Much like torsion springs, garage door rollers are rated by cycles. If you recently had a roller break you may be asking yourself, how long do garage door rollers last? A variety of factors determine the life cycle of a garage door roller. The type of rollers you have and the weight of the door determine how long they last. Although rollers are relatively inexpensive to replace, broken rollers can cause a host of problems on your garage door. Always replace rollers at the first sign of wear.
Ball-Bearing Rollers
Many door companies try to sell black nylon bearing-less rollers. These rollers are commonly rated at 10,000 cycles, but are the cheapest type of roller. The biggest disadvantage of black nylon rollers is the lack of ball-bearings. The smoothest and quietest rollers always have bearings. When purchasing a garage door always be sure you are getting a high cycle endurance hardware package. A good set of rollers for a garage door should last longer than the door itself.
Replacing Garage Door Rollers
Replacing broken garage door rollers is easy. Simply lower the door down to the floor. Using an impact drill , take the existing hinge off the door. Then remove the broken roller, replacing it with a new roller. With self tapping screws, fasten the hinge back into play on the garage door. Never attempt to change out the rollers on the bottom brackets of the garage door without taking the tension off your springs first. These brackets are under extreme tension and can be dangerous.
Instead of paying $5.00 – $8.00 for a roller at some door dealers, consider buying rollers online. Garage door parts stores online sell white nylon rollers for $2.00-$3.00 each. With most 7ft tall garage doors using 10 rollers, it is cost effective to order them online. Replacing rollers on your overhead door is a great do it yourself project, saving you the cost of an expensive service call .
I write tutorials about garage door repair, installation and maintenance. With over a decade of experience in the overhead door industry I’ve learned a lot and I’d like to share my knowledge with you.