If you don’t want rear brackets/sockets, you can often do custom width side supports. (As you can probably guess, these can be fiddly to get right.)

Failing that (drawers in the middle of a wide cabinet, etc), you can create solid struts (1x2 would work) that the rear socket can attach solidly to. Horizontal is probably easier, though you could do upright, which would carry weight without relying on the strength of fasteners.

All that said, rear sockets into thin back panels as you’ve described seem janky, but for light loads, they seem to work.

Answer from Aloysius Defenestrate on Stack Exchange
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Lowe's
lowes.com › hardware › cabinet hardware › drawer hardware
Drawer Slide Brackets at Lowes.com
It comes complete with fasteners for a quick and easy installation.View More ... This is a drawer track center rail support bracket made of mold injected white plastic. The plate is designed so that is can be mounted either horizontally or vertically. Typically these are used with Amerock tri-roller drawer slide ...
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Woodworkers Hardware
wwhardware.com › shop-hardware › drawer-hardware › shop-drawer-slide-accessories
Sliding Drawer Hardware | Woodworker’s Hardware
At Woodworker’s Hardware, get exclusive discounts on professional-quality sliding drawer hardware from top manufacturers. Upgrade your ball bearing drawer slides with our selection of sliding drawer mounting brackets, slide spacers, drilling jigs, sockets, clips, stops, and more sliding drawer hardware.
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QuikDrawers
quikdrawers.com › shelf-mounting-bracket-for-drawer-slides
Shelf Mounting Bracket for Drawer Slides
Shelf Mounting Bracket for Drawer Slides
Use this bracket to mount most Epoxy Euro or full extension, ball bearing drawer slides to shelving or on the bottom/base shelf of a cabinet when direct mounting to cabinet side walls is not an option. These also provide a great option for mounting concealed undermount slides to a shelf or base.
Price   $7.95
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Hardware Resources
hardwareresources.com › functional-hardware › drawer-slides › brackets-covers.html
Brackets & Covers - Drawer Slides - Functional Hardware
HR MAX™ Right Self-Adjusting Rear Mounting Bracket with 8 mm Dowels for our popular Ball Bearing Slides ... HR MAX™ Steel Rear Bracket for Use Only With the USE58-300-9 Undermount Drawer Slide Sold by the Pair
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Amazon
amazon.com › drawer-slide-mounting-brackets › s
Amazon.com: Drawer Slide Mounting Brackets
Prime-Line R 7227 Rear Drawer Track Back Plate – Support and Maintain Alignment of Bottom/Side Mounted Drawer Glides, 5/16 In. x 7/8 In., Plastic, White (1 Pair) · VADANIA 10pcs Heavy Duty L Bracket for #2576 Series Drawer Slides, 90 Degree Right Angle Corner Brace, 0.1" Thickness Ultra ...
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ROK Hardware
rokhardware.com › rok-hardware-drawer-slide-mounting-brackets.html
Rok Hardware Drawer Slide Mounting Brackets
Clamp a bracket under each slide and set the drawer box into the drawer opening, so that it balances on the brackets.
Find elsewhere
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Rockler
rockler.com › hardware › drawer slides › drawer slide brackets
Drawer Slide Brackets at Rockler
Shop Drawer Slide Brackets at Rockler for all your woodworking needs. Buy online or in store for all your woodworking needs.
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VEVOR
vevor.com › videos › hardware › vevor-drawer-slide-rear-mounting-bracket-installation-step-by-step-setup-v_7395494087808286891
Watch VEVOR Drawer Slide Rear Mounting Bracket Setup
Watch how to install the VEVOR Drawer Slide Rear Mounting Bracket. Get perfect alignment and support for your side mount drawer slides in minutes!
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Hardware Hut
hardwarehut.com › home › cabinet hardware › drawer slides & drawer glides › drawer slide accessories
Drawer Slide Accessories | HardwareHut.com
Featuring screws, sockets and other accessories for the installation of various types of drawer slides including side mount ball-bearing slides, European drawer slides, concealed undermount slides and more.
Price   $
Address   2001 E. Trent Ave, 99202, Spokane
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Rockler
rockler.com › workshop › woodworking jigs › hardware installation jigs › rockler drawer installation brackets
Rockler Drawer Installation Brackets | Rockler Woodworking and Hardware
Rockler Drawer Installation Brackets
The usual method of installing side-mount slides onto a drawer box involves a lot of measuring, marking and room for error. With the Rockler Drawer Installation Brackets, the process is much simpler and more intuitive. Just clamp the brackets in place wherever your drawer needs to be, set the drawer onto the brackets, pull out the slides and drive your screws. Since you can visually see the location of your drawer and whether or not it's level, you're less likely to make a mistake. Each bracket has a shoulder that rests on a rail or the cabinet bottom, providing a positive reference stop. Alte
Price   $11.24
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Cabinet Door Store
cabinetdoor.store › cabinet hardware › face frame mounting bracket for kv drawer slides
Drawer Slide Face Frame Bracket for KV8400 | The Cabinet Door Store
Drawer Slide Face Frame Bracket for KV8400 | The Cabinet Door Store
Secure your drawer slides with our Face Frame Mounting Bracket for KV Drawer Slides. Ensure stability and smooth operation with our durable hardware.
(4.8)
Price   $1.45
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Vadania
vadania.com › home › shop › 10pcs rear mounting brackets for drawer slide
10Pcs Rear Mounting Brackets for Drawer Slide - Vadania | Home Upgrader
November 10, 2025 - Package Includes: Each set comprises 5 pairs (10 pieces) of rear mounting brackets—ample support for 5 drawers. Please note that mounting screws are not included, allowing you the flexibility to choose the most suitable screws for your specific installation requirements.
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Woodcraft
woodcraft.com › products › highpoint-drawer-slide-installation-brackets
HIGHPOINT Drawer Slide Installation Brackets | Woodcraft
Drawer Slide Installation Brackets
The HIGHPOINT® Drawer Slide Installation Brackets are designed to ease the process of aligning a full-extension drawer slide to the drawer box once the slide has been mounted into the cabinet. Brackets are designed to work with both face frame and frameless cabinets.Features: Large clamping area for both face frame and frameless cabinets Provides a stable platform for your drawer Durable construction What's Included:(1) Pair of Drawer Slide Installation BracketsNotes:Use these brackets in combination with the Drawer Slide Mounting Tool #161798 (sold separately).
Price   $14.99
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DoItYourself.com
doityourself.com › doityourself.com community forums › interior improvement center › carpentry, cabinetry and interior woodworking › drawer slide mounting bracket help
Drawer slide mounting bracket help - DoItYourself.com Community Forums
August 14, 2025 - Otherwise I think you will need to modify your slides, maybe grind off the tabs and use one of the more standard C shaped rear mounting brackets that will fully capture the slide. Or try to use a rear bracket like this and use a small flat head stove bolt to hold it to the brackets on each side. ... Thanks for the ideas. ... Center Drawer Slide Installation Made Easy By Carol S.
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CabinetParts
cabinetparts.com › p › cabinetparts-drawer-slides-side-mount-drawer-slides-VLS2SRBKT-p122042
VLS 2.0 Metal Rear Bracket: Ensure a durable and stable mount with our metal rear bracket for side mount slides | CabinetParts.com
CabinetParts VLS2-S-RBKT
VLS 2.0 Metal Rear Bracket: The VLS 2.0 metal rear bracket is the perfect finishing touch for side mount drawer slide installation, offering enhanced stability and long-term performance. VLS 2.0 Metal Rear Bracket: Ensure a durable and stable mount with our metal rear bracket for side mount slides
Rating: 5 ​