Garage Door Rollers

[Ulu]

I have a Martin style 7’x16’ garage door with 10 rollers. I ordered this door with ball bearing rollers, 22 years ago.

 

I didn’t notice until later that they installed the solid nylon rollers. No balls at all.

 

The rollers are really shot, so I finally ordered a set of nylon rollers with sealed ball bearings.

 

The price difference is minimal, but now I wonder which actually will last longer?

 

If this set goes 22 years, and I do as well, I will be 91 and probably won’t care. 
 

YET, I need all your roller wisdom, experiences and opinions.

Edited August 16 by Ulu

[Plymouthy Adams]

all my experience with garage door rollers has been with all metal wheels and bearings...but......I also admit I have not installed a new garage door in over 25 years....with the latest door, a 10 x 10 curtain style.  These seem to rely heavy on nylon bushes and torsion springs.  I took apart one of these last month helping a friend with a busted spring so to order the correct springs to repair this door.  These are not what I will call a fun job.....he ordered springs but so far that is as far into the repair as he has progressed....am sure I will be helping with this repair.  

[Sniper]

I dunno, comparing stuff made today to stuff made 22 years ago is problematic.  Everything is so cheaply made, for the most part, these days.  That said, I don't have garage doors so I cannot help.

[Los_Control]

Something you might check on sealed bearings .... If you use a fine pointed pick you can remove the plastic cover and check the grease before you install them.

 

The only thought is, some places are really skimpy with the grease ... you can add more if needed.

I installed sealed bearings on my JD riding mower and I pulled the cover and checked them ... mine were fine and just put the covers back on.

Watching a YT video on the subject, I saw some bearings barely had any grease at all and probably would fail soon.

 

You only need to check a couple, if they are fine the rest will probably be fine also.

[JBNeal]

Nylon is supposed to be quieter, and if ya only operate the door a few times a week, nylon will last a good while.  If'n ya have a heavy oversized door that is opened several times an hour, then ya want to go ball bearings instead of nylon.

[Ulu]

These rollers should have ZZ style bearings. Which have metal shields both sides.

 

@Los_Control
I understand the lube situation. I have bought 100’s of skate bearings from around the world. The ones from China had some poor waxy lube in them.

 

Yet they made some very good bearings for the price.

 

The Mile High Skate Shop made lots of cash buying 1000’s of Chinese bearings cheap, then putting a good lube in them.

 

Their famous “Blue Balls” have blue plastic shields, and were as fast as the most expensive skate bearings I ever bought. Unfortunately they are closed up, maybe 10 years ago.

[Ulu]

On 8/16/2024 at 3:51 PM, JBNeal said:

Nylon is supposed to be quieter, and if ya only operate the door a few times a week, nylon will last a good while.  If'n ya have a heavy oversized door that is opened several times an hour, then ya want to go ball bearings instead of nylon.

This door went about 4-8 cycles a day for 22 years. I’m surprised it works as well as it does. The closer motor is even older. Maybe 25 years.

 

But I have the closing force adjustment maxed, and my torsion spring is not. It could be tighter, but it works.

 

I am hoping the new rollers and a clean track will be the trick to backing off of the closer force. Then the closer motor & bearings may last a bit longer before I need to change all that.