Soft close drawer slides

[TriumphFan]

Hello All, we paid extra to have soft close drawers installed in our kitchen remodel. Every one of them no longer functions correctly. They all slam shut and are more difficult to pull out. I think the pistons have all failed. We can't go back to the cabinet maker (long story) so does anyone know a source to just replace the pistons? I can't make out any brand markings on the slides other than a V.
TIA,
Jim

 

[Git]

I don't have a specific answer to your question, but I have purchased hardware from this place and found them to be very helpful when I had questions. I suggest you contact them and see if they can help

https://www.wwhardware.com/

here is there contact page
https://www.wwhardware.com/contact

 

[ard]

how about some pictures?!?

 

[rlitman]

Most often, the piston is fine, but the catch slips out. Every so often, I'll have to remove my drawers (ha ha), reach in and pull the piston out to the outer position. It will then catch again when I slide the drawer home.

Sometimes things just break. But Bluhm (the biggest and best maker of these) has a great warranty, and also very easily available parts.

 

[ScottsGT]

When the catch on mine slip, the drawer won't close all the way. Only happened once or twice in the 4 years we've had them now. I bought Accuride's from CabinetParts.com

 

[vrinner]

Blum drawer slides are generally known as one of the best. Not sure of the effort to repair your existing ones but if it's a lot of work might be worth it to just replace.

 

[johnnyradiant]

Blum and Accuride seem to be what the others aspire too aka copy.

 

[TriumphFan]

Not sure of the make but I'll try to get some pics in the morning. I'll also check the "catch".
It's odd the ALL failed, even the ones that don't get used much.

 

[wssix99]

The OP probably doesn't have the Blum's. My guess is that they don't want to pay another $1000 to $2000 to retrofit everything with them, either.

As rlitman points out, all that's needed is probably just a re-set:

Tweaking the mounting of the slides (just by a hair) may put them in a better position/orientation, so they don't come out of whack.

 

[Dustball]

Soft close retrofits

https://www.amazon.com/Rok-Hardware-Drawers-Adapter-Retrofit/dp/B00JJYIVHM

 

[TriumphFan]

Here are some pics.
It appears the slide engages at the rear and is pulled to fully closed with a spring with the damper making it a "soft close". I believe the dampers have failed so if I could just replace those...
Also a pic of the only mfg. mark I can see.

 

[Lynden]

I never could figure out why people think they need soft close drawers. I feel the same about all of the technology and other upgrades installed in homes and vehicles. People have way too much money to spend.

 

[Cooter Brown]

Looks to me like they were installed before the cabinets were finished and they were simply sprayed over. Let's just say that's not best practice.

It's certainly not impossible but it'd be a little surprising if all the pistons went at once or within a short period of time.

You should pull a set out and clean off the overspray, at least on the moving and mating parts, and see if that helps.

Additionally, tolerances are pretty tight to make those work properly. Check the cabinets for square and make sure the left and right slides of each set are the same distance apart in the front and back.

A good cabinetmaker, especially in this economy, is going to charge you an arm and a leg to put new ones in. Good ones are not cheap even for a cabinet shop buying in bulk, and putting them in on site like that is a grade USDA certified PIA and he's going to clobber you on labor.

 

[Raystheroof]

Hello All, we paid extra to have soft close drawers installed in our kitchen remodel. Every one of them no longer functions correctly. They all slam shut and are more difficult to pull out. I think the pistons have all failed. We can't go back to the cabinet maker (long story) so does anyone know a source to just replace the pistons? I can't make out any brand markings on the slides other than a V.
TIA,
Jim

Were you ever able to solve this problem? I have similar undermount slides (Topslide) and they all need piston replacement.