There is nothing more frustrating than settling into a favorite recliner only to have it slide out of position the moment you try to lean back. If a La-Z-Boy rocker recliner is slipping or failing to lock into place, the culprit is almost always a worn-out internal ratcheting system.
In this comprehensive DIY guide, the Recliner Repair Guy demonstrates exactly how to fix this common issue. By walking through how to safely disassemble the base and replace the worn pawl and rack components, the tutorial shows how the ratcheting mechanism can be restored to perfect working order.
Important Note: The Recliner Repair Guy has restricted playback to YouTube only, so we can’t embed his video on this page. While following along with the step-by-step breakdown below, you can watch the video on YouTube to see the repair process. Buy a genuine La-Z-Boy Pawl and Pawl Rack right here for your repair.
La-Z-Boy Won’t Stay Reclined
This step-by-step repair guide breaks down how the mechanism works, how to identify the failing parts, and exactly how to replace them to make the chair function like new again.
Understanding the Mechanism: The Pawl and the Pawl Rack
The iconic “click-click-click” sound heard when rocking back in a La-Z-Boy is controlled by two main components working together:
- The Pawl: A heavy-duty metal lever attached to the front of the wooden floor base.
- The Pawl Rack: A stepped metal piece (resembling a tiny flight of stairs) mounted behind the footrest.
When the footrest is completely extended and the user leans back, the tip of the paw catches on the teeth of the paw rack to hold the deeper reclined angle. Over time, the hardened protective steel tip on the paw can break or wear away, causing it to slip across the rack’s teeth rather than lock into them.
Tools and Parts Needed
- Replacement Parts: New La-Z-Boy Pawl and Pawl Rack
- Tools:
- Torx bit drivers (multiple sizes)
- Ratchet or power driver
- Flathead screwdriver or staple puller
- Staple gun
- Utility knife or heavy shears
- Spring Spacers: Two small pieces of 1/4-inch plywood (roughly 1.5 inches tall) to act as spring tension spacers.
Step-by-Step Repair Guide
Step 1: Disassemble and Flip the Chair
Remove the backrest of the recliner by unlatching the locking clips on the rear brackets. Flip the remaining base upside down onto its arms to expose the undercarriage.
Step 2: Disconnect the Drive Linkage
Before pulling the base apart, locate the thin metal linkage connected to the pawl. Remove the cotter pin/retaining clip holding it to the main drive rod, disconnect the bars, and slide the clip back onto the pin to avoid losing it.
Step 3: Secure the Rocker Springs & Remove the Base
To make removing and reinstalling the base safe and easy, slide the custom 1/4-inch plywood spacers into the front and back folds of the large rocker springs. This holds them slightly pre-stretched. Use a Torx driver to remove the three screws on each side anchoring the base to the springs, paying close attention to which holes the screws came out of. Lift the floor base away.
Step 4: Replace the Worn Paw
With the floor base detached, remove the two Torx screws securing the old paw. Take note of how the tiny retention helper spring is attached. Unhook the spring, transfer the linkage bar to the new paw, re-hook the spring, and screw the new assembly back onto the wooden base tightly by hand.
Step 5: Access and Replace the Paw Rack
The pawl rack is located on the main frame behind a fabric cover wrapper. To save time pulling out dozens of staples, use a utility knife to make a small, clean cut in the fabric flap right where the panel splits. Peel it back to reveal the three larger Torx bolts. Remove the bolts, swap out the old rack for the new one, and tighten the bolts by hand initially to prevent the sharp metal teeth from spinning. Staple the fabric cover back down securely.
Step 6: Reassemble and Test
Set the wooden base back onto the rocker springs. Line up the screws with their original holes and tighten them securely. Reconnect the pawl drive linkage and lock it in with the cotter pin. Finally, pull the plywood spring spacers out, stand the chair upright, drop the backrest back into position, and test out the recline feature.
Note on Normal Operation: After replacing these parts, do not be alarmed if a sharp “pop” or “bang” is heard when pulling the lever to close the footrest. That sound is just the paw releasing out of the rack’s teeth under pressure, and it means the mechanism is engaging exactly the way it was designed to do.
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