Office Chair Base Modification

There are mainly three methods for modifying the base of an office chair: replacing the casters, upgrading the gas lift, and using car seat modification. Details are as follows:

Replacing the Casters

If the chair moves unevenly, makes a lot of noise, or the wheels are severely worn, replacing the casters is a relatively simple solution. During operation, first use a screwdriver to gently pry off the old wheels, exposing the metal pins. Then, align the new wheels with the pins and press them firmly until they lock. Alternatively, you can lay the chair down and use scissors to pry off the old wheels. It is recommended to choose rodless snap-ring silent casters, which do not require tools. Simply align them and press until you hear a 'click' to lock them in place. These casters roll smoothly and quietly and do not damage wooden floors. In terms of cost, a set of silent casters usually costs less than a few dozen yuan and takes about 8 minutes to install.

Upgrading the Gas Lift

The gas lift is the core component that enables height adjustment in an office chair. After several years of use, aging and air leakage can cause the chair to sink automatically when sat on or prevent it from locking at the desired height. Replacing the gas lift requires two people to cooperate. One person should step on the five-star base to stabilize it, while the other person shakes the armrests left and right to separate the seat from the base. Then, flip the five-star base over, place a cloth underneath, and use a large hammer to strike the bottom edge of the gas lift all around to remove the old one. To install the new one, reverse the process. It is essential to choose a gas lift from a brand that has passed safety certification, such as the Korean SHS carbon black inner rod. The entire process takes about 1 hour, and the cost of the parts is a few dozen yuan.

Car Seat Modification (Using GL8 Seats as an Example)

• Seat Model Differences: The middle-row seats of the GL8 come in two models: 652T and 653T, with significantly different bracket structures. The 653T bracket has a regular size and standard mounting holes at the bottom, making it compatible with most modification brackets and easy to modify. The 652T bracket has an offset structure, and installing the seat directly will cause the legs to be misaligned. It is necessary to remove the original car's bracket assembly and then customize a bracket to correct the angle, making the modification slightly more difficult.
• Types and Size Parameters of Modification Brackets: The mainstream modification plans include a gas lift with a five-star base. For the gas lift plan, it is recommended that the diameter of the five-star base be between 60 and 70 centimeters, with sufficient load-bearing capacity. For a rigid-leg bracket, the length of the fixed legs should be between 40 and 45 centimeters, and the width of the bracket should cover the seat frame. During modification, structural safety is of utmost importance. It is essential to use an explosion-proof steel plate base, a three-stage Leite gas lift, and a bracket with a load-bearing capacity exceeding 200 kilograms.
• Installation Points: The 653T seat can directly utilize the original factory bolt holes, while the 652T seat requires the removal of the original bracket and welding of an adapter plate. It is recommended to prioritize modifying the 653T seat due to its standardized bracket design, which makes installation easier. For the 652T seat, special attention should be paid to correcting the base angle. If the budget is limited, the cost of the rigid-leg bracket plan can be controlled within 400 yuan.