Fixing Drawers: How to Make Creaky Drawers Glide
Updated: Jan. 24, 2023Replace worn out drawer slides with ball-bearing slides
How to install ball-bearing-type drawer slides
You don’t have to put up with creaky, sticking drawers. Replace your old worn-out drawer slides with the modern ball-bearing type. The drawers will roll so smoothly that you’ll think you have new cabinets.
Most new side-mounting drawer slides require exactly 1/2 in. between the drawer side and the cabinet frame. The center mount slide we’re using mounts to any drawer regardless of side clearance, which makes it a great choice for replacing old drawer slides.
We used 22-5/8 in. Accuride No. 1029 slides, but No. KV1129P22 are similar. Both come with a mounting bracket that can be screwed to the back of the cabinet to support the back of the drawer slide. But we decided to attach the slide to a wooden support rail instead (Photo 3). This stiffens the slide and gives the drawer better support when it’s fully extended. Cut the 1×4 support rail to fit between the front frame and the back of the cabinet. We used a 1-in. wide cleat (Photo 3) to make it easier to attach the support rail to the back of the cabinet. Make sure this cleat doesn’t interfere with the drawer below. If it does, fasten the 1×4 with metal angle brackets instead.
Measure the depth of your cabinet from the front of the frame to the back wall. Then check the drawer slide package to find the correct length. Standard depth kitchen cabinets require 22-5/8 in. slides. You’ll also need four 1-1/4 in. drywall screws to attach the support rail to the cabinet.
Here are a few pointers and things to watch out for:
- Separate the two halves of the slides by extending them as far as possible and giving an extra tug.
- Measure the height of the lip on the bottom of the drawer (Photo 2). The drawer slide requires 1/4 in. If the lip is more than 1/4 in., make up the difference by shimming under the front of the bottom rail before you screw it to the cabinet. Our lip was 3/8 in., so we added an 1/8-in. shim (Photo 4).
- Two small plastic pads come with the drawer slide. Put one on each side of the drawer opening to keep the drawer from tipping. Fine-tune the drawer by adjusting the thickness of the shim under the bottom rail until the drawer sides barely touch the plastic pads.
- Don’t tighten any screws until you’ve checked the operation of the drawer. Adjust the position of the slides until the drawer operates smoothly and the drawer front rests flush against the cabinet.
- Drawers like the one shown, with a 3/8-in. lip around the front, require a notch to allow the slide to be mounted flush with the front of the cabinet. Cut the notch with a sharp chisel.
Required Tools for this Project
Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.
- 4-in-1 screwdriver
- Drill bit set
- Drill/driver - cordless
- Hammer
- Level
- Pry bar
- Square
- Tape measure
- Wood chisel
Required Materials for this Project
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.
- 1-1/4-in. drywall screws
- 1-in. wide wood cleats (or metal angle brackets)
- 1x4 wood support rails
- 3/4 x No. 8 pan head sheet metal screws
- Shims