There are a number of different brackets that work to hold your garage door
in place. Some should only be replaced by a professional, because they *are
under high tension.
The weight of the doors varies, but they are among the heaviest items in
your home. It is important for your safety that they are well maintained. The
door should open smoothly and quietly. There should be no shaking.*When shaking
noticed, it is often because of a loose or cracked bracket. You should take the
time to check each item. If a bracket breakes, a portion of the door could fall
on your car or on a family member.
Many people think that the garage door opener does all of the heavy
lifting, but it is actually the torsion springs that allow the door to open
easily. The rollers along the side allow the door to slide up quietly and
easily. The cables prevent the door from falling too quickly and assist with
the lifting.*Most of those components, as well as the main door, are held in
place by brackets of some kind.
The 5" centre bearing bracket is under high tension. If it is cracked
and needs to be replaced, you should call a professional. There is a pair of
brackets at the top inside corners of most overhead residential doors. They can
work loose over time. Their function is to hold the top roller carrying fixture
in place.*On the bottom of your door is another pair of brackets. They can
become damaged with time as well. If the door is left open frequently, they may
be exposed to the elements and become rusted. Their purpose is to support the
bottom roller and help to hold the cables in place.*There are specialty
brackets for doors with low headroom. They are large and long-lasting, but
could need to be replaced if the door is getting older.*In additions to the
brackets, there are bearing plates that can work loose or suffer from wear and
tear.
*Most brackets (other than the centre bracket) and bearing plates are sold
in pairs by craftsman garage door
opener parts* door specialists. Home improvement stores sometimes sell a single bracket
or plate. It is unwise to replace only one bracket. If one has become cracked
or broken, the other one is likely to go soon. The brackets are relatively
inexpensive. If they fail and no one is injured, the door could be irreparably
damaged.*Remember that this door is one of the things that keep your house
secure. Always look to the real experts for advice, before listening to a
self-trained handyman.
