When you open and close your garage door, what happens? Ideally, it will be nice and quiet. However, if you are hearing squeaking sounds, you might need to lubricate the rollers. In some cases, they might be worn out and need to be replaced. It is important that you take care of them for the safety of you and your family.
The rollers on your garage door deal with a lot of stress because of the weight of the door. Over time, they will start to wear down and need to be replaced.
What is a Cycle? A cycle is one opening and closing of your garage door
How much work does the garage door do? Watch this video . You will see everything that the garage door handles.
To extend the life of your garage door, you need to be sure that they are cared for properly. It also ensures quieter and smoother operation during cycles. Best of all, it helps to ensure that your family is safe.
In this post, a professional garage door technician will explain the basic steps for maintenance and replacement that professionals do on garage door rollers.
Question 1 –What Kind of Garage Door Rollers Do You Have on Your Garage Door?
Garage door roller options:
- Black Rubber : No ball bearings. Often used for doors under 10 feet wide.
- Steel : Has ball bearings. Should have at least 10 ball bearings.
- Nylon : Works well for single or double doors, with 12 ball bearings. They are quieter, as well.
2” diameter rollers are found on 99% of residential doors.
Before Starting to Work, Always Cut Off the Power!
First, cut the power and unplug the garage door opener. This is essential.
Garage doors are dangerous, and no one should work on an open door when the opener is still powered. Take the time to make sure everything is safe.
How to Lubricate Your Garage Door Rollers?
DO NOT USE OIL LUBRICANTS on any garage door rollers.
Oil lubricants are degreasers, which are terrible for your garage door. The rollers need to have grease to roll properly.
The best option is a silicone-based lubricate for roller maintenance, unless they are steel.
- Steel Rollers : The ball bearings need to be lubricated directly on the innermost part of the rollers.
- Nylon Rollers with Exposed Bearings : Lubricant should be added to the outside of the roller at the location where the shaft meets the rollers.
- Nylon Rollers with Sealed Ball Bearings : No need for lubrication with these. They can last a lifetime.
Keep in Mind
- Use thin coats of lubricant
- Use the straw that comes with the can
- Remove excess RIGHT AWAY with a clean cloth
- You need the rollers to roll, not slide, in the track
- Maintenance should occur every 6 months
Lubricate other parts of the door:
- Hinge
- Locks
- Arm Bars
- Bearing Plates
- Springs – Only professionals should lubricate the springs. They are under a lot of tension, so be sure to leave this part of your garage door maintenance to the pros.
Should You Go with Nylon or Steel?
Will nylon or steel rollers be the best option 🤔?
Nylon garage door rollers arecostlier but have many benefits including:
- Quieter
- Tougher
- Will last more than a decade
According to Tim, from GarageTransformed , steel rollers are:
- Noisy
- Could rust or corrode
- Need to have more maintenance
- They will only last for between 3 to 5 years
How I Replace Homeowner Garage Door Rollers?
Keep Safe : Replacement is dangerous. Do NOT attempt it on your own.
DO NOT remove the cable from the bottom fixture and DO NOT loosen bolts securing the bottom fixture to the garage door.
THE SPRING COULD SNAP if you do not follow these rules. The door could fall or jam, as well. This could meanproperty damage at best or even personal injury or death. Be safe – don’t attempt to do it yourself.
The weight of the door and the tension in the springs are the main dangers associated with garage door roller and hinge replacements.
If there are issues with your rollers and they need replacement, there are likely other items that need to be serviced, too. For this reason, you should get in touch with your local garage door & opener technician for help.
Number 1 –I unplug the garage door opener before starting work
You do not want the door to be activated while you are working on it!
Number 2 – I unwind the springs with the help of a winding bar
The hinges and rollers should be replaced with the door in the "down" position , for safety reasons. However, I must unwind the springs first.
I lock the cable in place by adding a Vis-grip to the spring shaft.
Number 3 – I take the garage door rollers off
- I start by loosening the screws from the hinge that holds the roller
- With a hammer, I tap the hinge out and release it
- REMEMBER – After removing the hinge and a roller, it must be replaced BEFORE removing another—they hold the door in place
- I take off old rollers
Number 4 – The new garage door roller
- I put the roller into the right hole
- I tip the roller back to get it into the track
- I place the hinge over the bolt holes
- Best option is to use bigger screws or Loctites
- I use a hammer to tap the bolts back from the outside and through the hinge holes, and then tighten the nut
Steps should be repeated for each roller. After replacement, I move on to Number 5.
Number 5 – I wind the springs
- I get them to their original tension and I adjust if needed
- I take off the vice grip
You Want Professionals Handling Your Garage Door Rollers Replacement and Your Garage Door Maintenance?
Professionals are the right call.
The garage door is dangerous, so don’t attempt it on your own. It takes a lot of sill to maintain and repair the garage door.
Contact us at 902-439-7907.
We specialize in garage doors and openers and have a team standing by and ready to help.
We can provide a tune-up service, and we can provide answers to all of your questions. Learn about the services and repairs we offer.
Know what’s needed? We can provide an email quote if you would like.
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