Replacing Rollers on Sliding Doors

  • 2 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 45
What You'll Need
Sliding door rollers
Screwdriver
Oil
Oil can
What You'll Need
Sliding door rollers
Screwdriver
Oil
Oil can

Sliding doors are meant for you to have easy access to the outside environment such as a deck, pool, or patio. Opening a sliding door should be easy to do because the door is on rollers and sliding across a metal beam. If you have to strain yourself to open your set of sliding doors then most likely the sliding door rollers are failing.

The rollers on the bottom of the sliding doors can easily get dirty, dented, and worn out to make rolling incredibly difficult. Rust can also be a factor if you have an older door with metal rollers. When the rollers start acting up and dragging instead of rolling, you can resort to spend money and hire a professional, or you can do it yourself. The following article will explain how to replace the rollers on your sliding doors.

Step 1 - Determine the Doors to Remove

Sliding doors come with two sashes. One active sash that slides while the other fixed or passive sash remains in place. To determine how you have to proceed you need to stand outside of the sliding doors. Make sure the door is closed then look at it closely. If the passive sash that remains still is on the outside (which is usually the case), then you will probably have to remove both sashes.

Before you go through the trouble of removing the stationary door go back inside and try to lift the sliding door off of the track. Typically the track will prevent you from removing the door from the inside. The rollers can be adjusted so you can remove the door but if the frame is the problem then you have to remove the stationary door.

Step 2 - Remove the Stationary Door

If you use a screen door you will have to remove that first. Lift up the screen frame and pull the bottom away from the door frame. You can then remove the screen door. The stationary sash might be kept in place by a metal guard along the track bottom. Remove this piece of metal. Locate the screws that are holding the securing brackets in place and remove them. You can now lift the passive sash and again pull it away from the bottom first and out of the frame.

Step 3 - Adjusting the Rollers

In order to remove the sliding sash from the track without removing the stationary door; you will have to adjust the rollers. Locate the adjusting screws on the roller. If you turn the screws clockwise the roller wheels are pulled upward. This should give you enough room to remove the door.

Step 4 - Removing and Replacing the Rollers

After all this hassle you can now remove the rollers. Look for the screws that are holding the rollers in place and remove them. These screws will also most likely be holding the metal frame in place so do not get worried when it comes off. To put the new rollers on you simply need to put them in the same spot as the old ones and tighten the screws. Replace the sliding door and adjust the rollers then replace the passive sash and the screen doors.