Why Is My Sliding Door Grinding, Squeaking or Rattling?

Grinding or scraping

A gritty grinding or a metal-on-metal scrape almost always comes from the rollers. Either the bearings have seized so the wheels drag instead of turning, or the wheels have worn down far enough that metal is running on the aluminum track. Either way, the panel is being dragged rather than rolled, and it's wearing a groove into the sill. Doors that grind usually also feel heavier than they used to.

Lubricating the track can make the noise quieter for a while, but it doesn't help a seized roller. The longer it grinds, the deeper the groove, and a grooved track will wear out new rollers early unless it's capped.

Squeaking

A high squeak while the door moves is usually dry rollers or friction from the weatherstripping along the edges of the panel. Vacuum the track and the edges first, then use a dry silicone or PTFE spray — not household oil, which collects sand and pollen and turns into a paste. If the squeak comes back quickly and the door is getting heavier, the rollers are on their way out.

Rattling

A rattle when the door moves or when the wind blows usually means something is loose: the handle set, the panel in its track, or the keeper on the frame. Tighten the handle screws and keeper screws first. A panel that rattles in the frame may be set too low, which also tends to stop the latch lining up.

A thump or bang when it closes

A hard thump at the end of travel usually means the bumper on the frame has worn away, so the panel hits metal. It's a small part, but slamming a heavy glass panel into the frame every day is hard on the latch and the glass seal.

• Vacuum the bottom track every few weeks — Central Florida sand and spring pollen are what wear rollers out.
• Use a dry lubricant, never oil or grease, on the track and rollers.
• Don't ignore grinding. Catching worn rollers early can save the track.