Can I put my garage door back on the track myself?

Online videos make it look like a matter of loosening a few track bolts and tapping rollers back in. In practice, the door may be held up by only part of its hardware, and prying on rollers or loosening track can release tension or let a heavy door drop. It also tends to leave the door out of balance, which then wears out the opener.

What not to try

• Loosening track screws or brackets to realign the rail.
• Prying or hammering rollers back into the track.
• Running the opener to see whether the door will work itself back in.
• Pulling the emergency release, which can remove the support that is holding the door.

What you can do

• Stop using the door and unplug the opener.
• Keep people, pets and cars away from it.
• Without touching the door, look for an obvious cause such as a tool or box that fell into the track.
• Note what you see when you call: which side is lower, any loose cable, any bent rail.

What the repair involves

We support the door and control the spring tension where the repair needs it, seat the rollers, straighten or replace damaged track, and replace worn rollers, bent brackets or frayed cables. Then we rebalance the door and test its safety functions. Repair visits carry a $45 diagnostic trip fee, and you approve a written price first. See our off-track repair page, and why an off-track door should not be used.

Read more

• Off-track garage door repair
• Garage door off track guide

Related questions

• What is the difference between garage door cable repair and replacement?
• Is it safe to use a garage door that's off track?
• Do both garage door cables need to be replaced at once?
• Does an off-track garage door mean I need a new door?
• How long do garage door cables last?

Have a different question? Call (916) 838-8182 or browse all garage door questions.