My garage door had been acting up lately – it would get stuck halfway or seem like it was taking extra effort to move up and down. At first I thought maybe the springs were starting to wear out but the movement seemed too jerky to be just that.
I did some searching online for potential causes of garage doors misbehaving. That’s when I came across mentions of worn end bearings being a common culprit. End bearings are the plastic or metal pieces at each end of the horizontal door tracks that help the rollers glide smoothly.
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Inspecting Closely
I pulled myself up to get a closer look at the top of my tracks. Sure enough, the end bearings were showing clear signs of deterioration – they were cracked, flat on one side, and making a gritty noise as the rollers passed over them.
Rather than deal with a potential garage door spring repair in Chesapeake, I decided to try replacing the end bearings myself since the parts were only around $10 each at the hardware store. How hard could it be?
An Easy Swap Out
I started by rolling the door all the way up so the bottom track was accessible. Using a wrench, I loosened the bolt or rivet holding each worn bearing in place. They popped right out.
The new plastic bearings slid neatly into the holes with some coaxing. I hand-tightened the fasteners again using the wrench. Then I repeated the process for the top track bearings by climbing up my extension ladder.
Testing The Change
Once completed, I tested the door. Right away it was moving much smoother throughout its travel. No more sticking or jerkiness – just silent gliding as designed.
I was amazed such a small repair resolved the issue so simply. Replacing bearings is often overlooked but can really improve garage door performance when they wear down. And it saved me a potential service call fee!
DIY-Friendly Fixes
For basic garage door repairs, looking into simple explanations like worn bearings, loose hardware or safety sensors out of alignment is worth a try. Many issues have easy solutions if you’re handy enough to inspect and replace low cost components yourself.
Just be sure any major concerns like broken springs or cables still warrant a pro. But for everyday wear-and-tear fixes, end bearings are an excellent example of a DIY-able repair most homeowners can handle.
Frank Partnoy is a tech blogger who loves to share his thoughts about the latest gadgets and technology. He loves everything from smartphones, laptops, tablets and more!
