Repair guide
Garage door off track or a cable came off
If your door is hanging crooked, the rollers have popped out of the track, or a cable is hanging loose, stop using the door. A door that's off track can fall, and putting it back means working with parts under spring tension.
A garage door rides on rollers in two tracks. Cables run from the bottom corners of the door up to drums on the spring bar, and they share the door's weight. When a cable slips off a drum, or a roller leaves its track, the door loses its balance on one side.
Common causes
- The door hit something. Backing into a half-open door is the classic one. It bends the bottom section and pushes rollers out.
- A broken spring or a slack cable. When one side loses tension, the cable unwinds and jumps the drum. The door lifts crooked and jams.
- Something in the path. A bin or bike under the door while it closes can push the door sideways.
- Loose or bent track. Track bolts loosen over the years. A bent track pinches the rollers until one pops out.
- Worn rollers and hinges. Cracked rollers and broken hinges let a section shift.
What's safe to do
- Unplug the opener so nobody hits the button.
- If the door is down, leave it down. That's the safest position.
- If it's stuck open and you need the house secure, call us. Clamping the door in place is a short-term fix only.
- Take a photo of both top corners and the bottom corners and text it to us. It helps us bring the right parts.
How it gets fixed
The door is supported and the spring tension is released first. Bent track sections are straightened or replaced, the cable is rewound on the drum at the right tension on both sides, damaged rollers and hinges are replaced, and the door is balanced and tested. If the cable came off because a spring broke, the spring gets replaced at the same visit.
Questions
Can I put a garage door back on track myself?
If only one roller has slipped out near the bottom and nothing is under tension, sometimes. If a cable is off its drum, the door is crooked, or a spring is involved, it's a job for a technician.
Why did my garage door cable come off?
Usually because a spring broke or lost tension, the door hit something, or the cable was fraying. Cables also come off when a door is closed onto an object.
Is it safe to use a garage door with one cable broken?
No. The door is only supported on one side and can twist or fall. Leave it closed and unplug the opener.