How to Replace a Storefront Door Deadbolt Lock on a Narrow Stile Door

Hey guys, this is Gary with Door Closers USA. Today we’re going to go overhow to replace a commercial storefront door deadbolt lock.This demo is on an interior storefront door in my office, but the same process applies toexterior storefront doors as well.

This is a typical narrow stile storefront glass door with a standard deadbolt setup:a thumb turn on the interior and a keyed cylinder on the exterior.

Understanding the Storefront Deadbolt Setup

On most storefront deadbolt locks:

• The interior thumb turn rotates to throw the deadbolt
• The exterior keyed cylinder operates the same lock from outside

If your lock feels sticky, binds when turning, or won’t throw the bolt smoothly, it may be time toreplace the lock body, the cylinders, or both.

Step 1: Remove the Faceplate

Start by removing the faceplate on the door edge.

• Remove the three small Phillips screws
• Carefully pull the faceplate away
• Do not lose the screws (they are small and easy to drop)

On some door models, you may also have washers or lock washers behind the faceplate.Set them aside so you can reinstall them later.

Step 2: Loosen the Cylinder Set Screws

Next, locate the two small set screws in the lock body. These set screws do not need to be fully removed.They only need to be loosened so they stop pressing into the cylinder grooves.

The set screw engages a groove in the cylinder to prevent someone from simply unthreading it.Once loosened, the cylinders can be unthreaded.

Step 3: Remove the Thumb Turn and Keyed Cylinder

After loosening the set screws:

• Unthread the interior thumb turn cylinder (it simply screws out)
• Unthread the exterior keyed cylinder

Depending on the model, the cylinders may include trim rings (for example, a 316C trim ring).Save these if you’re reusing them, or replace them if needed.

Inside the cylinder assembly is a cam. When you turn the thumb turn or key, the cam rotates and engages thelock mechanism to throw the deadbolt.

Step 4: Remove the Deadbolt Lock Body

With both cylinders removed, you can now remove the lock body.

• Remove the two main mounting screws holding the lock body in the door stile
• Support the lock body as you remove the screws so it doesn’t fall inside the door

Some storefront door preps use spacers inside the stile. If these fall into the door, don’t panic—storefront stiles are hollow aluminum extrusions and the spacers can be retrieved and reused.

How to Identify the Correct Backset

Once the lock body is removed, you can often find the backset stamped on the lock.For example, many storefront deadbolts are stamped:1-1/8" backset.

If you don’t want to remove the lock body just to identify it, you can measure backset in the field:

• Measure from the edge of the door to the centerline of the lock/cylinder

Common storefront deadbolt backsets include:

• 1-1/8" (very common)
• 31/32" (varies by door make/model)
• 1-1/2" (less common)

Replacement Options: Lock Body vs. Cylinders Only

This video demonstrates multiple repair options:

• Replace the lock body if the internal mechanism is worn, sticky, or damaged
• Replace cylinders only if you want to rekey the building, key alike multiple doors, or change trim type
• Convert a cylinder to a thumb turn by loosening set screws and threading in the new trim

We can also key cylinders alike for you if you’re changing locks after moving into a new facility.

Reinstalling the Lock (Overview)

To reinstall:

1. Reposition any spacers used by your door model
2. Set the lock body back into place and start the mounting screws
3. Thread in the keyed cylinder (keyway up) and align the groove to the set screw
4. Tighten the set screw into the groove to lock the cylinder in place
5. Thread in the thumb turn and align its groove to the set screw
6. Tighten both set screws securely
7. Reinstall the faceplate (and washers/lock washers if your model uses them)

Tip: Start cylinders carefully. The threads are fine, so take your time to avoid cross-threading.If alignment is difficult, loosen the lock body screws slightly to create play, then tighten once aligned.

Final Testing

Before finishing the job, always test the lock:

• Confirm the thumb turn throws the bolt smoothly
• Confirm the keyed cylinder locks/unlocks cleanly
• Verify the faceplate is aligned and the bolt clears properly

This same general process also applies to hook bolts, deadlatch locks, and mortise cylinder replacements.

Final Notes

All storefront deadbolt parts—including lock bodies, cylinders, thumb turns, trim rings, and relatedcommercial door hardware—are available at DoorClosersUSA.com.

If you have questions or need help identifying your lock, email us, call us, or send pictures of yourdoor hardware and we’ll guide you to the correct replacement.

Thanks for watching, and please like and subscribe.

Watch the Video

Prefer to follow along visually? Watch the full video below to see the complete storefront deadbolt lockremoval and reinstallation process step-by-step.