The footrest might work, but the arm is so loose that it feels like it might fall off. If not attended to, it will fail completely. Tightening the arm on almost any reclining sofa is simple, and you can do it in minutes.
Things You Will Need
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Pull the lever, if possible, to raise the footrest all the way. Place an object under the footrest to prevent it from moving up or down. If you can't get the footrest up because the arm is too loose, turn the sofa upside down.
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Pry off one or two wood or metal caps located around the perimeter of the arm where it attaches to the side of the sofa. There is one cap on each side of the arm. Use the tip of a screwdriver to pop the caps off to reveal screws or bolts. If there are no caps, locate a single hole in the bottom of the arm; it does not have a cap.
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Tighten the screws securely using a screwdriver. If there are no screws, use a 3/8-inch socket and ratchet to tighten bolts inside the holes. Insert the caps back in the holes. Tap them down tight with the back of the screwdriver.
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Remove the objects from under the footrest or tip the sofa upright.
The Drip Cap
- Reclining sofa arms are basic.
- When you push or pull on the arm, it turns the axle inside the chair to fold the footrest up or down.
- The footrest might work, but the arm is so loose that it feels like it might fall off.