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FAAC Hinge & Roller Replacement: The San Mateo Owner’s Guide
FAAC hinge and roller replacement in San Mateo typically runs $280-$520 installed, depending on whether we’re matching a single roller or a full hinge assembly on a dual-swing system. We stock FAAC-compatible hardware for the 400, 402, and 422 series operators on our trucks, and most replacements in San Mateo are completed same-day. Homeowners usually notice the problem first as a grinding sound during the open cycle, or the gate catching at the same point every time, or the operator straining and the motor running hot.
Which FAAC Models This Applies To
The hinge and roller assemblies we’re talking about here sit on the gate leaf itself, not inside the FAAC operator housing. That distinction matters because FAAC sells operator arms, control boards, and limit switches under separate part numbers, and some San Mateo homeowners call us about a “motor problem” when it’s actually a seized roller forcing the 400-series arm to work against mechanical resistance.
We match hardware to three FAAC operator families most common in San Mateo: the 400 hydraulic swing-gate series (including the 402 SBS and 422 SBS variants), the 770 slide-gate line where hinge-style carriers replace traditional rollers, and the older 390 electromechanical swing units still running in Hillsborough and Baywood Park properties. The critical spec is the pin diameter: FAAC OEM hinges use a 16 mm or 20 mm stainless pin depending on the gate weight rating, and we’ve seen San Mateo gates where a previous installer substituted a 5/8-inch imperial pin that wallowed out the brass bushing in eighteen months.
We carry both FAAC OEM rollers and Italian-made aftermarket equivalents from Comunello that match the 78 mm and 92 mm wheel diameters. The aftermarket units run about 30% less on parts cost and carry the same one-year bearing warranty. We state which we’re proposing before we order anything. Vance Gate Repair San Mateo is an independent service provider with no affiliation to FAAC.
Signs Your FAAC Hinge & Roller Replacement Is Failing

- Grinding or squealing during the open or close cycle. The sealed bearing inside the roller has dried out or rusted through, usually from water sitting in the housing after our San Mateo winter rains. The noise is metal-on-metal contact between the axle and the inner race.
- The gate stalls at the same angle every time. A seized roller creates a fixed friction point. The FAAC operator’s torque sensor detects the overload and stops travel, often flashing the control board’s fault LED in a three-pulse pattern.
- Visible rust weeping from the roller housing or hinge knuckle. Salt air from the Bay accelerates corrosion on hardware that wasn’t originally stainless. We’ve replaced rollers in San Mateo that looked intact from the outside but had internal rust locking the bearing solid.
- The gate leaf has dropped or shifted, creating a gap at the latch side. A worn hinge pin allows vertical play. The gate hangs lower on the failed side, and the latch bolt no longer aligns with the strike plate.
- The FAAC operator motor runs hot or throws an overcurrent fault. The motor draws more amperage to overcome mechanical resistance. On a 400-series hydraulic unit, this shows as prolonged pump cycling; on electromechanical models, the thermal cutout trips after three or four cycles.
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AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
| Service | Typical Range in San Mateo |
|---|---|
| Single roller replacement (aftermarket) | $280-$360 |
| Single roller replacement (FAAC OEM) | $340-$420 |
| Hinge assembly with pin and bushings | $380-$520 |
| Dual-swing, both sides | $520-$780 |
The range depends on gate weight (heavier gates need larger hardware), whether we need to pull the gate leaf to access the hinge, and whether the existing mounting plate is still square. Every quote is written and handed to you before we touch a tool, under Haven Standard Clause 1. The price includes removal, disposal of the failed part, installation, lubrication, and a full-cycle test with the FAAC operator. We warranty the repair for 365 days under our Done Right Promise. If the roller or hinge fails from workmanship or defective parts within that year, we replace it at no charge.
DIY or Call Us?

There’s a safe middle ground here. You can inspect the roller for visible rust, check whether the gate rocks vertically at the hinge, and verify the FAAC fault code on your operator display. What you should not do is attempt to remove a loaded hinge pin or support a gate leaf without proper jacks and blocking. A typical residential swing gate in San Mateo weighs 400-800 pounds; the hinge pin is under shear load the entire time, and there’s no safe way to release that tension by hand.
We’ve been called to jobs where a homeowner got the pin halfway out before the gate shifted on them. The repair then included straightening the mounting post, not just replacing the roller. If you’re unsure about the weight or the pin condition, call us. We’ll give you a written price before we start, and you’ll get a photo record of what we found and what we left behind. Name what you found. Name what it costs. Name what you left behind.
FAQs
In San Mateo’s marine-influenced climate, quality FAAC-compatible rollers typically last 7-12 years if they’re true stainless hardware; cheaper zinc-plated units often fail in 3-5 years from salt-air corrosion. Call (650) 293-9440 and we’ll inspect what you have and quote replacement if needed.
No. Once the sealed bearing is compromised, the roller is a wear item and must be swapped. We don’t attempt to repack or rebuild gate rollers because the housing and axle are usually damaged by the time symptoms appear. Call (650) 293-9440 for a free estimate on replacement.
Most single-roller or single-hinge replacements take 90 minutes to 2.5 hours, including gate removal if needed, hardware installation, and full-cycle testing with your FAAC operator. Dual-swing jobs run 3-4 hours. Call (650) 293-9440 to schedule.
Yes. We carry FAAC-compatible rollers and hinge assemblies for the 400, 402, 422, and 770 series on every service vehicle, along with parts for LiftMaster, Mighty Mule, and Ghost Controls operators. Most San Mateo replacements are completed without a parts run. Call (650) 293-9440 to confirm availability for your specific model.
Ready to stop the grinding and get your FAAC gate running clean again? Call Vance Gate Repair San Mateo at (650) 293-9440. A live person answers 24 hours a day, and we’ll send a written, itemized price before any work begins.
Written by Adrian Vance, Owner, Vance Gate Repair San Mateo at Vance Gate Repair San Mateo, serving San Mateo and nearby areas.





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