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QuietGlide Bearing Set
for Vanagon Sliding Doors, 1985-1991 What's your sliding door sound like?
A roaring lion? Angry donkeys? Stampeding elephants? Are you afraid to open or close the door while someone is sleeping? Of course you are! The solution to this is three-fold. A. Delrin Load-Bearing rollers B. The Quiet-Glide Bearing set C. Proper Cleaning A. Delrin Load-Bearing Rollers. The weight of the sliding door is carried on two "load-bearing" rollers that were both originally steel from the VW factory. One of these is at the rear of the door and rolls on a rail under the cover. The other is at the bottom, front of the door. These last a long time, but the steel-on-steel action is certainly not quiet. To replace these with a quieter option, suppliers like GoWesty provide durable Delrin alternatives. This is an excellent first step, but there's more to the story... |
Four-piece Quiet-Glide Bearing Set
(Includes spacing washers) |
B. The Quiet-Glide Bearing Set. While the two rollers described above carry the weight of the door, there are four more guide bearings that keep the door travel on track. These were originally steel rollers from the factory and until recently the only replacements were also steel. Recently designed by Jim Howard of Spark of Imagination, these Quiet-Glide guide bearings are now exclusively available from VANAVATIONTM.
Here's why these are so important to a quiet door operation: If one replaces just TWO of the SIX roller bearings involved in door operation, you've only addressed 1/3 of the potential noise. No matter how much noise reduction is attained from those two, there are FOUR other bearings involved.
These other four guide rollers travel along tracks a follows: One at the top-front, One at the bottom-front, and two at the center-rear of the door.
This set provides replacements for all four of these guide bearings with precision steel internal rolling elements. But what makes them special is the outer roller materials specific to each roller's needs, two from Urethane and two from Acetal.
Here's why these are so important to a quiet door operation: If one replaces just TWO of the SIX roller bearings involved in door operation, you've only addressed 1/3 of the potential noise. No matter how much noise reduction is attained from those two, there are FOUR other bearings involved.
These other four guide rollers travel along tracks a follows: One at the top-front, One at the bottom-front, and two at the center-rear of the door.
This set provides replacements for all four of these guide bearings with precision steel internal rolling elements. But what makes them special is the outer roller materials specific to each roller's needs, two from Urethane and two from Acetal.
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Detailed information and installation instructions are available here:
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Quiet-Glide Sliding Door Bearing Set - Basic
(Order this set if you are ordering the two load-bearing rollers from another supplier.)
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Quiet-Glide Sliding Door Bearing Set - Deluxe
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$155.00
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In-Stock
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Includes the exclusive 4-piece Quiet-Glide bearings, PLUS the two GoWesty load-bearing rollers, the retaining clip set, the "Slider Door Stop", and the cover panel "Beading". Shown below.
GoWesty Rear Roller Kit
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GoWesty Lower-Front Roller
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GoWesty Retaining Clip Set
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Slider Door Stop
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Cover Panel Beading
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What's a "Slider Door Stop" and how do I know if I need one? The slider door stop is installed at the front end of the track behind the cover. It's just behind the latch at the rear end of the door opening. It's responsible for changing the forward motion of the guide bearings to inward motion during the last inch of door travel. Without it, the bearings make sort of a "clank" sound as they hit the steel instead of this contoured plastic guide piece. If you know where to look you can see if yours is missing or broken. You probably need it.
Why the "beading" too? Unless you've had your panel off within recent months this almost always gets wrecked when taking off the panel. Consider it like a gasket that's replaced whenever you take of the cover.
Why the "beading" too? Unless you've had your panel off within recent months this almost always gets wrecked when taking off the panel. Consider it like a gasket that's replaced whenever you take of the cover.
People are saying...
Satisfied customer March 2021: "This kit plus the delrin ones from GW or VanCafe will change your life"
Satisfied customer June 2021: "OMG!!! I am spending WAY TOO MUCH TIME opening and closing my slider now after installing your bearings!!! Girlfriend is thinking I'm weirder than she thought. I'm probably gonna hafta order another set shortly, cuz I'm gonna wear this set out in no time!! THANK YOU!! These are GREAT!!"
"Yah, one of the VERY BESTEST improvements I've done to my van! AND I CAN STAND THERE SUCKING ON A BEER SLIDING THE DOOR BACK AND FORTH, MARVELING AT ITS AWESUMENESS! Both girlfriend and I thought the slider was fine, she thought it was a waste of time and $, She doesn't think so anymore."
Satisfied customer March 2021: "This kit plus the delrin ones from GW or VanCafe will change your life"
Satisfied customer June 2021: "OMG!!! I am spending WAY TOO MUCH TIME opening and closing my slider now after installing your bearings!!! Girlfriend is thinking I'm weirder than she thought. I'm probably gonna hafta order another set shortly, cuz I'm gonna wear this set out in no time!! THANK YOU!! These are GREAT!!"
"Yah, one of the VERY BESTEST improvements I've done to my van! AND I CAN STAND THERE SUCKING ON A BEER SLIDING THE DOOR BACK AND FORTH, MARVELING AT ITS AWESUMENESS! Both girlfriend and I thought the slider was fine, she thought it was a waste of time and $, She doesn't think so anymore."
C. Cleaning: The operation of the sliding door's roller elements relies on smooth, clean surfaces. While replacing your bearings, you should also take the time to make sure these surfaces are as clean and smooth as practical. Clean these with a grease-cutting agent such as Simple Green to get out all of the grease and grime that's built up over the years. Why would this build up? In an effort to make the "sliding" door roll more easily and more quietly many owners but grease in the tracks of the door's rollers. The trouble is, the "sliding" door does NOT actually slide, but it ROLLS. Putting grease along these rolling tracks makes as much sense as greasing the streets so your tires will roll better. The only place for grease or oil lubrication is inside the bearing, which is generally sealed or nearly inaccessible. So, if someone has put grease in these tracks, it has gathered dirt and hardened to create a stiff, lumpy grime. Basically, it makes little obstacles along the track for the rollers to bump into like speed bumps on a street. Another part of the prep for quieting your door is to make sure the rear rail is nice and smooth. These can get "mushroomed" at the top from years of having the metal roller wear on them and sometimes from rust. You may want to file or sand this rail so it's nice and smooth.
BONUS! Sliding Door Removal / Installation instruction video: