What to lubricate on a garage door, and what not to
Which garage door parts to lubricate, which to leave dry, which products to avoid, and how often. Includes why nylon rollers and tracks stay unlubricated.
Lubrication cuts noise and wear on a garage door, but only on the right parts. Lubricating the wrong parts, or using the wrong product, can make things worse. This guide lists what to lubricate, what to leave alone, and when the job belongs to a technician.
Why lubrication matters
Clopay says lubrication is essential to avoiding damage, wear and loud noises. Metal parts that turn or slide against each other, like hinge pins and roller bearings, run quietly when they are lubricated and squeak or grind when they are dry.
Not every noise is a lubrication problem. DASMA says squeaking springs are usually normal, suggests trying a spray-on lubricant first, and says to call an installer if the noise persists. If the noise comes with a bang, a heavy door or uneven movement, stop and see when a garage door is unsafe to use. To match a sound to a cause, use why a garage door is noisy.
What to lubricate
Clopay's lubrication guide lists these parts. Its maintenance checklist also lists lift cables among the parts to lubricate annually.
| Part | What the manufacturer says | Who should do it |
|---|---|---|
| Hinges | Apply lubricant directly to the hinge pins so they rotate freely and silently. | Homeowner, with the door at rest and the hinge reachable from the floor or a stable step. |
| Rollers (metal) | Lubricate the bearings so they move easily along the tracks. | Homeowner. Not nylon rollers, see below. |
| Torsion springs | Spray along the entire length of the spring. | Homeowner only from a safe distance with a spray, without touching the spring. Otherwise a technician. |
| Extension springs | Lubricate the pulleys. | Technician. The pulleys sit beside tensioned springs and cables. |
| Bearing plates | These benefit from periodic lubrication. | Homeowner or technician. |
Do not touch or adjust springs, cables or the brackets at the bottom corners. Clopay warns that bottom brackets must not be removed while the door is under tension and that frayed cables carry a risk of serious injury. If you cannot reach a part without climbing or reaching past a spring, leave it for a technician.
What not to lubricate
- The tracks. Clopay says not to add lubrication to the actual tracks.
- Nylon rollers. Clopay says if your rollers are nylon, do not apply lubricant. Nylon rollers are typically black or white. See nylon vs steel rollers.
- Anything with WD-40 or an oil-based product. Clopay says WD-40 and oil-based lubricants should be avoided because they attract dirt and dust, and its cold-weather advice says WD-40 can cause problems in cold weather.
Tracks should be kept clean instead. Clopay's checklist lists cleaning tracks as part of routine maintenance, along with checking them for bends, twists and secure attachment. A bent or loose track is a repair. See bent or misaligned tracks.
Which lubricant to use
Clopay's lubrication guide describes silicone-based lubricants as an excellent choice for garage doors, suitable for hinges, rollers and springs. It describes white lithium grease as suited to heavy-duty, weight-bearing parts like springs, to be used sparingly because it can attract dirt. Its maintenance pages also name Clopay Pro-Lube. Manufacturers differ on products, so check your door's manual for the lubricant it names.
Use a small amount and wipe off excess. Lubricant that drips onto the floor or onto the panels collects dirt.
What you can safely do, in order
- Make sure the door is undamaged and moves normally. If it is crooked, heavy or showing any warning sign, stop.
- Close the door and stand on the floor. Wipe visible dirt off the hinges and roller stems with a cloth.
- Identify your rollers. If they are nylon, skip them.
- Apply the recommended lubricant to hinge pins and metal roller bearings. Do not spray the tracks.
- If you choose to lubricate a torsion spring, spray from a distance along its length. Do not touch it.
- Run the door through two or three full cycles with the opener, standing clear, to spread the lubricant.
- Wipe off any drips.
How often
Clopay says lubricating every 6 months is typically sufficient for average use, about every 3 months for heavy daily use, and every 3 to 6 months or as needed depending on usage, climate and age. Its maintenance checklist says annually for hinges, non-nylon rollers, sheave bearings, torsion springs and lift cables. Use the annual checklist to schedule it.
In winter, old lubricant can harden. Clopay says lubricant on rollers and track hardware can get gummy in the cold, which can make the door open partway or roll unevenly, and suggests removing the hardened lubricant with a grease solvent before applying a silicone-based product. See winter garage door care in NJ.
When to stop and bring in a technician
- The noise continues after lubrication. DASMA says to call an installer if it persists.
- The door is heavy, shakes, jerks or will not stay halfway open.
- You see a gap in a spring, a frayed cable or a roller out of its track.
- The part you want to lubricate is next to a spring, cable or bracket and you cannot reach it safely.
Our technicians inspect and lubricate the moving parts as part of garage door maintenance and tune-ups, and replace worn parts with roller replacement or spring replacement when lubrication will not fix the problem.
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Need a technician?
If something on your door looks damaged, stay clear and let a technician handle it.
Questions and answers
Can I use WD-40 on my garage door?
Clopay says to avoid WD-40 and oil-based products, because they attract dirt and dust, and that WD-40 can cause problems in cold weather. It recommends silicone-based lubricants.
Should I lubricate the tracks?
No. Clopay says not to add lubrication to the actual tracks. Keep them clean and check them for bends.
How do I know if my rollers are nylon?
Clopay says nylon rollers are typically black or white. Do not lubricate them. If you are unsure, check the door's manual or ask a technician.
How often should I lubricate my garage door?
Clopay says every 6 months is typically sufficient for average use, and about every 3 months for heavy daily use. It also lists annual lubrication in its maintenance checklist.
My door is still noisy after lubricating. What now?
DASMA says to call an installer if the noise persists. A technician can check for worn rollers, loose hardware or a spring problem.
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