Shelf Support Stud

While moving our refrigerator when remodeling the kitchen, the front roller assembly shattered from age. The original set was made of nylon and age made it very fragile. Also to make the move easier, we removed the shelves. In the process the lower shelf support stud snapped.

When the parts came the first thing repaired was the shelve support stud. Very easy job to do, just take the pliers and rotate the broken stud counterclockwise a quarter turn and remove. Put new stud in the hole in the same position as the removed stud and gently, but firmly rotate the stud a quarter turn clockwise until it seats.

The front roller assembly requires a socket set, block of wood about 1/2 - 1" thick flashlight and 4’ level. First, remove the front grill by opening both doors of the side by side and pulling the grill out of its left and right side anchors. Close the doors. Place the block of wood under the front support near the center. Remove the leveling screw from the old assembly and install it loosely in the new assembly as the new assembly has no leveling screw. This will now allow you to remove the old assembly by removing the remaining screw in the roller assembly on the front refrigerator support and turning the roller assembly slightly counterclockwise and pulling out the front. You may have to wiggle it, as it sits in a slot on the side support of the refrigerator. To install, place the new assembly in the same position as the old, locate the slot with the flashlight and push the roller set tab into the slot. Attach the support screw and tighten while holding the assembly in place. It is a good idea to replace both rollers at the same time. The same rollers will fit both sides. Now level the refrigerator by tightening the leveling screw until the front rollers now touch the floor. Next, place the level on the top of the refrigerator diagonally but not on top of the door supports. Turn the leveling screws until the bubble is in the center when the level is set in either diagonal position. Replace grill and you done.

From a prior post, I learned that you simply turn the old stud one quarter turn to the left to pull it out. The new stud is then inserted and turned one quarter turn to the right and it locks in. Very easy repair.

Removing old stud was difficult. It will not stap or pull out. Had to cut it off with a Dremel tool, then drill into the center of the old stud and pull out the pieces with needle nose pliers. Be careful, there are 2 metal pins on the side of the hole in the wall of the frid that need to stay there. These are in addition to the 2 metal pins on the shelf support stud. New stud popped right in easily.

The video showing how to make the repair was absolutely invaluable. It would have been much more difficult without that. Our refrigerator is about 20 years old so the broken support studs were difficult to get out, but because of the video I knew I was doing it correctly. My next project is to fix the ice maker and I feel much more confident about tackling that job now.

pryed out old stub of stud with the tip of a flat head screw driver. It really did not want to come out because of the metal wings on the side of the stud. When I finally got it out the hole was a little rough but the new stud fit in the old hole and was not to wobbley. The shelf is heavy enough to make it stable. The new stud is also long enough to support the shelf even though the hole was not really in new condition after the old stud was pried out.

Following the diagram of parts so that I could order the right items was the most difficult part of the job. The web site for this task needs to be more friendly.

one screw fixed the water dispenser. The screws were more difficult to remove.
Your website would be more helpful if you had a larger diagram of the shelf supports. It was difficult to locate the exact supports needed. I actually bought one I didn't need as a package of two.
My refigerator was manufactured in 1990. I bought it new. I have had no proplems with the refigerator or freezer. The broken water dispenser and shelf supports are the only repairs. If the company had made the dispenser and shelf supports out of metal they would not have broken. There is too much weight on the brackets in the crisper because it is such a large contained area Otherwise I am very happy with my refigerators performance.
Barbara Kemper

Removed broken clip and installed new one . The best thing was i ordered my part on Tuesday before Christmas . When i got home Wednesday my part was already there . I was Impressed .

had a little trouble removing the old support but the new one went easy. I watched the video before attempting the repair and it was very helpful.

This is the second time I did this repair. The first time, I was able to insert the new studs into where I had pried out the old broken studs. This time, the holes were too big and the new studs were too loose to support the shelf. After viewing Brian from Arlington Hts recommendation below, I put Gorilla glue on the studs and then inserted them again. After letting the glue harden overnight, the studs were remained solidly in the holes and supported the shelf with over two gallons of milk of weight. Unlike Brian, I didn't need duct tape.