How to Repair Bifold Door Top Roller Guide

If your bifold door seal replacement doors have become stuck and squeaking, they may need a little maintenance. They might require cleaning and lubricated or adjusted. The problem may be caused by an unfastened screw on the top pivot or by the top roller guide.

This kit contains everything you need to restore your bi-fold wardrobe door to its optimal performance.

Take the door off

It may seem complicated and difficult to set up the bifold internal doors but for those who are DIYers with some experience, it is actually quite simple. Getting the frame into position isn't the problem but the trick is getting the doors to fold and close easily and accurately. Bifold doors are intricate pieces of machinery and, therefore they may require some tweaking to ensure that they function properly. It could be as easy as tightening a screw or as complex as taking out the door and replacing a pivot pin or roller.

You can usually resolve these issues with a few simple adjustments, without having to remove the doors. You may find that your doors are sagging or scratching the floor, or that they are jumping out of their tracks. It's easy to fix these issues. Just follow three simple steps and your repairing bifold doors doors will be back on line in short time.

The most common issue internal bifolding doors encounter is the sliding out of alignment. This could be due to loose screws, holes in the anchor/pivots or a misaligned bifold door. Most times, this can be corrected with a few simple adjustments. If, however, your door doesn't move at all, you may need to replace it.

You'll need to open the door using a screwdriver, and possibly pliers to loosen any pivot pins that are tight. The screwdriver will be used to break any locking levers that are on the bottom bracket of the pivot and the pliers will allow you to wiggle the pin to release it and then take it off.

After the top roller is removed After that, you can lift the door, turn it down and remove it from its track and pivot brackets. It's usually a straightforward procedure, but you need to be careful to not let the door hit the door frame. You should then be able to cut off the edge of the door which is scraping the floor, and then sand it until it's smooth. You can then paint or refinish the door as needed.

Take off the Roller Guide

This spring-loaded roller guide mounts on the top of bifold doors to aid in smooth operation. It is designed to work with Kenna frames and can fit the door's panel from 1 to 1/8 inch thick. It is constructed of steel, nylon and plastic components. It is able to replace a damaged guide.

Remove any screws holding the guide to the roller using the screwdriver. Make use of your hands to gently lift it off the frame. It could take some effort to remove the door, so ask a friend to help you.

After removing the old guide, carefully cut the remaining finishing on the foot of the guide using a razor to separate it from the blank rod. This will make the guide foot much easier to remove and will prevent any damage. The foot is very sharp, and it could cut or snag fingers.

You may need to apply some force to remove the guide, but you must be careful not to break or chip the foot. Once you have separated the old guide from the rod blank, be sure to remove all of the epoxy and threads that remain in the place where it was affixed. This will prevent future problems with the guide.

After removing the guide, test your replacement by placing it at its new location. Apply a few rotations with masking tape or guide tubing to ensure it stays in place. This will let you double verify the guide's spacing and alignment to make sure everything is set up properly. This is vital to avoid any future issues, whether you use the CRB Spine Finder and Deflection System or simply eyeball it.

The last step is to replace the door. If the guide is in the correct position and functioning in the correct way, then you're ready to proceed. Remember to replace and tighten any screws or pins that you removed or loosened.

Remove the Bottom Pivot

Bifold doors are a stunning addition to any home but sometimes they need a little tweaking or adjustment to remain in good shape. Some issues can be addressed by keeping the doors in place. Others will require that the doors be removed. This guide will walk you through the steps to remove internal bifold door pivots, pins and rollers so that you can get your doors sliding as new.

Gathering your tools is the first step. You'll save yourself a lot of frustration if you gather all your tools in advance. You'll also need pliers and a screwdriver. You can buy a basic set of tools at your local hardware store for a fair price. Keep a supply of wood glue in the back of your hand. This is helpful in the event that you have to glue the rollers into place.

After putting together your tools, open the bifold door repair bracket door and loosen the top track bracket by using your screwdriver. Once this is loose, the door should be capable of sliding off the top track completely. It may take some jiggling, but it should pop off the track.

The bottom pivot of the frame needs to be removed. You'll want to do this from the outside of the house, so be sure to close any internal doors that are open. This will make it much simpler rather than working on the inside. If the track on the bottom is still in good condition it will be possible to simply lift the door and remove the track.

If the track is damaged, then you'll have to replace it. Hardware stores offer replacement tracks for bifold doors, as well as swinging closet doors. If the track is badly damaged, then you might need to replace it entirely.

You'll now need to check your doors for their proper operation. Make sure they're capable of moving smoothly between positions. You'll need to ensure that the edges of your door are aligned to the frame when closed. If they're not, you'll need to readjust the top pivot bracket and tighten or loosen the bottom screwscrew until the edge of the door is perfectly aligned with the frame.

replace bifold doors the Roller

If they are installed properly they can be used to cover laundry nooks, pantries and closets. They comprise two door panels that are hinged and open using a track that sits in the frame's top. Over time the roller guide bearings may wear out and cause the doors to bow and scrape against the floor. The roller guide can be replaced in a matter of minutes with basic tools.

The first step is to remove the guide roller from your door panel. This requires taking off the pivot bolt at the bottom and loosening the screw that holds the guide at its top. After removal of the guide, pull the panel from the track. Then, using a wrench, remove the top pivot bolt from the hole in the frame's header by loosening the nut.

Stanley, Cox and Acme offer a replacement top nylon roller with a 7/8-inch wheel on a steel base. It is mounted on the top edge of bifold doors that are 1 inch to 1-3/8 inch thick. It is spring-loaded and adjusts itself in the upper track to ensure smooth sliding.

A bifold door can also scratch against the floor as it closes and opens. This can happen after installing carpet or other flooring materials that require the doors to be raised to ensure proper clearance. Removing the screw that adjusts the bottom pivot, loosening the top track's mounting screws and moving the anchor pin typically enough to resolve this issue.

A new set of top roller guides is an inexpensive solution to a problem that can make bifold doors difficult to operate. They are usually available at your local hardware shop in the door section. However, they can be bought online from several vendors. You will also need a squeeze-clamp and a small container of Elmer's wood glue, which is available in large box stores. The clamp is used to keep the repair bifold door top roller area shut after the glue has been installed and dried.