A garage door rides on rollers that sit inside metal tracks on both sides. When a roller pops out of the track, or the track itself is bent, the door stops moving smoothly. It may hang crooked, leave a gap at the side, grind, or stop partway and refuse to go any further.
Common causes include a vehicle bumping the door, a bent or dented track, loose track brackets, a worn roller, a broken cable and something lying in the track. Often the track problem is a symptom of another problem, which is why a door that keeps coming off its track should be looked at, not just pushed back.
Do not run the opener. A motor that keeps pulling on a door that is off track can bend the door panels or damage the opener. Do not stand under a partly open door, and do not hit the track with a hammer. If the door is partly open and crooked, keep people and pets clear.
The guide on how to fix a garage door that is off track explains what a minor case looks like and when to stop. If a cable has come loose, a spring is broken or the track is bent, the safe choice is to stop and call.
When you call, your call is connected to an independent local service provider. Say that the door is off its track, which side it is on and whether the door is open, closed or partly open. Ask for the price before work starts.
How it works
- 1
Stop and keep clear
Do not run the opener or force the door. Keep people and pets away from a partly open door.
- 2
Look at what changed
Note which side is off, whether a cable is loose and whether the track looks bent.
- 3
Call and describe it
Share what you found. Ask what the visit includes and for the price before work starts.