How to Replace a Retractable Awning

Unfasten the locks on the awning arms. Extend the awning about 1 foot.

Locate the small holes on both end caps. Rotate the inner shaft of the awning until the holes in the inner shaft line up with the outer hole. Insert a small cotter pin into each hole. Bend the ends of the cotter pins with a pair of pliers to secure the cotter pin in the shaft. This keeps the inner spring from slipping off the shaft.

Remove the lag bolts that hold the awning rafters to the roof. Then, remove the screws or lag bolts that hold the fabric to the arms of the awning. Unfasten the screw on each side of the awning fabric while a helper supports the fabric-covered awning tube. Once the screws are removed, set the awning on a pair of sawhorses or chairs.

Clamp a pair of vise grips on the awning arm. Hold the vise grips securely while your helper removes the hex nut from the end of the awning tube with an adjustable wrench. This hex nut holds the tension spring, so hold the vise grips tight. Pull out the cotter pin you placed in Step 2. Rotate the vise grips to release tension on that end of the awning tube. Repeat this process on the other end of the awning tube.

Mark the cam handle’s location on the awning tube so you will know where to position it later. Remove the two rivets that hold the end cap on the awning tube using a drill with a 1/8-inch bit. Pull off the end cap as well as the cam lock and spring inside the tube. Repeat for the other end of the awning tube.

Unroll the fabric from the awning tube. Draw a mark on the tube where the end of the fabric is attached to the tube. Slide the fabric off the tube.

Slide the new fabric onto the awning tube. Align the end of the new fabric with the mark you made previously. Center the fabric on the tube and tuck any loose cords under the edges.

Put the tension spring and cam lock back inside the awning tube, aligning the cam lock with marks you made in Step 5. Set the end cap back in place. Attach the end cap with rivets. Repeat on the other end of the awning tube.

Reclamp the vise grips on the awning arm. Rotate the vise grips on the awning arm the number of times required for your specific awning to re-tension the springs. Insert a cotter key in the small hole to keep the springs from unwinding. Repeat for the other end. Replace the hex nut in both ends as well.

Reattach the fabric to the awning arms, using the screws or lag bolts you removed in Step 3. Reattach the awning tube to the awning arms. Remove the cotter pins. Close and open the awning to ensure it is operating properly.