Garage Door Going Up Crooked or Uneven
A garage door usually goes up crooked because one side is hanging up on a problem the other side doesn't have: a frayed or snapped lift cable, a jammed or off-track roller, a bent track, or a broken spring on one end. Stop using the door right away and don't keep hitting the button, since forcing a lopsided door can pop a cable, jump the rollers fully off the track, or send the door crashing down. The good news is that most causes are visible if you know where to look, and a few are safe to fix yourself.
Step by step
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1
Stop and don't force it
The second you notice the door racking to one side, let go of the button and leave it where it is. Every extra cycle on a crooked door makes things worse and more dangerous, because the load is now riding on one cable, one spring, or a binding roller. If the door is stuck partway, keep kids, pets, and cars out from under it until you've found the cause.
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2
Check both lift cables
Look at the steel cables running down each side from the bottom corners of the door up to the springs or drums overhead. A healthy cable is taut and wound neatly; a bad one looks frayed, loose, snapped, or has slipped off its drum, which lets that corner sag while the other side keeps climbing. If a cable is broken or unwound, that's almost certainly your answer, and it's not a DIY repair because it lives under spring tension.
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3
Inspect the rollers and tracks on each side
Walk the door down both vertical tracks looking for a roller that has popped out, a flat or seized roller that won't spin, or a track that's bent, dented, or pulling away from the wall. Debris, a stray screw, or a hardened blob of old grease in one track can also hang up that side. Snug up any loose track bracket bolts with a wrench, but don't loosen a track that still has the door's weight resting in it.
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4
Look at the springs overhead
Find the spring (or springs) above the door. A torsion spring sits on a bar over the opening; an extension spring runs along each horizontal track. A broken spring shows a clear gap with the coil split into two pieces. If you have two springs and only one broke, the door often lifts unevenly or feels twice as heavy. Never touch, adjust, or 'just unwind' a torsion spring yourself, since the stored energy can cause serious injury.
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5
Test the door by hand
Only if you've ruled out a broken cable or spring, pull the red emergency release cord to disconnect the opener, then lift the door manually about halfway. It should glide up smoothly and roughly stay put. If it still racks, drifts, or feels stuck on one side, that confirms a track, roller, or balance issue rather than an opener problem. Re-engage the opener by pulling the cord toward the door or running the opener through one cycle.
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6
Check the opener arm and limits
If the door is mechanically fine by hand but only goes crooked under power, the issue may be a loose opener arm bracket, a worn opener, or travel limits that are out of adjustment. Tighten the bracket where the opener arm meets the door. Limit and force settings can be tuned, but if you're not comfortable with that, leave it for a tech rather than guessing.
When to call a pro
Call a pro right away if you see a broken or frayed cable, a snapped spring, a bent track, or the door is stuck off-track or partway open, since cables and springs are under high tension and cause most serious garage-door injuries.
Call (888) 290-7421Frequently asked
Is it safe to keep using my garage door if it goes up a little crooked?
No. Even a small lean usually means one cable, roller, or spring is doing more than its share, and continuing to run the door can snap a cable, throw the rollers off the track, or drop the door. Stop using it until you've found and fixed the cause.
Why is one side of my garage door higher than the other?
The most common reasons are a broken or unwound lift cable on the low side, a roller that has come off or seized in the track, a bent track section, or one of two springs breaking. Any of these lets one corner lag behind while the other keeps lifting.
Can I fix a crooked garage door myself?
Sometimes. Clearing track debris, snugging loose track bolts, and tightening the opener arm bracket are safe DIY fixes. Anything involving the cables, drums, or springs is not, because they're under enough tension to cause serious injury and should be left to a trained technician.
How much does it cost to fix a garage door that goes up unevenly?
It depends on the cause. A cable replacement or roller swap is typically a modest repair, while spring replacement or realigning a bent track costs more. The honest answer is that a quick inspection is the only way to price it, so it's worth getting a tech to diagnose it before parts get damaged further.
Rather leave it to a pro?
Licensed local techs, same-day service, upfront pricing, and a 1-year warranty.