Replacing Rear Door Window Regulator and Rollers

So I'm working on converting my dually from power window to crank window. Long story short, I was able to buy brand new regulators for the front doors but had to buy used for the rear doors. With that I'm looking to replace the nylon rollers. As you know, from the factory they are essentially riveted on so I'm going to have to drill the old rollers off.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks for putting the new rollers on? Most rollers I'm finding are not simply bolt on. They have a stud that comes from them. My only thought is to split that stud into quarters and then "spread it out" to attach it to the regulator arms. Thoughts?

I like your idea. I am having the same problem on my 72 Olds Toronado except I can't even find the correct nylon rollers and guides.
From what I've seen, a hydraulic press is the best way. Good luck!

Memaloose said:

I like your idea. I am having the same problem on my 72 Olds Toronado except I can't even find the correct nylon rollers and guides.
From what I've seen, a hydraulic press is the best way. Good luck!

Click to expand...

Yeah, I've seen the hydraulic press route on the YouTube machine but I don't have one of them fancy units LOL That's why I thought about the splitting it into quarters so that I could spread it out without a press but looking for advice before I go down that route.

MMM Leave the power windows
Glad I could help

animal said:

MMM Leave the power windows
Glad I could help

Click to expand...

Nope. Not even an option.

Old77 said:

Nope. Not even an option.

Click to expand...

meanie

In case anyone googles this in the future I thought I’d post the resolution because I could not find it anywhere on forums or YouTube when I asked the Google machine.

This is how to put the new regulator in. I ended up getting the old rollers working with a good dose of lithium grease and working it into the roller.

I posted a similar question on a squarebody group on Facebook and after throwing around some ideas I got her figured out.

See pic. Roller 1 I put in first. That bolt I have labeled “remove” you take out to give the window track more flexibility. Then roller 2 and 2B you work in from the right hand side of the tracks then button her back up again. It’s definitely and effort of patience but it worked!!

For anyone searching this on Google this applies to any 73-91 chevy/gmc crew cab or suburban when replacing or performing maintenance on the regulators for the REAR doors.

Old77 I'm working on my front regulators...taking them out to replace the rollers. How did yours turn out? Did the split stud method work? Did you use a vice to press the rivet? Any other tips or tricks you have for this project? And does it matter which order I remove the bolts on the front door regulator?

Elliot W said:

Old77 I'm working on my front regulators...taking them out to replace the rollers. How did yours turn out? Did the split stud method work? Did you use a vice to press the rivet? Any other tips or tricks you have for this project? And does it matter which order I remove the bolts on the front door regulator?

Click to expand...

I ended up not replacing the rollers as I didn't feel good about any of the methods and I didn't want to take a chance on ruining the regulators on those rear doors as they are hard time find. I ending up being liberal with penetrant and lubricant to loosen them up and moving freely. If you're replacing rollers for the front regulators you might try the same thing or just replace the regulators with brand new units.

I used a center punch first just to start the metal movement on the end of the shaft equally, the a small cold chisel in an x pattern over an anvil being careful not to smack it too hard. a couple whacks in each direction and keep feeling it so you stop once the shaft wont spin in the hole. The reality of these regulators is that once greased the wheel doesn't turn much it just slides along the track unless it meets some kind of resistance. In the end the replaced rollers do turn much easier, but it doesn't really matter.