Signs They're Worn Out
Rollers wobble, or the wheels have chunks missing
Worn plastic rollers near the end of their life
The door jerks or shudders as it moves
Rollers binding or a hinge flexing
A hinge is cracked or the screws are pulling out
A hinge that can no longer hold its section
The door feels heavy even though the springs look whole
Friction from rollers, hinges or the track
A section bows out at a hinge line
A broken or weak hinge
The "Broken Spring" That Isn't
A very common call goes like this. The door feels heavy, the opener struggles, so the homeowner figures the spring is broken. The technician arrives and the springs are fine.
The real problem is friction. Worn rollers that drag, stiff hinges that fight every bend, or a track that pinches can add a lot of resistance. The opener feels that as weight.
A good technician checks for this before quoting new springs. It's a cheaper fix, and it's the honest one.
Rollers
Each section of the door has a roller on each side riding in the track. A two car door usually has ten or more. Plain plastic rollers wear out the fastest, especially on a door that cycles several times a day.
The upgrade most technicians suggest is nylon rollers with sealed ball bearings. They're quieter, smoother and last far longer. It's usually worth doing them all at once instead of one at a time.
The bottom rollers sit in the brackets that hold the lift cables, which are under full spring tension. Replacing those is not a homeowner job. See cable repair for why.
Hinges
Hinges join the door's sections and let them bend around the curve of the track. They're numbered by position, and each one is a slightly different size so the door rides straight.
Older and cheaper doors sometimes use light gauge or even plastic hinges. Under the weight of the door, these can crack or lean, and a section can work loose.
On some old doors that's a real safety reason to think about a new door, covered in repair or replace.
On a sound steel door, new hinges are a routine fix.
The Track
Tracks can bend from a bump or drift out of line as bolts loosen. A small bend can sometimes be straightened. A badly bent section of track gets replaced.
After rollers, hinges or track work, the technician should check the door's balance and reset the opener's force so it isn't pushing harder than it needs to.
Keep Them Going Longer
A spray of garage door lubricant on the roller bearings and hinge pivots once a year makes a big difference. A tune-up covers this and catches worn parts early. If noise is the main complaint, the noisy door page goes deeper.
Door feeling heavy or rough? Send the form or call (919) 555-0136.