This guide is for maintenance managers, workshop supervisors and facility teams who look after trolleys and carts. A caster that fails in use stops the trolley and can damage the floor or the load. Here are the signs to look for, so you can order a replacement before the failure and not after it.
Walk round and listen
Start with a short walk round each trolley. You do not need tools for this.
- The trolley is harder to push than before, or pulls to one side.
- It makes a new noise: a click, a scrape or a rumble.
- The wheel leaves marks on the floor that were not there before.
- The trolley wobbles or leans when it stands still.
- One wheel does not touch the floor.
Ask the people who push the trolley. They notice changes first. A comment such as "it has got heavy to push" is a useful sign, even when the wheel looks fine.
Check the wheel
Look at the wheel tread and spin the wheel by hand, with the trolley lifted under your site's own safety rules.
- Flat spots, so the wheel is no longer round.
- Cracks, chunks missing or tread coming away from the core.
- Grooves or uneven wear across the tread.
- A wheel that spins roughly, stops at once or does not turn at all.
- Thread, wire or packing tape wrapped round the axle.
If something is wrapped round the axle, clear it and spin the wheel again. If the wheel still turns badly, the caster needs attention.
Check the swivel and the fitting
Turn the swivel by hand and compare it with the other casters on the trolley.
- A swivel that is stiff, gritty or sticks at one point.
- Play or looseness at the swivel, so the caster rocks.
- A fork or bracket that is bent, cracked or rusted through.
- A top plate with cracks, or bolts that are loose or missing.
- A threaded stem or bolt hole fitting with wear or damage.
On a caster with a brake, check that the brake still holds the wheel and releases freely. A brake that does not hold or does not release is a sign to ask us about a replacement.
Decide when to replace
Compare the casters on one trolley with each other. The one that looks or feels different from the rest is the one to inspect first.
Keep a simple record for each trolley. Note the date, what you saw and a photo. Over a few weeks, the record shows you which trolleys wear their casters fastest and which floors are hard on wheels. We cannot give you a lifespan figure, because it depends on your load, floor and use.
Ask your site safety officer when a trolley must come out of service. If a caster is cracked, loose or seized, tell us at once.
If you replace one caster, tell us about the others on the trolley too. Send the old code, or a photo of the old caster, and we will confirm the right replacement.
Casters in our catalogue
If you do not know which series your casters belong to, send us the old code or use the finder. Two examples of what our catalogue lists:
- Medium duty: the HOD 51 and 52 range, with swivel and rigid top plate, swivel threaded stem and swivel bolt hole casters.
- Heavy duty: the HOD 72 and 73 range, listed as swivel top plate, swivel top plate with brake and rigid top plate casters.
Our caster finder filters by mounting, wheel material, brake and load. For a routine check on a set schedule, see our caster wheel maintenance checklist. If the trolley shakes at speed, read why caster wheels wobble and shimmy.
What to send us for a quote
- The trolley type and what it carries, with its loaded weight.
- Photos of the worn caster from the side and from above, showing the wheel and the fitting.
- The code or series name on the old caster, if you can read it.
- The fitting: top plate, threaded stem, bolt hole or other fitting.
- What you saw: flat spots, cracks, a stiff swivel, a loose plate, a failed brake.
- The floor type and what is on it.
- Rigid, swivel or brake, and how many of each.
- The quantity you need.
Request a quote on our website or message us on WhatsApp, and we will confirm the right series for your trolleys.