New grip
Replacement wheels
Match the original diameter exactly.
See it on amazon.com*Guide
Rollator care: brakes, wheels and cleaning in fifteen minutes
A rollator is a small vehicle, and like a bicycle it rewards fifteen minutes a month. Brakes that bite late, a wheel that wobbles, a seat bolt that has worked loose: all three announce themselves quietly before they matter. Here is the routine, the one adjustment everyone can do, and when to call the maker instead.
In short
Once a month: test that both brakes bite evenly and lock firmly (adjust at the cable screw if they bite late), wipe the frame, check tyre wear and tighten the seat and handle bolts. Once a year: new brake pads or wheels from the maker if worn. A rollator that squeaks, pulls to one side or rolls when parked is telling you one of three things – a stretched cable, a worn wheel or a loose bolt – and all three take ten minutes.
The brake adjustment, in detail
Almost every rollator uses bicycle-type cable brakes. Over months the cable stretches a little and the brake bites later: you squeeze further for the same effect, and the parking brake no longer locks firmly. At one end of the cable – usually where it enters the brake lever, sometimes at the wheel – is a barrel adjuster: a knurled screw with a lock nut. Loosen the lock nut, turn the adjuster out (anticlockwise) a quarter turn, test, repeat until the brake bites after about a third of the lever travel and the parking brake locks with one push. Tighten the lock nut. Do both sides so they bite together – a rollator that brakes on one side pulls towards it. If the adjuster is at its end, the cable needs replacing; it is a ten-minute job for a bicycle shop or the maker's service.
Three symptoms, three causes
| Symptom | Usual cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Brake bites late or parking brake slips | Stretched cable | Turn the barrel adjuster; replace the cable if it is at its end |
| Pulls to one side | One brake dragging, or one wheel worn | Adjust the dragging brake; replace the worn wheel |
| Squeaks or rattles | Dry pivot or loose bolt | A drop of light oil on the brake pivot (not on the wheel rim); tighten seat and handle bolts |
| Wobbles when open | Fold lock not engaged or hinge worn | Check the lock clicks in; if the hinge has play, contact the maker |
Wheels and tyres
Solid wheels wear flat on the side you walk on most and start to vibrate; swap left and right halfway through their life to even it out. Hairs and threads wind around the axle and slow the wheel – cut them away with scissors once a month. Pneumatic tyres lose pressure slowly: a soft tyre brakes badly and punctures easily, so pump to the pressure printed on the sidewall. Replacement wheels should come from the maker or match the original size exactly: the brakes are set for that diameter.
Do not oil the wheels
Oil on the wheel rim or the tyre reaches the brake surface and the rollator will not stop. Oil goes only on the brake lever pivot and, sparingly, on the fold hinge – one drop, wiped off.
Cleaning
A damp cloth with a little washing-up liquid for the frame, dried afterwards; no pressure washer, no solvents, nothing abrasive on carbon. The bag goes in the washing machine at 30 degrees in most cases – check the label. Grips: warm soapy water; replace them when they are sticky or torn. Salt in winter is the enemy of aluminium and steel: rinse the lower frame after walking on gritted pavements.
Once a year
- Brake pads or shoes if worn thin – from the maker, with the model name.
- Wheels if worn flat, cracked or wobbling.
- Cables if the adjuster is at its end or the cable frays at the lever.
- Grips if sticky; rubber tips on any cane.
- A look at the welds and the hinge for cracks. A cracked carbon frame goes back to the maker – check what the warranty covers.
When to call the maker
Any play in the fold hinge, a crack anywhere on the frame, a seat that creaks under you, or brakes that cannot be adjusted to bite firmly. Rollators are medical devices and the makers keep spare parts for years; have the model name and the serial number (on a sticker under the seat or on the frame) ready. Many mobility shops and some bicycle shops service rollators for a small fee.
Matching models
Parts and small upgrades
Universal parts for the yearly service, plus the two safety accessories we would add while the tools are out.
Brakes like new
Brake cable
For when the adjuster is at its end.
See it on amazon.com*Seen in the dark
Light and reflectors
Clip on while the rollator is on the table.
See it on amazon.com*Outside the shop
Cable lock
For the café and the station.
See it on amazon.com*Questions women ask us
How do I adjust the brakes on a rollator?
Find the barrel adjuster at the end of the brake cable, loosen its lock nut, turn the adjuster a quarter turn to tighten the cable, test, repeat until the brake bites after about a third of the lever travel and the parking brake locks firmly. Do both sides, then tighten the lock nuts.
Why does my rollator pull to one side?
One brake is dragging or one wheel is worn. Lift the rollator and spin each wheel: the slow one is the problem. Adjust that brake or replace that wheel.
How often should a rollator be serviced?
A fifteen-minute check once a month – brakes, wheels, bolts, a wipe – and a closer look once a year with new pads, wheels or cables if worn. Mobility shops and many bicycle shops service rollators.
Can I use any replacement wheels?
Use the maker's wheels or an exact match in diameter and axle size. The brakes are set for the original wheel; a different diameter changes the braking.
Can I wash the rollator bag?
Most bags are washable at 30 degrees; check the label. Remove stiffeners and dry flat.
Where the information comes from
Weights, dimensions and colours come from the manufacturers’ websites and the Amazon listings; we have not tested the products in a laboratory. We compare the data, read owner reviews and say plainly who a model suits and who it does not. We earn a commission on purchases made through our links; it has no influence on which models we show or what we say about them.
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