If your garage door goes up crooked, jams at an angle, or hangs with one side higher than the other, that is not a small quirk. It usually means one of the load-bearing parts that lifts the door has failed, and continuing to run it can jam the door, bend the track, or make it fall. Here is what is likely wrong and why you should stop using it until it is checked.
A Broken Cable (Most Common)
A steel lift cable runs down each side of the door. If one snaps or slips off its drum, that side loses support and drops, so the door tilts and rides up crooked. A broken cable often shows as a frayed or dangling cable on one side and a door that sits lopsided. Cables are under high tension and are dangerous to handle, so this is a job for a technician. Our guide to the signs of cable trouble covers what to look for, and we handle cable repair directly.
A Broken Spring on a Two-Spring System
Many doors use two torsion springs. If one breaks, the door may still move, but unevenly, because it has lost half its lifting force, so it can rise crooked or feel much heavier on one side. Running a door on one good spring strains the opener and the remaining spring. Spring work is dangerous to do yourself, so leave it to a pro. Our spring repair page has more.
A Roller Off the Track or a Bent Track
If a roller has jumped out of its track, or the track is bent or knocked loose, one side of the door can bind and lift unevenly. This often follows a bump from a car or a worn roller finally slipping out. Our guide to a garage door off its track explains this one.
A Worn or Slipping Cable Drum
At the top corners, the cables wind around drums. If a drum is worn or a set screw has slipped, one cable unwinds unevenly and the door goes crooked. It is less common than a broken cable, but it produces the same lopsided result and needs a technician to reset.
Why You Should Stop Using It
A crooked door is a balance and safety problem. Forcing it up and down can pull it further off track, bend the track, damage panels, or cause the door to jam or drop. The springs and cables involved are under enormous tension. The safe move is to stop operating the door, do not try to force it level, and have it looked at before something bends or breaks further.
Leave the Tension Parts to a Pro
Cables, springs, and drums all carry the door's weight under high tension and can injure you badly if they let go. This is not a DIY fix. A technician can safely release the tension, replace the failed part, and rebalance the door so it lifts straight and level again.
Is your door hanging crooked or lifting at an angle? Do not keep running it. Our team provides same-day garage door repair across metro Atlanta with a free on-site estimate, and we will find the failed part and get your door straight and safe again.