Best way to fix a sticky sliding door without replacing rollers?

You’re actually fighting against yourself with that white lithium grease. I made the same mistake on our Milgard slider a few years back. Lithium grease is way too thick and sticky for tracks; it basically acts like glue for every bit of pet hair and grit that floats by. That "gritty resistance" you're feeling is likely the new grease allready trapping the tiny debris you missed. I’d recommend wiping all that grease off with some mineral spirits and switching to a dry lubricant. I use the WD-40 Specialist Silicone or a CRC Dry PTFE spray. These don't leave a wet film, so the track stays clean much longer.

Before you give up on the rollers, check the height. There’s usally a small plastic cap at the bottom of the door frame hiding an adjustment screw. Use a Phillips head to raise the door just a tiny bit—maybe an eighth of an inch. Sometimes the frame settles and the bottom of the door starts dragging on the track itself rather than rolling on the wheels. Getting that clearance back usually restores the smooth glide without needing a full teardown.

Honestly, you might be overthinking the lubricant. I spent a month spraying different stuff on my Andersen slider only to realize the "gritty" feeling was actualy the bottom of the door frame physically scraping against the aluminum track beacuse the rollers had settled. At two and a half years, your house has likely finished its initial settling, wich can knock the door just a millimeter or two out of square. Before you go stripping off the grease, look for the small plastic caps on the bottom interior of the door panel. Pop those off and use a long Phillips head screwdriver to turn the adjustment screws clockwise. This lifts the rollers and gets the frame off the track. I usually aim for about a 1/4 inch gap. If the door isn't high enough, it doesn't matter how much silicone or grease you use; you’re just lubricating a metal-on-metal grind. Give it a few turns and see if that "gritty" sensation disappears.

Oh wow, I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm totally new here and just bought my first place with a massive sliding door. I was about to buy some heavy grease too, so thanks for the warning about it being a dust magnet! definitly going with the silicone spray instead. Speaking of upgrades, has anyone here ever tried those adhesive weatherstripping kits for the bottom of the door, or do those just make the dragging sensation even worse? I'm worried about the draft but don't want to ruin the glide!

Check those rollers for flat spots before you buy more spray. If the door sat stuck for a while, the wheels can get a 'flat' side that feels like you're rolling over gravel. I had to swap mine out last year and it’s a twenty-minute job. Also, check if the track itself is bowed or dented. If it’s not perfectly level, no amount of cleaning's gonna fix that grind. Good luck, it's a total pain.

I had the same grit issue and it turned out to be the track itself was acutally pitted from salt air and old debris. A quick tip that worked for me: take some 400-grit sandpaper or a piece of fine steel wool and lightly buff the top of the rail where the rollers actually sit. Once I smoothed out those tiny burrs and wiped it down with a microfiber cloth, the 'grinding' feeling disappeared completly. If you do this, just make sure you vacuum again imediately so you aren't leaving metal shavings behind to gunk up your new silicone spray.

Wait, what exactly are mineral spirits? I've never used them before and I'm worried I'll ruin the finish on my floor if I spill some while cleaning the grease off. Also, that adjustment screw sounds like a lifesaver, but is there a risk of the door just popping right out of the track if I turn it the wrong way? I'm pretty clueless with tools and relly don't want to break the whole thing just trying to make it slide better.