Elevator Guide Shoe

Overview

Elevator guide shoes are the sliding or rolling elements that hold the car and counterweight on the guide rails and keep them running true in the shaft. They set the ride quality: any play in the shoe is felt as vibration in the car. One Elevator supplies replacement sliding guide shoes, roller guide shoes and the replaceable inserts that wear against the rail.

Applications

They are used in passenger lifts, freight elevators, hospital beds lifts and service lifts in residential blocks, office towers, hotels and industrial sites, and fit OTIS, KONE, Schindler, Mitsubishi, ThyssenKrupp and Fujitec machines. Sliding inserts are the most common consumable in a lift maintenance contract. Roller guides are preferred on higher-speed lifts, where a sliding shoe would generate heat and noise. On modernisation work the shoe is usually replaced with the rails, since new inserts on old rails inherit the existing alignment problems.

Types and Range

• Sliding guide shoes with replaceable nylon or polyurethane inserts
• Roller guide shoes with two, three or six wheels
• Spring-loaded and adjustable guide shoe assemblies
• Counterweight guide shoes and rail brackets
• Inserts in nylon, polyurethane and bronze-filled materials
• Guide rail lubricators and oil reservoirs

Insert hardness is chosen to protect the rail rather than the shoe.

Selection Guide

Choose by checking three things: the rail width (T-type, 5 mm, 9 mm, 16 mm), the shoe mounting pattern, and whether the unit is a sliding or roller type. Check the rail surface condition too — a scored rail will destroy new inserts quickly. Inserts are always replaced as a full set per car, so that the car stays centred in the shaft. Every shoe is inspected for dimensional accuracy, hardness and spring pressure before packing.

Ordering and Lead Time

Stock sizes dispatch in 5-7 working days; roller guides take 10 days. Send the rail size and shoe type, or the elevator model, and we will confirm fitment before you order.

Frequently asked questions

How do I select a guide shoe?

Give us the rail size, the shoe type and the shaft dimensions. Confirm whether you need a sliding shoe or a roller guide.

When should guide shoe liners be replaced?

When clearance exceeds the maker’s limit, or the liner is visibly worn. Worn shoes show up as car vibration and a rough ride.

Do you supply the liner alone?

Yes. Where the housing is sound, replacement liners are much cheaper than a complete shoe – and the liner is what wears out.