# My garage door broke **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 20, 2024, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997 "2024-10-20T16:25:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/1 "2024-10-20T16:25:22Z")
This weekend, the garage door opener was moving but the door wouldn’t open or shut. Alright, I figured either the manual release got triggered OR it finally broke because it has been acting wonky for about a week … after all it is at least 10 years old. Nope. The bracket holding the opener to the garage door tore out and _took that section of the door with it_. Yes, there is a 2" x 4" section of aluminum, clearly tore out of my garage door that is still attached to the bracket. I can fix it temporarily but its seems that sometime in 2025 I’m going to need a new garage door and might as well replace the opener at the same time. Anyone ever even hear of something like this? With everything being aluminum, is there anyway of fixing the door permanently? I assume the aluminum door is weak in that area so attaching a larger bracket so it bolts in above and below the missing section may fix the situation temporarily but due to the loss of material it will warp at the attachment points or tear the door more. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/2 "2024-10-20T17:03:58Z")
If somebody bolted the opener arm to the thin sheet metal of the door panel that was ignorant negligence. It should have been bolted to the frame around that door panel. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/3 "2024-10-20T17:25:30Z")
My error for not being clearer. It was bolted to the frame not the panel. The frame is an L and not a box so that’s where the weakness lies. Structurally the frame is just like the panel. ETA: I’ll post a picture later so all can see the failure ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/4 "2024-10-20T17:30:55Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > With everything being aluminum, is there anyway of fixing the door permanently? Can you tell anything about the manufacturer of the garage door? They may still sell repair parts. Though it if were me, I’d invite a local garage door contractor to stop by and provide estimates, both for repair and replacement. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/5 "2024-10-20T17:46:41Z")
The opener now tows the torn off section back and forth? That’s a new malfunction to me. Is it possible to make a new attachment piece? Like a real wood 2x4 bolted to the door in the position the ripped off piece was. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/6 "2024-10-20T17:59:09Z")
I’d use metal flat stock, but same idea. Build a double-sided doubler maybe 2 _feet_ across by 2 or 3 inches high if you have room, 1 inch if not. Through-bolt the two doubler pieces to sandwich the original aluminum. Use several bolts; like 6 or 8 not 2 or 4. Then attach the opener arm fitting by through-bolting it through all 3 layers. Won’t be pretty. Will be stout. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/7 "2024-10-20T18:10:19Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I’m going to need a new garage door Garage door panels are, as far as I know, standard sizes. I would imagine a garage door company could just replace the top panel without much trouble. The bigger question, at least for me, is why it happened. If that section was already falling apart, that’s one thing, but I’m curious if a spring broke and/or something is jammed up. But a garage door company will be able to diagnose that as well. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/8 "2024-10-20T18:10:43Z")
It sounds to me like you have weak springs. The opener isn’t supposed to exert much force on the door - the springs counterbalance most of the load. Once you fix the attachment, check the springs. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/9 "2024-10-20T19:22:50Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > It sounds to me like you have weak springs. That sounds like it might be why we’ve been having the problems we’ve been having. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/10 "2024-10-20T19:55:13Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > My error for not being clearer. It was bolted to the frame not the panel That’s not correct anyway. It bolts to a heavy metal bracket that runs the full width of the top panel. [https://www.amazon.com/New-StyLe-Garage-Door-Opener-MOUNTING-Bracket/dp/B081QL8FPC](https://www.amazon.com/New-StyLe-Garage-Door-Opener-MOUNTING-Bracket/dp/B081QL8FPC) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/11 "2024-10-20T20:48:27Z")
Yours might, many do, but not all of them. Mine looks more like this: [![](https://www.nachi.org/school/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/12/House-of-Horrors-Garage-Bracket-1024x576.jpg) ](https://www.nachi.org/school/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/12/House-of-Horrors-Garage-Bracket-1024x576.jpg) In any case, if OP can get to a solid part of the door, they might be able to attach a piece of wood or metal, spanning the broken section, that they can then mount the bracket to. But, again, I’d still want to know the root cause first. If you (OP) can’t easily open and close the door by hand, that needs to be addressed first. Broken spring, bad wheel, bent track etc. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/12 "2024-10-20T21:34:26Z")
Very easy to open and close by hand ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/13 "2024-10-20T21:40:29Z")
I think most openers have an adjustment for the travel length. Maybe it’s adjusted incorrectly and the opener is trying to run too far, pulling on the door after it’s reached the end of its travel? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/14 "2024-10-20T22:13:22Z")
It’s not necessary for an opener to be centered on the door. It would take some time and labor but you could move the opener to the left or right a foot or two. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/15 "2024-10-20T22:21:55Z")
Here are the pics (I hope). [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/jJkWptZ.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/jJkWptZ) [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/EnyBGGq.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/EnyBGGq) [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/WGtIyu0.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/WGtIyu0) [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/TZcMkrm.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/TZcMkrm) ---
**Author:** ![Retzbu\_Tox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/retzbu_tox/32/11829_2.png) [@Retzbu\_Tox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Retzbu_Tox)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/16 "2024-10-20T23:02:26Z")
Looking at the images, its not the door panel itself that tore, its a bracket attached to the door? Can the bracket alone be removed/replaced? How does it attach to the door? It looks like a bolt or self tapping screw at the top and some brown adhesive further down. Is there another bolt/screw near the bottom? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/17 "2024-10-20T23:07:47Z")
I would just run a piece of wood up that vertical rail, fastened by horizontal bolts, and attach the bracket to that. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/18 "2024-10-20T23:16:55Z")
> [@Retzbu\_Tox](#): > > its a bracket attached to the door? Can the bracket alone be removed/replaced? How does it attach to the door? It’s framing that’s a part of the door for structural support. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/19 "2024-10-20T23:17:20Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I would just run a piece of wood up that vertical rail Why not metal? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997/20 "2024-10-20T23:21:20Z")
You could do that, too - if you can find a piece of angle or box the right dimensions. It just seems like a piece of wood might be easier to work with, and would (no pun) be plenty strong enough. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-garage-door-broke/1008997.md?page=2)