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Safe to remove cracked top panel of garage door?

mfran12345 (Zone 6b, northeast PA)

8 years ago

The top panel on my garage door is cracked along the top edge in the middle right where the auto opener bracket attaches so the door sags when closing and doesn't go all the way down. I saw online to install a angle iron pice bridging the crack to add rigidity. I want to try this. I want to try without taking the door panel off but I may need to remove the panel. My question is it is it safe to remove the top panel if need be by taking out the bolts to the brackets at the wheels and the lower panel? I know garage door springs are extremely dangerous but I'm not sure what part of the door they make dangerous. If I can't fix it with the angle and have to replace the panel is this something I can safely do myself. Thanks.

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Comments (2)

PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
8 years ago
The spring and cable should be attached to the bottom panel in most cases. Be sure to confirm that. Post up a picture if you can.
mfran12345 (Zone 6b, northeast PA) thanked Windows on Washington Ltd
grubby_AZ Tucson Z9
8 years ago
This whole thing assumes you have a sectional door with cables going
down to the bottom corners and a spring and shaft arrangement across the
top. The springs support the weight of the entire door. Without the weight of the top panel, they will lift the rest of the door and try to do it very quickly.

Before messing with a closed door under such tension, use something to keep the rest of the door firmly in the down position. Vice Grips can do that well, but I usually stick a Phillips screwdriver through one of the holes in the vertical track and into the door, usually at a roller bracket tube, on both sides. You don't have to mess with springs or cables under tension unless you're removing the bottom section.

Once the door as a whole can't move up, just remove only the very top rollers at each corner, and the the top section hinges, to allow the top section to be removed. I don't usually see a need to lower or remove a top section to reinforce it. What's stopping you from doing it in place after disconnecting the opener? Did you know a garage door company can sell you a lightweight horizontal reinforcing strut that will fit your door perfectly? You would just have to drill a few pertinent holes.

BTW, the screwdriver trick is also an excellent door lock when you're away on vacation. Nearly unbeatable by manipulation from outside.
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Omg calling a professional isn’t always an option! So y’all keeping on saying “call a professional” is just redundant. If you can’t afford to hire someone to come in and do it (probably why your here asking advice) then yes you can do it , your only limited to what you say you can’t do! You have been given good advice by all, follow any one of them! If you can afford it to be hired out then trust me do it! If you can’t then your only option would be skim it with putty and sand (watch YouTube) or to make it even more easy... buy new And rip that out! When filling lines trust me when I say thin thin layers. You might hate it and have to do again but it’s better than what u have at this moment!
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