[bigsteve80]

Anyone know of a lube procedure for the sliding door? We've noticed that it's getting harder to open.

 

[USMC Vet]

Anyone know of a lube procedure for the sliding door? We've noticed that it's getting harder to open.

bigsteve80,

Don't know of the correct procedure, but your dealer should be able to fix it. Should still be covered on a 2015, and ask service mgr what they do, so you will know for next time.

Semper Fi

 

[bigsteve80]

We're past 36k, so it's not going to be a warranty repair.

 

[hammerhome]

old thread, but I use lithium heavy duty grease. just a tiny bit makes the slider on my E250 come back to life when it seems to be getting harder to close and open. I imagine that the mechanism is similar on the transit, and the grease would do the trick. Emphasis on only using a little bit, that stuff will get everywhere if you gob it on.

 

[Byron the Painter]

Having owned a couple E-series with sliding doors over the past 15 years, one of the first things I examined closely after getting my Transit was were it was lubed....there is only one place, a big glob of white grease in the sliding track at the top right side, in that deep well above the passengers head...lubing the "plastic ball" straight up from the opening handle. No grease whatsoever on the bottom track or in the middle track.

One small exception is the plastic "clamping latch" (same as the door latches) in the middle of the door, at the back end. A glob of grease on that does wonders. That black spring loaded thing back there?...don't lube that thing. Lube those two spots and it should slide like butter...if not, then perhaps the plastic balls (wheels) in the middle and/or the bottom are getting threadbare.

 

[Keith]

I plan to try this greasing instruction. I have only had my 2015 350 Transit about two months now and the sliding door is getting harder and harder to open and close. Seems it could be in the handle though. It has pinched the heck out of my fingers several times trying to get it to catch if I don't let go timely. I read about having a window or other door open helps but it is kind of questionable whether it helps or not to do that. I still have to slam it at least twice.
A child or elderly person could not open or close this side door from the outside for sure and it is even harder from the inside since there is no handle to grab onto to pull shut. Have been very disappointed in this aspect of the van. I never, ever had sliding door issues with my Astros decades ago, finger light touch.
Seems in this day and age these doors should be better than ever.
If anyone has suggestions about how to make this easier, I would really appreciate hearing them.

 

[vandownbytheriver]

Having owned a couple E-series with sliding doors over the past 15 years, one of the first things I examined closely after getting my Transit was were it was lubed....there is only one place, a big glob of white grease in the sliding track at the top right side, in that deep well above the passengers head...lubing the "plastic ball" straight up from the opening handle. No grease whatsoever on the bottom track or in the middle track.

One small exception is the plastic "clamping latch" (same as the door latches) in the middle of the door, at the back end. A glob of grease on that does wonders. That black spring loaded thing back there?...don't lube that thing. Lube those two spots and it should slide like butter...if not, then perhaps the plastic balls (wheels) in the middle and/or the bottom are getting threadbare.

Could you post some pictures of these spots?

 

[Travlin]

I spent about an hour removing white lithium the previous owner had sprayed everywhere. What a mess that was. This sticky stuff was gumming up the works with all the crud that it accumulated over time. The door has worked much better since that cleanup.

It might be good to perform a thorough cleaning of those surfaces the various moving parts travel on.

Other than the locations mentioned by Byron the Painter, if you just can't help spraying something else, a light coating of silicone lube (which will dry and won't accumulate crud) might be okay for those places the moving bits slide/roll on.

 

[TomW]

Silicon sprays are good but need be reapplied to function. I like the PTFE sprays that last much longer, and fewer issues if the vehicle needs paint after an accident.



I use dry lubes that dispense PTFE (Micro Teflon) on bike pedal cleats to lube the lockdown spring, but not attract dirt.



Speedplay (cleat manufacture) recommends these brands (to help you know what you should use): SP-LUBE, Super-Lube Dry Film, RD-50, DuPont Performance Dry, Liquid Wrench Dry Lube, Pro Gold, or Finish Line Dry Lube


I happen to have Super-Lube, description explains what is going on (Can is ten years old, hint use just a little and it last a long time!):
Super Lube® Dri-Film Lubricant contains sub-micron sized particles of Syncolon® (PTFE) powder in a solvent base. When applied, the solvent cleans and carries the dry lubricant powder to the components to be lubricated, then evaporates very rapidly, leaving behind a protective Syncolon® (PTFE) shield that will not attract dust. The dry coating provides a low coefficient of friction which gives excellent lubrication and release properties.

 

[mgmetalworks]

I've replaced 30+ slider door hinges for folks on E-series vans...same thing applies here. The tracks should be as clean as possible because the slider doors don't "slide" on the tracks, ball bearing wheels "roll" down the tracks. Lube the bearings in the wheels and the pivot points of the hinge, don't lube the track. Greasing up the tracks will just collect more crud that the wheels won't roll over....which then they get gummed up...start "sliding" on the track wearing flat spots on the wheels...etc...etc...

There is a dust shield on the main roller wheels (the wheels carrying the weight of the door). It doesn't seal the bearing, just keeps most of the crap out. Squirt a little lube behind the dust shield and on the pivot point of the hinge and that's it. Clean the tracks of any dirt/debris.

 

[alarmist]

+1 That's what fixed my E van. The front lower bearing dried up so a little white lithium spray lube there was all it needed.