Want a nice upgrade to your recliner? The La-Z-Boy store will sell you a swivel base kit, and you can save some money installing it yourself.
I'm not a pro, but I didn't see any online guide on how to install a swivel base on a La-Z-Boy rocking recliner, so I filmed my first attempt, which worked out fine.
Good video. One thing I’d like to add is that those extra small parts that you said wasn’t needed, actually are. They go in the center hole of the brackets that have the springs. They keep the chair from rocking too far back and tipping over. The round swivel plate reduces the center of gravity and if you go as far back as you can do with a traditional base, it will tip backwards. Each bolt is comprised of two sections and when installed they have probably an inch of play that still allows the rocker to rock back but limits how far it will go so it doesn’t tip over. If you rock back hard enough though, it will tip even with these bolts. I used to work at a furniture store and have installed hundreds of these swivel bases. Also what works good to keep the springs in position when you remove the base is to cut a 2x2 into 1/4” long pieces. Then you can slide them in before you take off the standard base. You might have to build up the width of the 2x2=which is actually 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 with some duct tape strips and wrap them around one side. That will increase the height of your blocks and that will keep the holes pretty much where you need them.
Any furniture repair tech knows to use blocks in the rocker springs to keep them in place while you change out the base. That way you don't have to pry the springs up to realign the screw holes, they'll already be in alignment.
Thank you for this video. The directions are easy to understand, don't require fancy tools, and made the job a breeze.
Thank you from me, too. My swivel base installation was due the end of August. Today is October 24. Sunday I went to the store where it has been sitting since it came in and picked it up. I got several follow -upcalls from the store assuring me they would schedule me as soon as they could, but I don't think they have enough manpower. I am a very handy gal so figured I could do it but I did need reference to some things and you provided it. An extra, EXTRA thank you for the tips on lining up the screw plates using the wrench to give some lift to that spring. It was the best of all the tips. If I knew where you lived, I would send you a power screwdriver. 😁
Allen Mitchell thank you for adding your corrections! Now I'll get it right the first time!☺
Thanks for posting this tutorial Jonathan! This is a project I've wanted to do myself but was unsure how to proceed. Nice job!
OUTSTANDING! Just what I needed to repair my swivel base!👍🏻😁
Thanks for filming this. The guy at the La-Z-Boy store did warn me to wedge the springs, I see what he meant now.
Thank you for the video! The only thing I would add is to cut 1.5” wedges to put into the springs before taking the first base off. I wish you all luck in the future with this project!
A quick tip on the wooden wedges - you can use a wooden paint stirrer to pry those suckers apart. It’ll fit perfectly in the spring bracket. Do the screw closest to the front of the chair, then the middle one next.
Thanks for the video. Where did you buy the swivel add on from??? Trying to find it online but I wanna get the same thing. Thanks!
Thanks very helpful. No instructions provided. Didn’t know what to do with white circles. I used C-clamps and 1x2 to pull up the springs. Cheers
Hey Jonathan, thanks for the video. I had mine installed as ordered but it had this wicked squeak after a month. Found out it didn't have any washers to separate the wood from the metal.
Thanks Jonathan, very useful.
Great informational video 👍 Do you have an idea how much height it added from Stationary to swivel base? Lazy boy says 1/4” but trying to see all you did, looks a lot higher?
Perfect, thanks for the walk thru.
Thank you sir!!🙏💥
Would this work with any brand of chair?
Should have started the screw In the middle first then they all will line up . I’m a final assembly at lazy boy an I’m one of the fastest guys they have I run 250% I do 95 of them everyday for the past two years
Dillan. Is it easy and possible to add rocker capability to a fixed floor base ?
HI Dillan, don' know if you will receive this but I have two questions if you do! Does putting the swivel on the recliner make the recliner tilt a bit forward, more than the standard base? And I was told if put swivel on can't go back to standard base which makes zero sense to me? Thank you
where can I buy the swivel kit complete; I'm in NW OH
How do you get the old base off to replace it with the new one
We are adding a swivel to our Lazy Boy. Thanks for the video, it definitely helped. We also found 2 screws that we don't know what to do with. They are long and have a sleeve. Did you ever use those screws for anything?
Thanks - glad it helped! I did not know what to do with the extra screws and sleeves at first - but one of the comments below from allen mitchell indicates that it's intended to go through the middle hole and function as a way to keep the springs from rocking too far back or forward. I went back and installed them, but I don't notice any difference.
What are the dimensions of the base if you were to build it yourself?
Awesome explanations & video stability. Love your style. Question: Does this increase the height of the lazy boy? I am looking for something to increase the height of my recliner 4-6 inches.....
I did not measure before and after, but there wasn't any noticeable change in height.
Attach plywood base to chair then get bed corner lifts and attach to bottom plywood. Depending on weight or just overkill you should use 3/4 plywood
OK, so first, very helpful. Second your voice is great and really easy to listen to whereas other things I have listen to have not been so great. ❤ thank you this is what I needed because I did not want to pay the fucking $400 that they wanted to charge to come out to my bum. Fuck nowhere.
What if your chair won't swivel or rock it sits on the floor
Jonathan, where did you get the swivel kit for your recliner? La=Z=Boy site only shows the replacement metal swivel that will not fit on my chair.
I bought mine in person at a La-Z-Boy showroom/store. Hope you can find one!
Did you buy the parts at your local store or online? Thanks
Local store
I bought 2 new Lazyboy recliners that don’t swivel I have not brought them home yet I paid for them only 3 days ago. I now have 2 older Lazyboy chairs that do swivel. My question is do you know if there interchangeable? Lazyboy wants 135 dollars extra for swivel base and I bought 2 chairs. Trying to save some money.
I do not know if they are compatible if they are old, but when I got mine a year and a half ago they seemed to be universal across the chairs that had the swivel option. The only way to know for sure it to flip them over and have a look -- you can compare yours to the ones in the video and if they match, you're probably good.
I have a need for the exact kit you used what was the part number?
Sorry, but I don't know. I went to a La-Z-Boy store in person and told them what chair I had (purchased only a few weeks before) and they ordered it for me.
Did putting the recliner on a swivel make the chair tilt a bit forward? They are telling me at Lazy-Boy this is a possibility and they will not put swivel on for me to "feel," without first buying. They are also saying that once put swivel on can't go back to regular base which makes no sense to me!
Did you put the swivel on? I have two Trouper recliners , one swivel and one regular. The swivel tilts forward and is not as comfortable do to having to keep it upright otherwise the front will lean forward and touch the floor . Very disappointed. Lazy boy days there is nothing they can do.
Did it add height after the swivel base was installed?
I did not measure, but there was no noticeable change in height
Yes, it adds significant height. I have a swivel on a Morrison and it's quite high which I don't like.
Where did you buy your swivel base
Got it directly from the La-Z-Boy store in my town
Do you have info on how to put a swivel base on a power Lazyboy recliner?
I just went to Lazyboy to look at a new powered Astor with adjustable everything to replace my non powered Astor. Lazyboy wont sell it with a swivel due to the power cord (from what sales guy says). Sales guy let me take a deep look at everything. I am going to do my own modification to make the powered a swivel. I'll get just the round base with the bearing plates directly from them & then bridge the standard base & add the swivel underneath. Still gotta look at a detailed dimensional drawing of the chair to know where exactly to center the plate, but I think it is doable. Luckily I'm an engineer & "maker". My motto is "If they don't sell it, make it".
Why couldn’t you just drill small holes rather than screwing with the springs?
How much was the Kit???
I'm not totally sure I remember, but I think it was about $150?
Parts number please
WHY NOT USE THE EXISTING BASE WITH 1/2” or 3/4” plywood if you’re a big boy and attach heavy duty 200 to 1000lb capacity lazy Susan 8 to 24” available on amazon. It will add 7/8” for the Susan plus the plywood
Aren't springs cool?
They're the best! Adding sproinginess to our everyday lives and never asking anything in return!
Jonathan Field on the contrary I’ve found that springs are very forceful about returning to their resting position!
True, but they don't ask. They just do it and good luck if you're in their way.
Dude you have no clue what your doing, the long bolts and sleeves are stops for the rocker springs. they go in the middle hole in between the rocker springs. with out them the chair will rock to far backwards, possibly flipping the chair. stretching the springs one side at a time with a small pry in much easier or cut 1 1/2'' blocks that are a 1/4" Thick and placing them in the ends of the spring brackets will also hold the springs stretched.
You are absolutely correct - I had no idea what I was doing! I wish there had been any instructions online. Since there weren't I decided to film my own effort as I figured it out so the next person would have a starting point. Apparently I didn't figure it all out, and I thank you for your correction. On my chair it doesn't seem to rock too far, but I am going to see if I still have the parts and maybe it'll be an improvement if I install them. Thanks again.
Thank you for the comment on the limiter bolts. I just received a swivel rocker/recliner chair from La-Z-Boy warehouse that felt very wrong. I looked and these were missing. Had to argue with their corporate office as they initially stated these were options. They only changed their story after I had them look at a parts list for the kit. (facebook.com/search/top/?q=la-z-boy%20furniture%20sucks!!!!)