Garage Door Bearing Replacement
Most homeowners likely recognize the importance of the torsion spring — the large, tightly wound spring at the top of the garage door. However, several additional garage door components support and work alongside the torsion spring system to help lift and lower hefty garage doors.
If you note your garage door is struggling to open or close properly or is making unusual sounds, but the torsion spring still appears in good operational condition, then you may have an issue with your garage door bearings and bearing plates. Without regular maintenance and proper care, the garage door bearings will wear and become misshapen, which can cause significant issues with your garage door system, eventually leading to the door becoming inoperable.
What Are Garage Door Bearings?
Garage door bearings are manufactured from quality steel materials and feature an inner and outer ring with ball bearings situated between the two layers. They’re typically installed at either end and in the center of the torsion spring support bar, which runs between the door tracks at the top of the door when it’s in the closed position. They serve to support the door’s weight load. The inner ring rotates while the door moves, and the garage door ball bearings help reduce friction while the door is in motion.
Common Causes for Damaged Garage Door Bearing
Garage door bearings are essential components of the torsion spring system that help to manage the weight of the door and allow smooth, steady movement. When the garage door bearings aren’t assembled or installed correctly or become worn over time, they can become a significant safety issue and prevent proper garage door operations. Garage door bearings are often damaged due to:
- Vertical misalignment: When the end bearing plates and center bracket aren’t installed in a straight vertical line, the parts are slanted, which causes excessive force to be placed on the garage door shaft and supporting hardware. Heavy strain on these components increases system friction while the door is in motion, which can wear on the opener, hinges, rollers and springs.
- Uneven center line: If the end or center bearing plates and brackets aren’t level, the garage door shaft will be bowed instead of resting in a sturdy, straight line. In cases of center line misalignment, the plates or center brackets are parallel to each other but not placed within the same plane. This type of misalignment causes unnecessary stress to each bearing.
- Overload: When misalignment causes the torsion spring shaft to bow and apply excessive force to the bearings, the inner ring will wear and eventually move out of position. This damages the rotational direction of the garage door bearings causing the inner ring to grind away at the torsion spring tube.
When the garage door bearings are significantly damaged and can’t provide the necessary support for the torsion spring, the door can come off-track or detach from the torsion spring system. These events are not only inconvenient, preventing homeowners from using their garage, but they also pose a serious safety risk.
Is Your Garage Door Not Performing Efficiently? Call Whitby Garage Doors For Effective Repairs
If your garage door system isn’t functioning normally, contact the professionals at Whitby Garage Doors to thoroughly inspect your system and recommend effective repairs for lasting safety, dependability and smooth operations. We happily provide same-day garage door repair and installation services for homeowners throughout the Whitby, Ajax, Bowmanville, Cobourg, Newcastle, Oshawa, Port Hope, Port Perry and Uxbridge areas.
Schedule garage door repair services today by calling our office at 905-665-8668 or completing our online form.
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