How to Repair Bifold and Sliding Doors

Updated on June 23, 2022

Bifold doors dining room — Photo:
Robert Brinson

Working Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Skill Level: Kid-friendly

Sliding and bifold doors are great space-savers for tight closets or small hallway bathroom thresholds. However, a problem with these doors is they sometimes get knocked off their track and require adjusting. Below, we show you what you need to know for bifold door repairs in just a few steps. You'll be surprised at how easy it is!

Most sliding closet doors hang by rollers from a track above. Bifold doors are anchored at the bottom and top of one side. On the opposite side, a guide pin slides through a top channel. Parts for these doors are readily available at home centers, hardware stores, or online.

If you have a sliding closet door that glides on a bottom track, clean the track with a damp cloth to ensure smooth gliding. Lubricate the rollers but not the track, because lubricant will act as a magnet for dust. Remove a door by lifting and tilting the bottom out. If a roller is stuck, unscrew and remove it. If cleaning does not solve the problem, replace the roller unit.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Screwdriver
Adjustable wrench
Pliers
Drill
Closet door parts, which come with mounting screws and other hardware

Instructions

Adjust Bottom Position

Bifold doors should be parallel with the frame and each other when there are double bifolds in an opening. A bifold should close snugly but not too tightly. To adjust the door's position at the bottom, lift it at the bottom and move the pin to another place on the bracket.
Editor's tip: Bifold doors are light (some are louvered, and some are hollow-core), so the hardware isn't heavy-duty. A top pin, which is spring-loaded so you can lift the door up and out, inserts into a bracket that can be moved to the left or right. The bottom pin rests in a bracket with several setting points for easy adjustment. The top roller slides through a track.

Interior Door Designs
Adjust Top Position

To adjust the top position, partially open the door. Next, loosen the bracket's screw, slide the door over, and tighten the screw.
Adjust Height

To adjust a bifold's height, use an adjustable wrench, a pair of pliers, or the wrench that comes with the hardware. Twist the nut surrounding the pin to raise or lower the door.
If the bracket is too low (or sunk below carpeting), remove the door and the bracket. Cut a shim to fit under the bracket and reinstall the bracket.
Replacement Hardware

Repair parts are easily installed; some simply push into holes, while others attach with a screw or two. A replacement part may not properly anchor if a pin or roller hole is enlarged or the door is cracked. Buy a repair part with a flange that can be screwed to either side of the hole. If the door is badly damaged, replace it.
Sliding Doors

Clean the Rollers
If you have a sliding closet door that glides on a bottom track, clean the track with a damp cloth to ensure smooth gliding. Lubricate the rollers but not the track because lubricant will act as a magnet for dust. Next, remove a door by lifting and tilting the bottom out. If a roller is stuck, unscrew and remove it. If cleaning does not solve the problem, replace the roller unit.

How to Install a Sliding Barn Door
Adjust Bottom Guide

To adjust the height of a hanging slider, loosen the adjusting screws on a roller bracket, move the door up or down, and retighten the screws. If your roller bracket is not adjustable, buy replacement brackets.
The doors slide through a bottom guide on the floor. If the guide is out of alignment, adjust the guide and drive longer screws. If the guide is not high enough to capture the doors, place a small shim under the guide.
Remove Door

If you wish to remove a hanging closet door, remove the guide. Look for access slots on the track. Slide the rollers to the slots, lift the door, and tilt the bottom out.

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