The gas cylinder on a Steelcase Criterion chair, also known as gas lift, chair lift, shock, pneumatic, piston, hydraulic, or chair lift mechanism, is the component that allows your office chair to go up and down. Filled with compressed gas, and activated by a lever on your chair, the pneumatic cylinder raises and lowers your chair.
When broken, your chair will be left with limited or no height adjustment, may not raise or lower, won’t stay up, won’t go down, or might give you that sinking feeling. In other words, the adjustable height function of your chair is not working right.
However, you can quickly and easily fix your broken Steelcase 453 Criterion Chair with our replacement gas cylinder and helpful instructional videos.
Our Herman Miller Steelcase 453 Criterion gas cylinders are made to fit all Steelcase 453 Criterion chairs.
We have included installation instructions to help you install your aftermarket replacement gas cylinder below. Please feel free to contact us with any issues or questions.
Criterion Gas Cylinder Installation Video:
Steelcase 453 Criterion Gas Cylinder Installation Video (https://youtu.be/7IrmgHUtfn0):
james (verified owner) –
Needed two lift cylinders for our hand-me-down Steelcase work from home chairs. Crandell was the best price and two day shipping was awesome!
Dave B –
Five stars for Crandall’s customer service, a bit less for the first replacement cylinder sent – I purchased it in June 2020 and it failed in August 2020, but Crandall sent a no-charge replacement despite it being just beyond the two-year warranty period. I’m hopeful that this next one lasts a little longer, and perhaps I need to not sit at my desk as much (it got a lot of extra sitting during the pandemic). Thanks, Crandall!
Matt (verified owner) –
This cylinder replacement helped revive my Criterion chair when it would not stay at full height.
Ryan (verified owner) –
My office got new chairs but I loved my old criterion chair except that it starting sinking every once in a while. This new gas cylinder fixed it right up.
Gary H. (verified owner) –
Good fit, fast fix. Thanks
Anonymous (verified owner) –
What we needed.
Neil R. (verified owner) –
Fit perfectly, chair works like new! Thanks
Susan (verified owner) –
Had a Criterion Chair with a gas cylinder that no longer would hold. I purchased the replacement from Crandall. It was shipped quickly, and their installation video was very helpful. I was able to install myself and my chair is much more comfortable again.
Kenneth P. (verified owner) –
The gas cylinder was the exact form factor as the chair’s original. The included bearing kit was different than the chair’s original, but it worked fine. Actually, it seems superior because the original was not ball bearing. The online instructional video was completely accurate, and following it I was able to install the replacement cylinder and bearing in just a few minutes. So far it works great. I’m happy to be able to save the chair I like and avoid the expense and trouble of obtaining a replacement chair.
Lester Zan (verified owner) –
I received the Steelcase 453 Criterion gas cylinder within a few days of my order. I had some time on Sunday so I thought I’d replace the cylinder before the work week began. The piston was fully extended so I could not use the 5/8 socket that was recommended to seat the lock washers. But I was able to use a flathead screwdriver to tamp both lock washers down.
The installation video on the product page, which I followed to a tee, was extremely helpful. For $60, I was able to give my $400 Criterion new life and not have to settle for cheap and flimsy office chairs. Thank you Crandall.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Fast shipping, easy installation, works good.
Timothy A. (verified owner) –
Purchased a replacement piston for my Steelcase Criterion chair. Received the replacement in about a week. I followed the video help on the Crandall website which was very helpful. Chair feels like new again!! Thank you.
Alan (verified owner) –
William (verified owner) –
Easy to replace, made I old chare new again