Replacing Garage Door Rollers - Continued

"If you have concerns about your ability to safely
complete any of these repairs, please hire a professional."

Replacing garage door rollers sometimes includes Lift Bracket and Top Roller Carrier replacement. Additional steps are necessary to replace these brackets.Step One of replacing garage rollers shows you how to select the proper replacement rollers. Step Two through Step Ten show you how to replace garage door rollers.

The following steps explain how to replace the Lift Bracket and Top Roller Carrier (Top Bracket). Please pay close attention to safety tips as you work through the process.

Step Eleven (if you are replacing the Lift Bracket or Top Roller Carrier)

Lift Bracket Rollers (on the bottom left or right hand corner of your garage door)

The bottom roller and lift bracket assembly is connected to the garage door lift cable, so the cable tension must be released BEFORE removing the lift bracket. If you remove the bolts from the lift bracket with tension still on the lift cable, this could result in a serious injury.

Tension can be released from the lift cable by raising the garage door to the open position, locking the door in position with a set of locking plyers (like Vise-Grip® plyers), a C-clamp secured to the door track under the door or to a block of wood under the door. You may also cut a 2 X 4 or 2 X 6 board to the appropriate length and place it under the door to keep the door open.

Even with the door raised, it is a good idea to clamp the lift cable before removing bolts from the roller and lift bracket assembly. This will relieve the cable tension where it attaches to the lift bracket. With tension removed from the lift cable you can disconnect the lift cable from the lift bracket. The lift cable might be attached to a "stud" on the bracket or to a metal loop with an "S" hook.

If your garage door uses an extension spring and you remove the lift cable completely, you need to be certain your lift cable is replaced using the same path to get from the extension spring to the lift bracket. In other words, your lift cable will run from a pulley attached to the extension spring over a stationary pulley near the top of the garage door and down to the lift bracket. Pay close attention when removing the cable so it follows the same path when you replace it.

Remove and replace the roller and lift bracket assembly using Step Four through Step Ten previously described. After replacing the damaged garage door rollers, be sure to tighten all of the nuts. Then reattach the lift cable and remove the locking plyers, clamp, etc., holding the door open.

With the garage door opener still unplugged and detached from the door, it's time to test the door. When you are happy that your garage door is operating smoothly, reconnect the garage door opener and plug it in. You are finished!

Top Roller Carrier (on the top left or right hand corner of your garage door)

Close your garage door and lock it, then unplug the garage door opener (if you have one). With the door closed and locked, you can now remove and replace the roller and lift bracket assembly using Step Four through Step Ten previously described. Be sure to securely tighten all of the nuts.

With the garage door opener still unplugged and and the lift mechanism disconnected from the door, unlock the door and test it for proper operation. If your garage door does not seal tightly at the top, the position of your new top roller carrier may need to be adjusted.

Once you are happy with the operation of the door, reconnect the garage door opener lift mechanism and plug it in. You are finished!

Your Garage Door Lift Brackets may look similar to these.
Please be very careful when repairing or replacing yours.

Go to Step One of replacing garage door rollers showing you how to SELECT the proper replacement rollers

Go to Step Two through Step Ten showing you how to REPLACE garage door hinges

Return from Replacing Garage Door Rollers back to Garage Door Repair