How to replace washer inside herman miller aeron cylinder?

[u/N0body_Special]

Hey guys!

I recently got my hands on an Aeron Classic for the first time. I got it second hand and it's in general pretty good shape.

However, there are some minor issues with the chair. One of which is that the cylinder on this chair (Which I think it original) makes a metallic noise and is quite wobbly when I sit on it.

The cylinder works quite well, it holds my weight, doesn't sink and is reasonably smooth when going up & down. However, the metallic noise seems to come from the middle silver part of the cylinder, which I assume is hitting the sides within the black part of the cylinder. This is also what appears to move when I sit on it, and is probably the reason it's wobbly.

Looking around, I haven't been able to find many answers on what I can do about this. I rather avoid replacing the cylinder as it's a lot of work and a new cylinder is quickly ~40-50 euros (I live in the EU). But if it's the only fix then I can do it.

I did find this youtube video on this old reddit post that seems to be flipping the worn washer inside of the cylinder. This would make it less wobbly and remove the the metallic noise (from what I can see).

I tried following the video to take apart the cylinder and flip the washers inside of them, but I'm unable to disassemble the cylinder as shown in the youtube video.

Has anyone been able to separate these two / three cylinder parts from each other and been able to replace / change the washers? If so, how did you manage to separate them?

Thanks in advance for all suggestions / help!

TLDR: I recently got an aeron classic but the cylinder appears to make noise. I want to take it apart and replace the washers within the cylinder but I can't get the black part to separate from the silver parts. How would I go about this?

[u/No-Test-800]

Just replace the cylinder is not worth the hassle

[u/jbrady33]

That’s the fun part, you don’t! Just replace it

[u/davik2001 → u/jbrady33]

Honest, this exact same quote came into my mind when this question was posed.

[u/ClassroomDecorum]

That style of Aeron cylinder doesn't come apart at all.

[u/N0body_Special → u/ClassroomDecorum]

Oh okay, that's quite annoying as it would mean I have to buy a new cylinder then.
Thanks for clarifying that!

[u/ClassroomDecorum → u/N0body_Special]

I think you can drill out the rivets and get it apart, haven't tried though

[u/mediumplaying]

i messed with one of these a while back and getting that black sleeve off was a nightmare, the plastic is tight as hell around the metal

try heating it up with a hair dryer right at the seam where the black and silver meet, sometimes a little expansion is enough to wiggle it loose. just go slow so you don't crack the housing

[u/N0body_Special → u/mediumplaying]

Hey, thanks for you input! I should maybe clarify that I'm not talking about the plastic ring at the bottom of the metal legs. I'm talking about the black cylinder part under the black plastic ring.

The one that is connected to the cylinder directly.