give you more specific advice. Replacement roller sets are often available from Ikea or third-party suppliers, but please make sure to order original parts or at least compatible replacement rollers.

I hope this helps you get started.

Laukau5 schrieb:
The rollers can usually be removed from the drawer slide without special tools or can be unclipped using a small screwdriver.

Exactly! 😊 It was the same with my Malm:

Pull the drawer out completely, tilt it slightly, and then carefully unlock the rollers with a small screwdriver – they practically pop out.

It’s best to replace the old rollers with suitable IKEA replacement rollers; otherwise, the drawer might stick or run unevenly.

And here’s my tip: If it gets stuck sometimes, a few drops of machine oil or a light spray of silicone on the slide and rollers will make the drawer slide as smoothly as butter again. 🙂

Pull the drawer completely out, lift it on one side to unclip the rollers, and insert the new ones. Done.

sotuda schrieb:
However, I am unsure about the best way to replace the rollers without removing the entire drawer or damaging the tracks.

Regarding the precise replacement of rollers on Malm drawers:

The rollers are typically mounted on the sides of the drawers and often installed using a clip system. To remove them, the drawer must be fully taken out, as access to the rollers is otherwise not possible. Tilting the drawer to remove the rollers is hardly feasible without removing the drawer completely.

I recommend the following steps for replacing the rollers:

1. Pull the drawer entirely out of the chest.
2. Carefully loosen the plastic clips holding the rollers using a flat tool.
3. Remove the rollers and replace them with suitable spare parts.
4. Check the running track itself for damage – any damage can cause stiffness.
5. Reassemble in reverse order.

To protect the tracks, silicone spray can be applied if needed. Please use only original or compatible high-quality replacement parts to ensure the drawer’s functionality.

Repair without removing the drawer is not advisable because the rollers are difficult to access.