When a garage door slips out of its track, it is held up unevenly by cables that are still under spring tension. That makes it unstable. In Albuquerque this tends to follow a windy day, a bump from a car, a worn roller packed with dust, or a cable that has frayed through.
Signs the door is off track
- A roller has come out of the track on one or both sides.
- The bottom of the door is not level with the floor.
- The door shudders, jerks or sticks at one point as it moves.
- A track has bent or pulled away from the wall bracket.
- A lift cable is slack, frayed or has unwound from its drum at the top.
First steps
Unplug the opener
so the door cannot be run by mistake.
Do not push, pull or prop the door.
An off-track door can drop out of the opening.
Keep kids, pets and cars away
from the door and the area underneath it.
Do not touch the cables or the bottom brackets.
They are connected to the springs and can snap back hard.
Take photos
of both tracks and the top corners, then call.
Causes we see in Albuquerque
Spring wind
Late March and April often bring 20 to 30 mph winds. A door that is part way open in that wind takes a sideways push, and a closed door gets pressed against its tracks for hours. Over time, the lag bolts holding the track brackets loosen. A track that shifts even slightly can let a roller slip out.
Dust in the rollers
Blowing dust settles in the bottom of the tracks and in roller bearings. Rollers that stop turning slide instead of roll, and they can climb out of the track. Plastic rollers without bearings wear fastest. Nylon rollers with sealed bearings last longer and run quieter.
Bumps and bent track
Even a light tap from a car bumper can kink the lower part of a track. The door then catches at that spot every time.
Worn cables
Cables wear where they meet the bottom bracket and where they wind on the drums. Dry air does not rust them as quickly as a humid climate would, but they still fray with use. When one cable breaks, the door drops on that side and usually comes out of the track, so off-track doors and broken cables often go together.
How a technician fixes it
The door is clamped in place first. Then, depending on the damage, the technician will:
- Ease the rollers back into the track and replace cracked or seized ones.
- Straighten minor bends or replace damaged track sections.
- Tighten or replace loose brackets and fasteners.
- Replace frayed or broken cables, usually both sides at once, and wind them evenly on the drums.
- Check spring tension and door balance, then reset the opener and test its safety reverse.
Keeping it on track
- Close the door fully when spring wind or a monsoon storm is coming.
- Brush dust and grit out of the lower tracks now and then.
- Lubricate rollers with bearings and the hinges a couple of times a year. Do not grease the inside of the track.
- Get new squeaks, pops or shudders checked early.
National figures from This Old House put general garage door repairs at $98 to $860, around $479 on average. See the Albuquerque cost guide.
Common questions
Why is my garage door crooked?
Usually one cable has slipped off its drum or snapped, or one side has come off its track. Stop using the door and call, because the cables are under spring tension.
Can I force an off-track door closed to lock up for the night?
It is not safe. Forcing it can drop the door or snap a cable. If you cannot secure the house, say so when you call.
Should both cables be replaced?
Most technicians replace both cables together. They have the same wear, and new cables on both sides keep the door lifting evenly.
Other services
Spring Repair
Snapped torsion or extension springs replaced and the door rebalanced so it lifts smoothly.
Opener Repair
Openers that click, hum or reverse fixed, and new chain, belt or wall-mount openers put in.
Garage Door Replacement
Old, cracked or sun-worn doors replaced with new insulated doors and installed hardware.