Ghost Controls Hinge & Roller Replacement Nationwide

Ghost Controls Hinge & Roller Replacement: The San Mateo Owner’s Guide

We stock and install Ghost Controls-compatible hinge and roller assemblies for most TSS1, TDS2, and ABZZ series swing-gate operators, with typical installed prices in San Mateo running $240-$380 for a single gate leaf and $380-$520 for a dual-leaf system. Same-day replacement is available when the part is on our truck, which it usually is for the common Ghost Controls configurations. Most San Mateo homeowners notice the problem when their gate starts lurching at the open or close position, or when the operator arm strains audibly against a hinge that no longer rotates freely.

Call (650) 293-9440

Which Ghost Controls Models This Applies To

Ghost Controls uses a few different hinge and roller geometries across their product lines, and matching the right assembly matters more than with some other brands because their actuator arms expect a specific swing radius.

The TSS1 series (single swing) and TDS2 series (dual swing) are the most common in San Mateo residential installs, particularly the TSS1XP and TDS2XP heavy-duty variants that showed up a lot in Peninsula new construction between 2018 and 2022. The ABZZ series for larger ornamental gates uses a heavier hinge pin and a different roller bracket spacing. You can identify your series from the label on the operator housing, usually on the underside of the control box near the antenna wire.

We carry both OEM Ghost Controls hinge/roller kits and a quality aftermarket equivalent manufactured to the same 5/8-inch pin diameter and 3.5-inch bracket spacing. The OEM kit runs higher but carries Ghost Controls’ own warranty; the aftermarket unit matches the critical dimensions and we warranty the installation ourselves for 365 days. One compatibility gotcha we’ve seen in San Mateo: some early TDS2 units shipped with a 0.5-inch pin that was quietly updated to 5/8-inch in later production. Measuring the pin before ordering saves a second trip.

Signs Your Ghost Controls Hinge & Roller Replacement Is Failing

• The gate shudders or stalls at the 15-degree open position. This is where the hinge roller bears the most load during the swing arc. In San Mateo, we see this often on north-facing gates where morning condensation sits in the roller race and accelerates bearing corrosion.
• The operator motor runs longer than it used to for the same travel distance. A seizing hinge creates drag that the control board interprets as normal load, so the motor works harder without triggering an obstruction fault.
• Visible rust streaks below the hinge bracket or on the gate post. The roller bearing has failed and water is migrating through the seal, carrying rust down the post. By the time you see this, the inner race is usually pitted.
• A metallic clunk when the gate starts moving. This is the arm taking up slack against a hinge with excessive end-play. The roller has walked on its shaft or the bushing has worn oval.
• The gate sits visibly lower on the hinge side. The roller assembly includes a thrust washer that carries the gate’s weight. When it wears, the leaf drops and can bottom out against the stop plate.

Before

After

Replacement Cost & What’s Included

These are installed prices. The range depends on whether the existing bracket bolts come free cleanly or need extraction, whether the gate post is square and plumb, and whether we find secondary wear in the actuator arm bracket that should be addressed at the same time. We write the exact price on a scope sheet before any work starts, under Haven Standard Clause 1. The price you sign is the price on the invoice. Our 365-Day Done Right Promise covers the installation and the part.

DIY or Call Us?

There’s a safe middle ground here, and then there’s the part where most homeowners stop.

You can safely check: whether the hinge pin wobbles in its bracket (grab the gate leaf and lift vertically), whether the roller turns freely by hand with the gate open, and whether the bracket bolts are tight. Take a photo of the label on your operator box so you have the model and serial number.

Where DIY goes wrong: the hinge assembly on a typical San Mateo residential gate carries 150-400 pounds of leaf weight, depending on material. Removing the pin without supporting the gate properly drops the leaf suddenly, and the pin itself often seizes in the bracket from years of galvanic corrosion between the steel bracket and aluminum gate frame. We’ve been called to jobs where the owner got the old hinge apart and then couldn’t align the new roller under load to get the pin back through. Under Haven Standard Clause 4, we document the before condition, the alignment readings, and the final pin torque. If you’re not set up to support the gate and measure the swing arc, it’s faster and safer to have us handle it. Call (650) 293-9440 and we’ll give you a written estimate before we dispatch.

FAQs