Office Chair Makes Noise When Leaning Back

The noise when leaning back on an office chair may be caused by loose connecting screws, worn or gapped components, lack of lubrication in moving parts, noise from the gas lift, overly tight backrest tension adjustment, poor product quality, or installation issues. The problem can be solved by identifying the type of noise, inspecting the appearance, and conducting manual tests to locate the issue, and then tightening screws, applying lubricant, replacing components, or adjusting settings accordingly.

Troubleshooting Measures

• Sound Identification: The type of noise can help locate the problem. A continuous creaking sound often indicates a lack of lubrication or wear in components, while a sharp clicking sound is more likely caused by loose screws or component gaps. For example, a "squeaking" sound when leaning back may suggest a lack of lubrication in internal metal springs or pivots, while a "clicking" sound at the connection between the backrest and seat may indicate loose screws.
• Visual Inspection: Examine the chair's appearance, focusing on cracks, deformations, or loose components. For instance, deformation at the connection between the gas lift and the five-star base may cause friction noise due to gaps, while cracked plastic parts at the connection between the backrest and seat may also produce noise.
• Manual Shaking: Shake the chair forward, backward, left, and right with your hands, feeling and listening for the source of the noise. Focus on the connection between the backrest and seat, around the base, and the connection points between the five-star base and wheels. For example, if the base makes a creaking sound when shaken, it may be due to worn track in the base's internal turntable or excessive gaps at the connection with the gas lift.
• Testing Specific Movements: Try sitting down, standing up, rotating, leaning back, and adjusting the height to determine if the noise occurs only during a specific movement. For example, if noise occurs only when leaning back, it may be due to a lack of lubrication in the core moving parts of the backrest function or overly tight backrest tension adjustment; if only a hissing sound occurs during height adjustment, it may be due to noise from the gas lift.

Solutions

• If the issue is loose screws, use tools to tighten all loose screws, especially at connections such as the backrest, armrests, base, and chair legs.
• If lubrication is lacking, apply lubricant to metal pivots and connection gaps, focusing on core moving parts such as springs and pivots in the backrest function.
• If the problem is with the wheels, replace all wheels with quiet PU wheels to reduce friction between the floor and wheels; if the issue is component gaps, pad a layer of tape between the chair frame and hole walls to fill the gaps.
• If the backrest tension adjustment is too tight, appropriately loosen the backrest tilt tension (Tilt Tension) knob on the base to prevent the mechanical structure from exceeding its design load capacity.