National Hardware N266-221 V1352 Door Closer Part Kit in Black

Why I reached for this bracket kit

A door closer is only as dependable as the brackets that hold it in place. When the original bracket on my storm door fatigued and bent, I didn’t need a whole new closer—I needed solid, well-aligned mounting hardware that wouldn’t flex, strip, or loosen under daily use. That’s where this bracket kit came in. It’s a simple, steel replacement set—jamb bracket, door bracket, pins, and a full set of screws—meant to get a tired closer back to doing its job.

What’s in the box and what’s not

The kit includes:
- Jamb bracket
- Door bracket
- Two attachment pins
- Four long screws
- Four short screws

Importantly, it does not include the closer body or the arm—this is a parts kit for the brackets only. That distinction matters, because if your issue is a weak spring or a leaky cylinder, you’ll need a full closer, not this kit. But if your problem is a torn-out bracket, wallowed holes, or a bent mount, this is exactly the right purchase.

Build quality and finish

Both brackets are steel with a black finish suited for interior or exterior use. The gauge feels sensibly heavier than a lot of OEM storm door hardware—enough to resist flex without being bulky. The edges are cleanly finished with no burrs, and the pin holes are true. On my door, the black coating has held up well outdoors with no flash rust after months of weather and frequent use.

If you’re particular about aesthetics and your door hardware is white or bronze, note that this kit is only available in black. It takes paint fine; I scuffed lightly with a Scotch-Brite pad, hit it with a rust-inhibiting primer, and finished with a rattle-can topcoat to match the door. Easy enough, but it’s an extra step to plan for if color matters.

Installation: straightforward and forgiving

Swapping brackets took me about 10–15 minutes with a drill/driver and a hand screwdriver. Here’s how it went:

1. I propped the door fully open and removed the old pins to free the closer arm.
2. Off came the old brackets and hardware.
3. I dry-fit the new brackets to check alignment. On my older storm door, the hole patterns matched the originals closely enough that I reused existing holes on one side and drilled two new pilots on the other.
4. I used the longer screws into the jamb (framing) for better bite and the shorter screws on the door bracket to avoid penetrating through a thin aluminum skin.
5. Once both brackets were set, the new pin slid through the closer arm and seated cleanly in the bracket.

A tip on orientation: the bracket geometry supports either left- or right-hinged doors, but make sure the slot for the pin lines up naturally with your closer arm’s swing arc. If you feel binding when you open the door, loosen the bracket and shift slightly until the arm moves freely.

Another practical note: the supplied pins were fractionally slimmer than the pin that came with my original closer, which actually made installation easier. The fit is snug enough to avoid rattle, and I’ve had no loosening. If you prefer to reuse a thicker original pin, you can enlarge the bracket hole carefully—but in my case the included pins were ideal.

Alignment and compatibility

This kit is designed to be a broadly compatible replacement for common storm door and screen door closers, and in practice it fits a wide range of brands. That said, hole patterns vary across door generations and manufacturers. In my install, one bracket lined up with existing holes, while the other required two new pilots. That’s typical for this category of part.

To preview your fit, hold the new bracket over the old footprint before removing anything. If at least two holes match, you’ll likely have a clean install with minimal drilling. If none line up, you can still mount securely; just be sure to avoid reusing stripped holes and use the longer screws where you’ve got solid wood behind the jamb.

Performance and day-to-day use

The most noticeable difference after installing this kit was stability. The closer arm no longer rocked under load, door motion felt smoother, and the brackets resisted the kind of twisting force that usually elongates screw holes over time. That’s the benefit of a slightly heavier bracket paired with appropriate fasteners.

After months on a high-traffic exterior door, the black finish remains intact and the screws haven’t backed out. There’s no slop at the pin interface, and slam-dampening feels more consistent because the closer body stays in plane. It’s a small upgrade that has a big effect on how “together” a door feels.

Where it shines

• Repairing bent, cracked, or stripped-out closer mounts without replacing the closer itself
• Restoring smooth, controlled door operation by eliminating bracket flex
• Quick fixes where you don’t want to guess at screw sizes and pin compatibility—everything is included
• Exterior doors exposed to weather; the coated steel resists corrosion well

Where it falls short

• Limited finish options: black only. If you need white or another color, plan to paint.
• Hole pattern mismatch is possible. It’s not a knock on the kit—just a reality with replacement hardware across brands and vintages. Be prepared to drill pilots.
• If your closer itself is worn or leaking, this kit won’t help; it’s hardware-only.

Tips for a cleaner install

• Use the long screws at the jamb where you have solid backing; save the short screws for thin door skins.
• Pre-drill pilot holes, especially in hardwood jambs or older doors where splitting is a risk.
• If painting, scuff, prime, and finish before installation to avoid masking and cleanup.
• Check the closer arm’s tension and storm door sweep while you’re there—bracket issues often show up alongside other small adjustments.

Value and alternatives

Replacing a whole closer assembly is sometimes warranted, but it’s wasteful if your only failure point is a bracket. This kit is a cost-effective way to shore up the system with durable steel hardware and all the small parts you need. There are cheaper, lighter-gauge brackets on the market, but in my experience they flex sooner and loosen faster—false economy on a frequently used door. If you need a non-black finish and don’t want to paint, you may prefer a brand that sells color-matched hardware; otherwise, this kit strikes a smart balance of sturdiness and simplicity.

The bottom line

This is one of those repair parts that does exactly what it should. The steel brackets are stout, the included pins and mixed-length screws simplify installation, and the black finish holds up outdoors. Alignment was largely plug-and-play on my older storm door, and where it wasn’t, the metal drilled cleanly and mounted solidly. It’s not a flashy upgrade, but it turns a wobbly, annoying closer back into a quiet, reliable one.

Recommendation: I recommend this bracket kit. It’s a durable, no-drama fix for damaged door closer mounts, installation is quick with the included hardware, and the result is a noticeably steadier door. The only caveats are the single color option and the possibility of drilling new pilot holes on some doors—both easy compromises for the reliability you gain.