05.26.2022

When Do I Need to Replace My Garage Door Rollers?

If your garage door makes loud noises when in use, it is probably the metal rollers. Over time the rollers get worn, uneven, out of round and this causes them to not roll smooth on the metal track.

The rollers on a garage door are attached to the door and roll on the tracks, allowing the garage door to open and close smoothly. Rollers are available in several designs. Certain roller designs have no ball bearings and tend to wear out rapidly and can tend to cause the garage door to bind or squeak really bad.

For a quieter, smoother motion, nylon rollers with ball bearings inside the rollers are the affordable upgrade option. The open design with ball bearings should be lubricated about every 3-4 months to keep them working smoothly and quietly. The warranty on these upgraded rollers will vary by manufacturer, but typically from 2 years to lifetime, again, dependent on the type of roller and bearing design.

Garage door rollers should be inspected at least once per year and lubricated about every 3-4 months or twice a year at minimum. Keeping the rollers properly lubricated will prolong the life of the roller.

Self-inspection can reveal any minor issue. You want to make sure the roller is firmly attached to the shaft and the roller should not wiggle or have play in it. If the roller wiggles or has play, then it is time to replace your rollers.

The roller should spin freely on the shaft. If the roller is locked up, or feels or sounds like it is grinding, it is time to replace the rollers.

You also want to confirm the roller is not cracked and that there are no chunks of rubber or nylon missing from the rollers. Replace as necessary.

Annual garage door maintenance, lubrication and inspection can prevent expensive problems later. Rollers are fairly inexpensive, and good nylon rollers keep the doors running smooth and quieter.

When you are ready for garage door maintenance, schedule here.