Will new hinges make my garage door quieter?

New hinges can quiet a door when the old ones are the problem: worn pivot holes, cracked hinge leaves or loose hinges that knock as the sections fold over the curve of the track. But hinges are not the most common source. Worn steel rollers make noise more often, and replacing hinges will not help if the rollers are the cause.

Signs the hinges are the source

• Squeaking or creaking at the joints between sections, especially as each joint rolls over the curve.
• A clicking or knocking sound from a hinge that shifts on its mounting.
• Visible cracks, elongated holes or heavy rust around a hinge.
• Squeaking that improves briefly after lubricating the hinge pivots, then returns.

Signs it is the rollers instead

• Grinding or squealing along the track.
• Wheels that wobble, have flat spots or are cracked.
• Noise that lubrication does not change at all.

How it gets decided

A technician runs the door, finds the noise-maker and tells you which part you have, along with the difference in cost between replacing hinges, rollers or both, in writing before work. Hinges near the bottom of the door sit close to spring-loaded cable hardware, so hinge work is not a casual DIY job. See whether you can replace a hinge yourself and whether all hinges need replacing.

Read more

• Garage door hinge replacement
• Garage door hinges guide
• Garage door rollers guide

Related questions

• How do I keep dust, debris and pine needles from jamming my garage door?
• How do I maintain my garage door trolley?
• How can I quiet a garage door with a bedroom above it?
• Does cold weather make garage doors noisier?
• Why does my garage door screech when it opens?

Have a different question? Call (916) 838-8182 or browse all garage door questions.