Kustom Straightens, Aligns, and Restores the Path Your Door Depends On
Your garage door follows wherever the tracks lead. When the tracks are straight, level, properly aligned, and securely mounted, the door travels smoothly through its full range — up and over, down and closed — with minimal friction and no binding. Every roller spins freely. Every cable tracks correctly. The opener operates without strain. The system works in harmony because the infrastructure it rides on is right.
When the tracks are not right — bent, shifted, corroded, loose, or obstructed — the harmony breaks down. The door catches at a point and will not pass smoothly. Grinding sounds announce every cycle. Rollers wear prematurely because they are being forced through restrictions. Cables load unevenly because the door is not traveling symmetrically. The opener strains harder because increased friction has effectively made the door heavier. And the risk of a full off-track event — the door leaving the tracks entirely — increases with every cycle.
Track problems are often invisible to the homeowner. A bracket that has loosened a quarter inch. A section that has bowed inward from a vehicle bump. A vertical track that has shifted from foundation settling. These subtle changes are not visible from across the garage, but they are acutely felt by every component riding those tracks thousands of times.
Kustom evaluates track condition as part of every garage door service we perform, and we provide dedicated track repair when the tracks are the root cause. We straighten bends, realign shifted sections, secure loose brackets, replace corroded or damaged tracks, and verify alignment with the precision that this critical infrastructure demands.
Your tracks are the road your door travels. Call (888) 670-9331, and let Kustom make sure that road is smooth, straight, and right.
A door that travels freely through most of its range but catches, sticks, or requires extra force at one consistent point has a track problem at that location. A bend, a dent, a corroded rough spot, or a bracket that has shifted creates a restriction that the rollers must force through. The binding point is the track telling you exactly where the problem is.
Grinding indicates contact between rollers and track surfaces that should be smooth. Scraping indicates the door panel itself contacting the track or frame at points where clearance has been lost. Both sounds point to track alignment or condition issues — the rollers are being forced through a path that is no longer wide enough, straight enough, or smooth enough for free travel.
When one side of the door travels faster or more freely than the other, the slower side has more friction — often from a track misalignment, a bent section, or a loose bracket that has allowed the track on that side to shift. The resulting uneven travel puts twist stress on the door, cables, and opener.
Look at the track from below. A track that is straight appears as a clean, uniform channel. A track with a bend, dent, or deformation shows a visible irregularity — an inward bow, an outward bulge, or a section that is no longer aligned with the sections above and below it. Any visible deformation is a problem that affects operation.
Tracks are mounted to the wall (vertical sections) and ceiling or angle brackets (horizontal sections) by brackets at regular intervals. When brackets loosen or fasteners fail, gaps appear between the track and the mounting surface. These gaps allow the track to flex, shift, and vibrate during operation — creating noise, misalignment, and conditions for roller derailment.
Brackets that have loosened from vibration, corrosion, or fastener failure can no longer hold the track in its designed position. A missing bracket leaves an unsupported span of track that flexes under the door's weight, creating a soft spot that worsens with every cycle.
Track surfaces that show rust, pitting, or rough corrosion create friction that impedes roller travel. In Bret Harte's humid environment, track corrosion develops gradually on unprotected steel, roughening the smooth surface that rollers need for quiet, friction-free operation.
If your door has come off its tracks before, track condition is a likely contributing factor. A previous off-track event may have bent the track at the derailment point. And the track condition that allowed the first derailment — misalignment, loose brackets, a bend — may still be present and creating risk of recurrence.
Rollers that need replacement every few years instead of lasting their rated lifespan are being destroyed by the tracks they ride in. Bent tracks, corroded surfaces, and misaligned sections create the friction and stress that shorten roller life dramatically. If you are replacing rollers frequently, the tracks may be the real problem.
Click here to Call (888) 670-9331The Guide System — Directing Hundreds of Pounds Through a Precise Path: The track system is a pair of metal channels — one on each side of the door opening — that guide the door from its vertical closed position through the curved transition and into the horizontal overhead position. Every roller on every panel rides inside these channels. The tracks must direct 150 to 300 or more pounds through this path smoothly, repeatedly, and without deviation.
Vertical Tracks, Horizontal Tracks, and the Critical Curved Section: The vertical tracks guide the door through the opening. The horizontal tracks hold the door overhead in the open position. The curved section — the radius connecting vertical to horizontal — transitions the door between the two orientations. This curved section is the most demanding zone in the entire system because rollers change direction while supporting the door's full weight. Track problems in the curved section produce the most severe symptoms and the greatest risk of derailment.
How Track Alignment Affects Every Other Component: Track alignment is the foundation that every other component depends on. Misaligned tracks create friction that stresses rollers, overworks the opener, loads cables unevenly, and wastes spring energy fighting resistance that should not exist. A door system with perfectly maintained springs, new cables, and premium rollers will still perform poorly if the tracks are not right.
The Tolerance Problem — Why Small Misalignments Cause Big Problems: Garage door tracks operate with tight tolerances. Rollers fit inside the track channel with clearance measured in fractions of an inch. A track that has shifted a quarter inch inward creates a pinch point. A track tilted a few degrees out of plumb causes the door to lean and bind. These are small dimensional changes — invisible from across the garage — but they produce disproportionate effects on operation, component life, and derailment risk.
Vehicle Impact — The Most Common Cause of Track Damage: A car, truck, or SUV that clips the track during parking — even at low speed — can bend the vertical track inward at bumper height. The bend may not be obvious visually, but it creates a restriction that rollers encounter on every cycle. Vehicle impact is the number one cause of track deformation in residential garages.
Foundation Settling Shifting Track Position: As Bret Harte homes settle over years, the garage structure shifts. Walls move. Header beams deflect. And the tracks mounted to those surfaces move with them. Settling-induced track shift is gradual — undetectable month to month but measurable over years. The door that operated perfectly for the first decade may develop binding, noise, and alignment issues as settling progressively alters track position.
Loosened Brackets from Vibration and Age: Every door cycle creates vibration that transmits through the track into its brackets and fasteners. Over thousands of cycles, this vibration loosens bolts, loosens lag screws in wood framing, and loosens anchor bolts in concrete walls. Loosened brackets allow tracks to shift, flex, and vibrate — compounding the loosening with each cycle.
Corrosion from Humidity and Salt Air: Bret Harte's persistent humidity attacks unprotected steel track surfaces, promoting rust that roughens the smooth channel rollers depend on. Salt air near the coast accelerates this corrosion dramatically. Corroded tracks create friction that wears rollers and strains the system.
Worn Rollers Damaging Track Surfaces: Rollers with seized bearings do not roll — they slide. A sliding roller scores the track surface, creating a rough groove that damages the next set of rollers installed. Worn rollers and worn tracks are a self-reinforcing cycle — each damages the other.
Off-Track Events That Bent the Track: When a door comes off its tracks, the weight of the displaced door pushing against the track edges can bend or deform the track at the derailment point. The track may have been straightened during re-tracking, but if the straightening was imprecise, a residual bend remains.
Improper Installation or Previous Repair: Tracks installed at incorrect spacing, incorrect plumb, or with insufficient brackets will develop problems — even if the installation appeared functional initially. An improperly installed track system operates outside design tolerances from day one.
Hurricane and Storm Force: Extreme wind pressure during hurricanes can bow tracks inward, push brackets off mounting surfaces, and deform track sections. Storm-caused track damage may be covered by homeowner's insurance.
Click here to Call (888) 670-9331Standard Residential Track — Standard Lift: The most common configuration. Vertical tracks rise from floor level to a curved section at the top of the opening, transitioning to horizontal tracks that run along the ceiling.
Low-Headroom Track: Designed for garages with limited space between the top of the opening and the ceiling. Low-headroom tracks use a tighter radius curve and specialized hardware to accommodate the reduced clearance.
High-Lift Track: Used when the ceiling is significantly higher than the top of the door opening. High-lift tracks extend the vertical section above the opening before transitioning to horizontal.
Vertical-Lift Track: The door travels straight up without a horizontal overhead section — used in commercial applications and garages where the ceiling must remain completely clear.
Commercial and Heavy-Duty Track: Commercial doors require heavier-gauge track with deeper channels and closer bracket spacing to accommodate greater door weights and higher cycle frequencies.
The curved section radius must match the door's height and the roller stem length. Track gauge — the depth and width of the channel — must match the roller diameter. Incorrect radius or gauge creates binding, premature roller wear, and derailment risk. Kustom verifies track specifications during every track service.
Track Straightening — Bends, Dents, and Deformation: We straighten bent track sections using controlled force applied at the deformation point. Straightening restores the track's original profile without removing it from the wall.
Track Realignment — Correcting Shifted Position: We realign tracks that have shifted from settling, loose brackets, or impact. Realignment involves loosening brackets, repositioning the track to proper plumb, level, and spacing, and resecuring.
Bracket Tightening, Repair, and Replacement: We tighten every bracket to secure specification, replace damaged brackets, and upgrade fasteners when existing hardware is inadequate. Secure brackets are the foundation of stable track position.
Track Section Replacement: When a track section is bent beyond the point where straightening restores an adequate profile, we replace the damaged section with new track matched to the existing system's gauge and configuration.
Full Track Replacement — Both Sides: When tracks are extensively damaged, severely corroded, or the wrong specification for the door, full replacement provides a complete fresh start.
Corrosion Treatment and Surface Restoration: For tracks with surface corrosion, we clean corroded surfaces, remove rust, and restore a smooth finish that allows rollers to travel freely.
Obstruction Removal and Track Cleaning: Debris, hardware fragments, and accumulated dirt can obstruct the track channel. We clean tracks thoroughly and remove any material that impedes roller travel.
Curved Section Repair — The Most Critical Zone: We give the curved section particular attention during every track service — verifying smooth transition, proper radius, consistent channel width, and secure bracket support.
Track Lubrication for Smooth Operation: We apply appropriate lubricant to track surfaces to reduce roller friction — using products that do not attract dust or debris accumulation in Bret Harte's environment.
How Bad Tracks Destroy Good Rollers: A bent track forces rollers through a restriction that creates abnormal stress on bearings and wheel surfaces. A corroded track creates abrasive surfaces that grind roller wheels. A misaligned track loads rollers from angles they were not designed for. Good rollers in bad tracks have shortened lives.
How Bad Rollers Destroy Good Tracks: A seized roller that slides instead of rolling scores the track surface. A cracked roller catches and impacts the track channel. A wobbling roller on a bent stem creates uneven contact patterns. Bad rollers in good tracks damage the track surfaces.
Rollers and tracks are an inseparable system. Evaluating one without the other produces incomplete diagnosis. Kustom inspects track condition during every roller service and roller condition during every track service.
The Smart Pairing — Track Repair Plus Roller Replacement: When tracks are being repaired and rollers are also worn, addressing both simultaneously provides the best outcome — new rollers in properly aligned tracks deliver maximum performance and maximum lifespan for both components.
What Proper Alignment Looks Like: Vertical tracks must be plumb — perfectly vertical. Horizontal tracks must be level or with a slight back pitch toward the wall. Both sides must be parallel and equally spaced. The curved section must provide a smooth, consistent transition. Track-to-track spacing must match the door width with proper roller clearance.
How Kustom Checks Alignment — Plumb, Level, Parallel, Gap: We verify alignment using levels, plumb indicators, and spacing measurements at multiple points along the track length. We check roller-to-track clearance at the top, bottom, and curved section on both sides. Alignment is confirmed by observation during door travel — smooth, even, friction-free movement through full range.
The radius section subjects rollers to the highest stress and the most complex directional change. Even minor misalignment in the curve creates binding, noise, and derailment risk that does not exist in the straight sections. Kustom gives the curve the attention it demands.
How Settling Affects Alignment Over Time: Foundation and structural settling is continuous. Tracks that were perfectly aligned during installation gradually shift as the building moves. Periodic alignment verification catches settling-induced shift before it causes operational problems.
Kustom recommends track alignment verification as part of annual or semi-annual preventive maintenance. Early detection of alignment shift allows simple correction before the misalignment causes roller damage, binding, or derailment.
Click here to Call (888) 670-9331Tracks That Can Be Straightened and Realigned: Tracks with moderate bends, dents, or alignment shift can typically be restored through straightening and realignment — returning them to proper profile and position at significantly lower cost than replacement.
Tracks with Severe Bends Beyond Straightening: A track bent sharply enough that the metal has creased or deformed beyond its ability to hold a straight profile after correction needs section or full replacement. Attempting to use a track that springs back after straightening creates a recurring problem.
Tracks with Extensive Corrosion: Surface corrosion can be treated. Deep corrosion that has thinned the track material, created holes, or roughened surfaces beyond restoration requires replacement. Corroded tracks that are structurally compromised cannot be safely repaired.
Tracks That Are Wrong Gauge or Configuration for the Door: If the tracks are the wrong specification for the door — wrong gauge, wrong radius, wrong spacing — repair cannot correct a fundamental mismatch. Replacement with correctly specified tracks is the answer.
We straighten when straightening will hold. We realign when alignment is the problem. We replace when repair cannot deliver a safe, lasting result. Our assessment is based on the track's actual condition and the door's requirements.
We inspect every inch of both tracks — vertical sections, horizontal sections, and curved transitions. We look for bends, dents, corrosion, rough spots, loose brackets, gaps, and any irregularity.
We inspect roller condition alongside track condition. We check hinges, brackets, and all hardware that interacts with the track system.
We present findings — what is wrong with the tracks, what caused it, what repairs are needed — with clear pricing. You approve before we start.
We execute the appropriate repair — straightening bends, realigning shifted sections, replacing damaged tracks — with precision tools and techniques.
Every bracket is tightened to specification. Damaged brackets are replaced. Fasteners are verified. The track is secured to its mounting surfaces with no gaps, no play, and no flex.
With tracks corrected, we verify roller condition. Rollers that have been damaged by the previous track condition are identified and replaced if needed.
We cycle the door multiple times, observing travel through the full range. The door must move smoothly and evenly through the vertical sections, the curved transition, and the horizontal overhead sections — no binding, no catching, no grinding, no noise.
| Service Type | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Minor Straightening and Alignment | $100 to $250 |
| Moderate Straightening with Bracket Work | $150 to $350 |
| Bracket Tightening and standalone service | $75 to $175 |
| Single Section Replacement | $150 to $400 |
| Full Track Replacement (Residential) | $300 to $700 |
Ignoring track problems does not save money — it shifts costs to other components. Rollers that wear out prematurely cost $150 to $400 per replacement. An opener that burns out costs $250 to $700. An off-track event caused by bad tracks costs $200 to $1,000 or more. Track repair prevents all of these downstream expenses.
Click here to Call (888) 670-9331Track-Specific Diagnostic Expertise: Kustom evaluates tracks at the level of detail these critical components require — checking plumb, level, spacing, surface condition, bracket security, and roller clearance.
Precision Alignment Tools: Track alignment requires precision — levels, plumb indicators, spacing measurements — not eyeball estimates. Kustom uses proper tools and achieves proper alignment.
Track-and-Roller System Evaluation: We never evaluate tracks in isolation. Roller condition is assessed alongside track condition because the two components determine each other's performance.
Complete Bracket and Hardware Service: Brackets are the anchor system that holds tracks in position. We secure every bracket and ensures the mounting system is sound.
Settling-Aware Service: Bret Harte's soil conditions and building practices make settling common. Kustom understands this factor and checks for settling-related shift during every evaluation.
Upfront Pricing and Warranty: You know the price before we start. Our track repair is backed by a warranty on parts and workmanship.
Kustom provides garage door track repair throughout every neighborhood in Bret Harte and surrounding metro communities. Call (888) 670-9331 to confirm coverage.
Your garage door follows wherever the tracks lead. Kustom straightens what is bent, aligns what has shifted, and replaces what cannot be restored. We give your door the precise path it needs to operate smoothly for years to face.
The tracks are the road. Kustom makes sure the road is right. Call (888) 670-9331 today.
Click here to Call (888) 670-9331