Should I attempt side door roller replacement?

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Aug 10, 2004 | 02:57 PM

aerostargal

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From: Ohio

Should I attempt side door roller replacement?

My 92 Aerostar's sliding door is sagging at the front. After researching here I am certain that the lower roller assembly needs replacing. I had to scrape out that "electrical tape" gunk from the lower track a while back.

I know I can get the part at the dealer and my husband will be there to "assist" me, but is this repair something that we can tackle ourselves? Hubby has basic auto tech skills, I have none, but I tend to be mechanically inclined and I am ready to attempt this as long as you all think is would be no big deal for me.

Advice anyone?

TIA aerostargal

Aug 10, 2004 | 04:16 PM

aerocolorado

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Easiest way is to get an old roller assembly from the junkyard and swap out. The roller can be replaced but depending on the year, it varies as to degree of difficulty. As a temporary solution, you can put a chair glider cap over the roller. These are found in hardware stores and are hard plastic end caps that go on the bottom of wooden kitchen chair legs to prevent surface marring. I think a 1 inch size fits if memory serves.

I eventually wound up replacing the plastic roller with a metal ball bearing roller but mine was an early model and the anchor pin had to be drilled out and a new pin fabricated.

Good luck!

Aug 11, 2004 | 06:54 PM

fatherdoug

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From: Colstrip, MT

If you use the chair caps, buy the teflon kind. They wear longer and leave less plastic in the track that you have to clean out later.

Aug 11, 2004 | 08:30 PM

aerostargal

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From: Ohio

Can you please explain to me how the chair caps would work? On the lower roller assembly the roller that rolls horizontally across the bottom track is the bad one. How would a chair cap be attached/inserted/etc. and not just pop right out?

Sounds like a cheap and easy, temporary fix that I could readily do...if I could just figure out how it works!

Aug 11, 2004 | 08:53 PM

fatherdoug

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From: Colstrip, MT

It looks to me like you can remove the adjustment screw and the larger, horizontal roller should lift up out of its socket and pop out. At that point you can place a chair cap over the old roller, but it looks like if you're going to remove the roller, you might as well replace the roller also. If money is the object, then a chair cap might work temporarily. I've not done this myself, but have seen it done.

Aug 14, 2004 | 04:08 PM

aerostargal

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From: Ohio

I just got some chair end caps (the "As Seen On TV" kind) and tried to rig the door with it. Unfortunately the bottom roller just rolls right off the chair cap.

Any ballparks on what the whole lower roller assembly sells for? I want to get this fixed before the whole door starts to fall off!

Aug 14, 2004 | 07:03 PM

CdnSoldier

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From: CFB Petawawa Canada

I know in Canada the roller is 45$ Cdn. I have read here on some posts, they are 15-20$ US new from the dealer. The roller is easy to change out. The dealer should be able to tell you how to do it.