How to Replace the Inside Panels of a Garage Door

Unplug the garage door opener to prevent the door from moving unexpectedly.

Open the garage door slightly, raising it about 5 inches above the surface of the garage.

Place a pair of vice grips onto the vertical rails on each side of the garage door, each one positioned just under a set of rollers on each rail, under one of the higher panels in the door to prevent the rollers from moving and allowing the door to close as you remove the panel. Tighten the grips in place.

Snap a cable puller to the cable on the side of your garage door above the panel. Place the hook on your come along onto the loop of the cable puller, then hook the come along onto the garage door track. Lever the ratchet of the come along a couple of times to create a bit of slack in the cable beneath the panel.

Remove the hinges, positioned above the panel that you’re replacing in the garage door, with the wrench. The panel will drop slightly. Remove the hinges along the base of the panel with the wrench, as well.

Give the come along a few more cranks with the lever to lower the panel a bit further until it begins to tile towards the interior of the garage. Tilt the panel towards the interior of the garage by hand enough to clear it from the panel above, and then lift it up and out from the garage door.

Slide the new panel into place, then reverse the come along to increase the tension in the cable and move the panel upwards, closing the gap in the door. Replace the hinges on the door, working along the bottom of the door, then along the top.