Refrigerator Shelf Support Stud 4388538

The hardest part was to figure out how to remove the old studs and put in new ones. I figured out finally that they should be twisted out and in., Simple online or printed insruction would be very helpful. Unfortunatelly the manual does not contain any repair information.
I fixed it with little trouble.

I have an old DIY home repair book and I saw that the ice maker repair wasn't hard, so I ordered the parts from Part Select. 1 day to arrive...super service. The site is very helpful with diagrams about the parts. The repair was a cinch...EXCEPT I forgot to unplug and got a little zap. The shelf pegs were a breeze because I had read other's stories about how to remove and replace on this site. Go try to do it...get a book at library if you need some direction.

First of all, here's a warning to all -- I took the glass shelf / pan cover out to clean it -- with a sponge wet with COLD water and the shelf literally exploded on me. This is the second such incident. Both times I have been lucky and no one was hurt.

The shelf was easily identifiable by part number based on model number. Easy to locate the model number on plate above top shelf inside refrigerator (right hand side in my case).

Only had to carefully set glass shelf in frame -- no issues. I was able to use a screwdriver to remove the shelf support stud and basically pop the replacement back in with no issue.

Thank you Parts Select for your simplified system to order replacement parts, and the speed with which it was received.

If you have enough plastic to grip with pliers, removal is quite easy. But some of the studs break off at the base making removal very difficult.
I drilled 2 holes and inserted small screws - somthing to grip with pliers. 1/4 turn and they came out.
To insert new studs, a 3/4 turn is required. They will lock in place when properly inserted.
My biggest complaint is the price, $5.00 per stud is a bit excessive.

I had read here from someone that fixed there shelf support stub and it was very loose, so I was trying to advoid that problem. It took me less then 5 minutes and my only tool was a pair of pliers. A short turn clock wise from the 9 on a clock to the 12 ( which is the top left corner ). then pull the broke shelf stub straight out. Put the new shelf support in the same way you took the old one out and turn counter clock wise 1/4 or from 12 back to 9 and you should have a tight fit. I hope this helped.

The shelf studs were broken and needed to be replaced. Searching online as to how to remove a number of sources said to turn stud 90deg counter-clockwise to remove. These studs needed to be turned 180 degrees. Once studs were out obvious this needed to be done. Re-insert of studs were easy.

Replacement of studs were easy.

Easy as cutting through warm butter. Just grabbed the base of the broken stem flush with the wall of the fridge using the wide-angle setting of a normal pliers, and twisted it out. Left over was a hole to insert the replacement stem. Inserted stem, twisted clockwise into place, and done. Much better design than other units I've worked on becvause the replacement part has stout-gauge wires that, when new stem is twisted into place, "locks" it in so you don't need to reinforce it, acting somewhat like an anchor screw on the wall for hanging a picture. Thanks for the perfect part!! Service and delivery are excellent.

I removed the drawer and the shelf. I looked at the support on the other side to figure out how to insert the new one. Due to the shape of the "hook" part of the support, and the hole it needed to go into, I figured out which way I needed to insert it to be able to twist it so it would stay in place. From another online hint, and from talking to a repairman at a local shop (who had ordered me the wrong part) I knew I needed to twist it after inserting it. I used a pair of pliers to twist it counterclockwise, about a 3/4 turn. I put the shelf in and re-installed the drawer.

My wife had the shelf end caps and trim replaced before I got home. The shelf support stud was very easy to install. A pair of pliers and a simple turn and the broke piece was out and the new one was in.

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.