A garage door may squeak from dry hinges, rattle from loose hardware, or bang because of rollers, tracks, the opener, or door balance. The sound and when it occurs help narrow the cause. Do not adjust cables, springs, or loaded brackets; those components store enough energy to cause serious injury.
Repeated squeaks often come from dry pivot points
Listen near hinges and rollers without putting hands near a moving door. Clean and lubricate only the points identified by the manufacturer. A squeak that disappears with lubrication is different from a bang or structural cracking sound.
Rattles can come from loose hardware or opener vibration
With the door stationary and the opener isolated as the manual directs, inspect accessible hinge screws and non-loaded brackets. Do not tighten or remove bolts associated with springs, cables, or loaded anchor plates.
Bangs and loud pops change the priority
A bang at startup, frayed cable, visible gap in a spring, or a door hanging crooked can indicate a lifting-system fault. Stop using it and arrange service; continuing to run the opener can worsen the damage.
Separate door noise from opener noise
Following the manufacturer’s release procedure with the door closed can, on some systems, help determine whether the door itself moves smoothly by hand. If the door is very heavy, drops, or will not stay in place, stop the test.