Curious if anyone else tried budget-friendly hacks like this instead of going all-in on a new opener?
I've done something similar—just tightened up all the bolts and sprayed some lithium grease on the chain. Didn't make it belt-drive quiet, but definitely helped enough to keep the family from complaining... How long have the rubber pads held up for you?
I get the appeal of quick hacks, but honestly, I found those rubber pads wear out quicker than you'd think. I tried them myself last year—worked great at first, but after about 6 months they started cracking and losing their cushioning. Ended up swapping them out for some cheap neoprene strips I had lying around, and surprisingly they've held up way better. Still cheaper than a whole new opener, and the neighbors haven't complained yet...
Had a similar experience with those rubber pads myself. Installed them thinking they'd be a quick fix for the noise issue, and yeah, they worked wonders at first. But after a few months, same story—cracks everywhere, cushioning practically gone. Ended up chatting with a contractor friend who suggested felt furniture pads (the kind you stick under chair legs). I was skeptical at first, but figured why not? Surprisingly, they've lasted almost a year now without any noticeable wear or tear. Plus they're dirt cheap and easy to replace if needed. Sometimes the simplest solutions really do turn out best...
Interesting you mention felt pads—I tried those too, and they definitely held up better than the rubber ones. But after a while, I noticed they started sliding around a bit, especially during temperature swings. Maybe it was just the adhesive on the brand I got, but it became a bit annoying having to reposition them every few months.
Eventually, I switched to using small squares of cork sheet (the kind you can buy in rolls at craft stores). Cut them myself to fit exactly where I needed them. They've been surprisingly durable and haven't budged at all. Plus, cork seems to absorb vibrations pretty well without compressing too much over time.
Curious if anyone else has experimented with cork or other DIY materials for noise dampening? Always open to new ideas...
Cork sheets are a solid idea—I actually used them once under a noisy washing machine, and it made a noticeable difference. Never thought about using them for garage openers, though. Wonder if layering cork with something denser, like mass-loaded vinyl or even neoprene, would boost the dampening effect even more... Has anyone tried combining materials like that? Might be worth experimenting a bit.
