How to Make Vehicle Sliding Doors Open More Smoothly
- 1). Open the door and locate the upper and lower roller bearings at the end of the door support arms. Inspect the bearings for signs of corrosion or damage. Operate the door and listen for bearing growl. Observe the bearings for proper and smooth rotation and ensure that the inner and outer bearing races remain in a concentric relative position. Replace the bearings if needed.
- 2). Inspect the tracks for signs of damage or deformation that could cause poor door operation. Repair the tracks according to the manufacturer’s procedures.
- 3). Slide the door back to its largest possible opening. Remove any large pieces of debris. Wipe all of the contaminated lubricant from the tracks, using a clean shop rag.
- 4). Wet a clean shop rag with a solvent and thoroughly clean the tracks. Make certain that no contaminated lubricant, debris or grit remains in the tracks. Allow the solvent to evaporate and the tracks to dry completely.
- 5). Lubricate the tracks lightly with the manufacturer’s recommended lubricant or a light coating of anti-seize. Apply a non-solvent based spray lubricant to the roller bearings. Wipe excess lubricant from the roller bearings, using a clean shop rag.
- 6). Operate the door from fully open to fully closed several times to help distribute the lubricants. Inspect the tracks for signs of damage or hidden debris at any points that the rollers seem to slow down or catch.
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