Garage Door Making Loud Noise — What's Wrong and Fixes

A new noise from a garage door is almost always a warning. Most are cheap to fix if caught early; expensive if ignored. Here’s the noise → diagnosis → cost map for Adelaide doors.

Squeaking (high-pitched, rhythmic)

Diagnosis: dry rollers, dry hinges, dry track joints.

Fix: silicone-based lubrication. DIY in 10 minutes — see the maintenance checklist.

Cost: $0 DIY, $80-$120 if part of a service visit.

Grinding (continuous, gravelly)

Diagnosis: worn drive gear in the opener, or roller bearings failed.

Fix: drive gear replacement OR individual roller bearing replacement.

Cost: drive gear $220-$380. Single roller replacement $40-$80.

Knocking (intermittent, mechanical)

Diagnosis: loose hinge pin, loose roller, or a panel hinge backing out of its mount.

Fix: technician inspection — could be tightening, could be hinge replacement.

Cost: $120-$280.

Banging (loud, sudden, single)

Diagnosis: torsion spring snapped. The classic “loud bang and the door won’t open” failure.

Fix: spring replacement.

Cost: $220-$480.

Screeching (metal-on-metal, intermittent)

Diagnosis: roller bearings failed; the roller is metal-on-metal in the track.

Fix: roller replacement (typically all rollers at once if any are worn).

Cost: $180-$360 for a full set.

Rattling (constant, low-pitch)

Diagnosis: loose mounting bolts on tracks, brackets, or motor mount.

Fix: retorquing the bolts. Often a 30-minute service-call fix.

Cost: $120-$220.

Buzzing (continuous, opener-side)

Diagnosis: motor capacitor failing OR motor coil starting to short.

Fix: capacitor replacement OR full motor replacement.

Cost: $160-$240 for capacitor; $480-$780 for full opener.

Clicking (rhythmic, opener-side)

Diagnosis: drive belt or chain skipping a tooth — wear on the drive.

Fix: belt or chain replacement, plus drive sprocket inspection.

Cost: $220-$380.

Whirring (continuous, opener-side, but no door movement)

Diagnosis: stripped drive gear (most common) OR motor running but not engaging the drive.

Fix: drive gear replacement.

Cost: $220-$380.

When to call (and when to wait)

Call now if:

• Banging (spring failure)
• Screeching (roller bearings — getting worse fast)
• Buzzing (capacitor — risk of stuck door)
• Door is operating dramatically slower than usual

Call within a week if:

• Grinding (drive gear deteriorating but still functional)
• Knocking (hinge issue, won’t fail catastrophically)
• Clicking (drive wear, gradual)

DIY first, call if it doesn’t fix:

• Squeaking (lubrication)
• Rattling (tightening bolts — but only the obvious mounts; don’t touch spring brackets)

What to NOT do

• Don’t ignore a new noise. Garage door noises don’t get better on their own.
• Don’t WD-40 anything. WD-40 is a degreaser, not a lubricant. It washes off the existing lubricant and dries out, leaving the parts drier than before.
• Don’t try to tension a spring yourself. The most dangerous DIY job in the garage.
• Don’t operate a banging / screeching door if you can avoid it. Each cycle compounds the damage.

Related

• Adelaide garage door repairs
• Maintenance checklist
• Repair cost guide