Anyone replaced the gas strut on a office chair?

[giddyup]

Was it a pain or a breeze?

[johng]

I have looked at doing it but all the chairs I have had so far   the "gass strut" was not easy to replace  as it was welded in place..all my chairs have been cheapo ones  so maybe a Hi-So one will offer the chance of replacement ?

[Crossy]

Yup.

 

Not really complex.

 

Hardest part was getting the old one out of the base (large hammer and wood block).

 

Make sure you get the right length, although I got longer struts being a lanky (but fat) chap.

 

I will say that they really don't last well with a fat-farang as a load, they start going down under load after a while

 

A piece of 1" PVC pipe slips nicely over the top part and doesn't move. OK no adjustment but once set who needs to move it? Of course you could just do this anyway if you're a cheapskate (paint it black and no-one will ever know) 🙂 

 

EDIT I've not seen a welded-in one and my chairs aren't exactly top class ones.

[giddyup]

11 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Yup.

 

Not really complex.

 

Hardest part was getting the old one out of the base (large hammer and wood block).

 

Make sure you get the right length, although I got longer struts being a lanky (but fat) chap.

 

I will say that they really don't last well with a fat-farang as a load, they start going down under load after a while

 

A piece of 1" PVC pipe slips nicely over the top part and doesn't move. OK no adjustment but once set who needs to move it? Of course you could just do this anyway if you're a cheapskate (paint it black and no-one will ever know) 🙂 

 

EDIT I've not seen a welded-in one and my chairs aren't exactly top class ones.

A Youtube video shows using a pipe wrench to loosen the strut from the top fitting, also giving it a squirt with WD40 before trying to remove it.

What does putting PVC pipe over the top part do?

[VocalNeal]

27 minutes ago, Crossy said:

A piece of 1" PVC pipe slips nicely over the top part and doesn't move. OK no adjustment but once set who needs to move it? Of course you could just do this anyway if you're a cheapskate (paint it black and no-one will ever know) 🙂 

 

Exactly . I've seen many used office chairs in "Japanese" thrift type shops usually with collapsed struts. All that is needed is a piece of plastic pipe. And Chrome paint is available if needed. 

[sometimewoodworker]

13 minutes ago, giddyup said:

What does putting PVC pipe over the top part do?

It stops it from moving down and defects the bounce 

[giddyup]

Sorry, change of mind. Seems it's more economical to replace the chair. As well as needing new gas strut, the arm and the seat needed recovering, so just took it to local upholsterer who quoted 1200 baht to do the job. If I add another 150 baht for a strut I'm already up to the price of a new chair.

[newbee2022]

No, I bought a new one, second hand for 800 Baht

[jippytum]

I purchased replacement gas strut and wheels from Lazada replacements for my expensive  old office chair 14000.baht. 

It took some heavy knocking with the help of our maintence man. 

Worth the effort the parts better than the original. 

[cracker1]

On 5/28/2025 at 11:43 AM, Crossy said:

Yup.

 

Not really complex.

 

Hardest part was getting the old one out of the base (large hammer and wood block).

 

Make sure you get the right length, although I got longer struts being a lanky (but fat) chap.

 

I will say that they really don't last well with a fat-farang as a load, they start going down under load after a while

 

A piece of 1" PVC pipe slips nicely over the top part and doesn't move. OK no adjustment but once set who needs to move it? Of course you could just do this anyway if you're a cheapskate (paint it black and no-one will ever know) 🙂 

 

EDIT I've not seen a welded-in one and my chairs aren't exactly top class ones.

I like the PVC pipe suggestion. Will give that a go !

Thanks.

[snowgard]

Jup, you need a hammer for do it!!! Cheap new one you can buy on here!!!
https://s.lazada.co.th/s.xm2Bf?cc

[TexasCowboy]

If you don't need the piston, there is  kit on the shopping sites with 3 rings that can fix to it to make it stationary.  For max height you use all 3 rings, med 2rings, tall people or short desks 1 ring.  It's a solution.  I guess the PVC probably cheaper.  I laugh at my office mate who stole my chair and went to a lot of trouble to do so, getting a cheap chair, now with fixed height.  If I ever find it, I'll steal it back though.

[transam]

Just ordered a strut on Lazada, once I had clicked on everything it cost me 105 bht delivered......

 

Replacement is not difficult if you own a hammer....🤭

[giddyup]

1 minute ago, transam said:

Just ordered a strut on Lazada, once I had clicked on everything it cost me 105 bht delivered......

 

Replacement is not difficult if you own a hammer....🤭

Was there a choice of lengths?

[transam]

17 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Was there a choice of lengths?

I just ordered the 8 inch one as the dimensions quoted were exactly what I wanted. Most of the office chairs use the same strut...I did see a 7 inch advertised.

[giddyup]

2 minutes ago, transam said:

I just ordered the 8 inch one as the dimensions quoted were exactly what I wanted. Most of the office chairs use the same strut...I did see a 7 inch advertised.

And there's also a 9 inch.

[Daffy D]

BIG PAIN 

 

Don't believe those YouTube videos that show you only need a gentle tap with a hammer.

 

The first one I did, there's a thread on here somewhere, I had to use blow torch to separate the strut from the under chair mechanism.  That still didn't work so had to buy both strut and mechanism.

 

Where the strut goes into the wheels is a bit easier to work on as you can really heat it up and bash the hell out of to come apart.

 

Another one that I had previously put grease on the top and bottom slots came apart a bit easier but still a struggle.

 

This last I replaced I wound a lot of that white plumber's tape round both ends before reassembly. Time will tell if that's a good idea. 

 

 Crossy'S  idea of using a length of metal pipe as a cheap fix works well. I used that for several months before getting round to replacing the strut. 

 

 

 

[VocalNeal]

So all we need is a hose clamp. 🧐

 

https://youtu.be/yIbY4vqNfos?si=EI6UkD0iqn_GTrGx