A misaligned garage door can lead to a range of issues, affecting the door’s overall performance and safe operation. Even a minor misalignment can cause various problems, including:

• The garage door getting stuck in the open or closed position.
• Irregular noises and choppy operation.
• Damage to the door sections, rollers, and hinges.
• Damage to the garage frame and weather stripping.
• The cable coming off the pulley and the door going off track.

Detecting and addressing alignment issues can help you maintain your garage door’s health and ensure smooth, safe operation.

Symptoms of Misaligned Garage Door

One of the most noticeable signs of a misaligned garage door is when one side of the door is higher than the other, causing a gap between the door and the floor on one side. Symptoms can include excessive vibrations, binding, sticking, and noise during operation.

Common Causes

Below are the most common causes for garage door alignment issues:

1. Mispositioned Cable Drums

Your garage door lift cable drums can lose their position over time. This can be due to loose locking bolts, continuous pressure on the drum, or a worn torsion tube.

2. Worn or Mispositioned Door Cable

The door cables may wear out over time due to corrosion, rust, and continuous pressure, leading to fraying and stretching. The cables can also lose their position on the drum’s groove due to the garage door hitting an object when it’s moving up or down.

3. Incorrect Calibration of the Torsion Assembly

Improper calibration of the springs, pulleys, and bearings can occur due to poor maintenance, or during repairs or replacements.

4. Failing Bottom Brackets

The door bottom bracket’s lip holds the cables securely in place. A failing bottom bracket could lead to slack in the cable and alignment issues.

5. Shifting Foundations

Shifting foundations can affect the garage frame and header, and as a result, the torsion assembly and tracks.

How to Fix Garage Door Alignment

To fix alignment problems that cause the door to be crooked, uneven, or have gaps, you’ll need to balance the garage door and reset the torsion system. Keep in mind that this can be a complex repair procedure, especially if you’re unfamiliar with garage doors or haven’t done it before.

The tools you’ll need for this task are:

• 2 winding bars.
• 7/16 inch (11mm) 12 points wrench.
• 2 vise grips (if the door has a single spring only).
• A ladder or steps tool.

Have both winding bars within reach. Insert a winding bar into the torsion spring’s winding cone slot and hold it there. Using a 7/16-inch wrench, start releasing the winding cone locking bolts (there are 2 of them). Be cautious and hold the winding bar firmly. Once the cone’s locking bolts no longer mount the spring to the torsion tube, all the force will be transferred through the winding bar to your arm.

Slowly lower the winding bar and rest it on the garage door’s top panel. The goal here is to uncouple the spring winding cone from the torsion tube. There’s no need to unwind all the tension from the spring unless the winding bar rests on glass, which can potentially cause it to break.

If your garage door uses more than one spring, do the same with the second spring. Once the springs are no longer in contact with the torsion tube, release both cable drums’ locking bolts. Make sure that the torsion tube rotates freely in position. You may want to shift the torsion tube 1-2 inches to the left or right so you won’t lock the bolts in the same spots.

Starting with the left-hand cable drum, ensure the cable is properly secured in the drum’s slot. Rotate the drum counterclockwise, making sure the cable stays in the groove. Once there’s no more loose cable, push the drum all the way to the left so it rests against the end plate. Finally, tighten its locking bolts using a 7/16 inch (11mm) 12 points wrench.

Lock the torsion tube in place using vise grips. Clamp the first vise grip onto the torsion tube and rotate it counterclockwise, applying moderate pressure and ensuring the cable remains properly positioned in the drum’s groove. Next, clamp the second vise grip onto the torsion tube and against the garage header. Then, remove the first vise grip and clamp it onto the torsion tube against the door’s top section or header. This will ensure that the torsion tube and garage door are secured in place.

Continue to the right-hand cable drum, ensuring the cable is properly secured in the drum’s slot. Rotate the drum clockwise, making sure the cable stays in the groove. Once there’s no more loose cable, push the drum all the way to the right so it rests against the end plate. With your right hand, apply moderate clockwise pressure on the drum.

At this point, ensure the garage door is properly leveled. If it’s uneven or if there is a gap on one side, adjust the drums before moving forward. Once the door is properly leveled, tighten the right-hand cable drum’s locking bolts using a 7/16 inch (11mm) 12-point wrench.

Proceed to mount the torsion springs back onto the torsion tube. Remove the vise grips, starting with the bottom one. Test the door balance and adjust if necessary.

Is it a Garage Door Alignment Problem or Something Else?

A seemingly uneven garage door or a gap on one side doesn’t necessarily mean that your garage door has an alignment problem. This can also be a sign of issues with the garage’s concrete slab. If the slab is bulging or sinking, leveling the door will not solve the problem. In this case, you’ll need to fix the garage’s concrete slab or alternatively, use a thicker bottom seal or even a storm shield.

Consult a licensed garage door repair company if you’re unsure about what’s causing your alignment issues or how to safely level and balance the door.