You press the remote control for your garage door and it begrudgingly clanks into operation. It bounces and squeaks its way open, you pull your car inside, and it reverses its course, making just as much noise the second time.
If that sounds familiar, it’s time to do something about it. It’s a good indication that your rollers are in desperate need of some TLC. Not only will it continue to get louder, but it can become a major safety issue for your entire family.
Not sure what garage door rollers are or why they matter? They’re what allow your door to move along the rails. They also support the entire weight of the garage door, meaning that they suffer a lot of wear and tear.
Garage door fact: A single garage door cycle is 1 opening + 1 closing.
Do you know how your garage door works? Watch this video to get all the details you need.
Garage door rollers are the fulcrum that allows the entire system to work. That’s why it is so essential that you care for them properly. So, what do you need to do? In this post, a trained garage door specialist will walk you through everything you need to know about maintenance and even replacing your rollers.
What Kind of Garage Door Rollers Do You Have on Your Garage Door?
Know your type – there are three roller types in use today:
- Rubber : Black rubber rollers have no ball bearings and should only be used on very small, single doors.
- Steel : Steel rollers are still in use despite being an old style, and you should have at least 10 bearings per roller.
- Nylon : Nylon garage door rollers can be used for both single and double doors, offer quiet operation, and there should be 12 ball bearings per roller.
Note that almost all residential garage door rollers are two inches in diameter.
Before Starting to Work, Always Cut Off the Power!
No matter what you’re doing, make sure to turn off the power before you start working. Simply unplug the garage door opener and you should be fine.
Never work on any part of the garage door system if there is power to it. It is all too easy to have a serious accident.
How to Lubricate Garage Door Rollers?
Nylon, steel, or rubber – lubrication is the key to operable garage door rollers. However, make sure you use the right lubrication. Never use oil-based lubricants.
Contrary to what you might think, these products are actually degreasers. Degreasing your garage door rollers will shorten their lifespan and reduce their operability, too.
What should you use? Always opt for a silicone-based lubricant, unless you have steel rollers. If you have steel rollers, a little bit of motor oil will work. So, how do you lubricate your rollers?
- Steel: Lubricate the bearings directly.
- Nylon/Exposed Bearings: Lubricate the roller’s exterior and the point of contact with the shaft/roller.
- Nylon/Sealed: If you have sealed rollers, you don’t need to lubricate them.
Quick Tips
- The straw included with the can helps with accuracy and ease of application.
- Apply lightly and evenly.
- Wipe off excess right away.
- Make sure that the rollers do not slide in the track.
- Repeat this process every six months.
While you’re working on the door, make sure to lubricate some other parts, too. These include the hinges, the locks, the armbars, and the bearing plates. You should also lubricate your springs, but if you’re the homeowner, skip this step. Leave this part of your garage door maintenance to professionals.
Should You Go with Nylon or Steel?
Need new garage door rollers? Your choice of replacement will make a difference. Is it better to go with nylon or steel? Nylon gets our money every time. They are a little more expensive, but they are quieter, stronger, and more durable. According to Tim, from GarageTransformed , steel rollers are very noisy and ultimately require more maintenance.
How Do Professionals Replace Garage Door Rollers?
Safety First : Do not replace garage door rollers yourself. This is a very dangerous job.
With the first warning out of the way, here’s a second one: don’t loosen the bolts that secure the bottom fixture to the garage door, or take the cables off the bottom fixture.
Failure to follow these warnings could cause the springs to snap, which could result in property damage, severe injury, or death.
Garage door springs carry a lot of weight and tension. They are the primary danger when working on garage doors.
If you find that your garage door rollers need to be replaced, there’s a good chance that other parts also need to be serviced. Always work with your local garage door & opener technician to ensure the job is done right and safely.
- First, we unplug your garage door opener. This is vital for safety.
- Second, we use a winding bar to unwind the springs. We need to do this with the door raised but replacing rollers and hinges must be done with the door lowered. Vice grips will keep the spring shaft locked to the cable.
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We remove the rollers one at a time. To do this:
- We loosen the bolts.
- We tap the hinge out.
- We do this one roller at a time.
- We remove the old roller.
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We add the new rollers:
- We slide the roller into the right position.
- We tip it to get it onto the track.
- We make sure the hinge and bolt holes line up.
- We tap the bolts in and tighten the nuts.
- We repeat this process for each roller before moving to the next step.
- We rewind the springs with the bar, making sure to get them back to their original tension.
You Want Pro Installers Handling Your Garage Door Rollers Replacement and Your Garage Door Maintenance?
Rather leave all that to the pros?
We think that’s a smart choice. It’s dangerous and takes a lot of knowledge and skill.
Go ahead and contact us at 1-888-361-9233.
We’re experts in garage door maintenance and repairs, and we’ll get your door back in good shape in no time. In addition to a tune-up service, we’re also happy to answer questions or troubleshoot other problems. Make sure to explore our full range of services and repairs. Don’t feel like calling or coming in? We can send you an email quote, too.
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