The Rattling Garage Door and How You Can Try to Fix It

If your garage door starts making noises, it shouldn’t while cycling (opening or closing), as this could be a sign that something is wrong. Loose garage door hardware comes into contact with other parts and wears them down over time. This issue can seriously impact the door’s performance. Regular maintenance can reduce the risk of damaged parts and door breakdowns, but all the pieces will break down eventually and require repairs.

Here is a list of possible fixes when the garage starts rattling or rumbling.

Replacing the sprocket assembly

The sprocket assembly is responsible for driving the trolley that opens and closes the garage doors. The driveshaft usually contains plastic gear designed to fail if the doors ever get stuck, protecting the more valuable components from damage. If the equipment is worn or damaged, it won’t pull the trolley properly and can lead to strange noises during operation.

Replacing the garage opener drive and worm gears

If the sprocket assembly doesn’t fail first, the motor is susceptible to wear further and tear. The motor shaft has its gears and drives to power the assembly. These parts are usually made of plastic and wear out faster than the motor itself. Once they thin out, the motor assembly won’t fit perfectly and can rattle during operation due to excess space. If the drive and gears are worn, you need to replace them.

Replacing the belt

Garage doors can use either cables or chains to drive the doors up and down when cycling. These pieces are attached to the mainsprings but are not invulnerable. Minor imperfections, torsion, and friction can thin the cable or chain and loosen it. If the cable breaks, it can swing wildly around the garage and possibly injure someone or damage property. Replace the belt if it’s worn out or has visible scratch marks. Homeowners also need to investigate if small items along the cable are causing it to snag and wear faster than intended.

Replacing the cable pulley

Cables use a pulley system to move the garage doors. Over time, the pulleys can wear out from friction. Additionally, the pulley might improperly wind up the cable, which causes the cable to press against other pieces in the assembly.

Checking the garage door opener brackets

The brackets secure the opener in place to the wall. They are usually screwed in, but the screws might loosen over time. When the motor starts working, the opener can shift positions and clank against the loosened brackets, which causes the rattling. You can screw in the brackets securely, but if a bracket gets damaged or cracks, you will need to replace it.

Call in the pros

If there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with the garage or the problem persists beyond these common fixes, contact a local garage door service for assistance. They can perform a more thorough inspection to troubleshoot and fix the problem.

Phoenician Garage Door & Repair offers full-service garage installation, repair and maintenance in Maricopa County. Emergency service available. We are licensed, bonded, and insured. Call (602) 610-0112