Screechy Glass Sliding Door - how do I fix this before I go mad?

My first post so please be kind. I’m female and single and I have a large glass sliding door that screeches when I open and close it, I’ve tried WD40 and silicone spray lubricant. Anyone know how to stop this before I go mad?

Comments

  • What part is making the noise and is it top of door or bottom?

    • It’s coming from the top of the door.

      • +1

        Try running some petroleum jelly in the runner tracks. The top tracks take all of the weight of the door and so the petroleum jelly will help to reduce friction on the tracks.

        • No the bottom will almost take all the weight of the door, unless the door is hanging door with wheels track on top.

        • Thank you. I’ll try that.

  • +11

    Sounds as if the bottom rollers are worn. Easy fix, but depending on the weight of the door may need assistance.
    Lift door up and out.
    Inspect bottom rollers for wear/damage.
    Remove rollers, if source of the noise. May be screwed in or pop-rivetted.
    Take old rollers to Bunnings to get replacements.
    Install new rollers, put door back in frame after applying silicon lubricant to the top glide spring.

    • Thank you very much for that detailed fix. I won’t be able to lift the door, it’s about 10 feet tall ☹️

      • Are you sure it is 3m high? It's unuasually high for residential door.

        • Well I’m 5 foot 2 and it looks really high to me but that’s probably because I’m the size of a 10 year old child 😂 it could be 8 foot high

    • +1

      Agree… th wheels on mine had a flatspot warn in them which gave a screeching sound

      easy to replace once you have the door off, but the door is not a 1 person job.

      • So just a handyman job do you think?

  • Possibly long rubber seal on rear of sliding door squelching along fixed door as you move it. Tip some water and dishwashing liquid on the fixed door to see if that stops it temporarily.

    • Good idea. Thank you.

  • Does the door move smoothly it is it hard to pull? Does it skip/jolt as you pull it?

    • It moves smoothly and only screeches on closing it.

      • If it's coming from the top it's probably the metal on metal contact, I would use white lithium grease. You can get this in a spray can from hardware stores.

        • +1

          Yes that’s what it sounds like. Thank you very much.

  • Clean the gunk out of the bottom of the door and replace the rollers. The door should just lift out of the track and undo the wheel screws. Bunnings have them.

    • It’s a 10 foot glass door and I’m 5 foot 2 and tiny 😂

  • Thank you guys for all of your help. Very much appreciated.

  • +1

    I had a screech for my BRAND new double-sliding doors in new house. Couldn't believe it that a new product would be so noisy.

    There were (for lack of other words) rods/nibs that extended sideways from the door within the track/frame to I assume align the door. The builder just came back and with a screw driver backed-off (reduced) the extension of the rods/nibs and that reduced the pressure they were applying. That stopped the screech.

    Could be many other sources for noise as others have said though.

  • "Oh hi, Mrs D."

  • +1

    Silicone spray always helps

    • Tried that and the sliding door laughed at me.

  • The doors often have little plastic glides on them. Possibly one has dislodged or worn away allowing metal on metal.

    • I think the screech is coming from the top of the door. Are the glides up there too?

      • Depends on the door, but there is usually something between two moving metal parts to stop them rubbing together. Common is a little plastic ‘button’ that pushes into a hole in the metal.

        • Thank you. I’ll stand on a chair and have a look.

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