Diagnosis
No. The cast iron brackets or the stainless steel rods of the Divide & Conquer system are misaligned. This is often caused by overtightening the bracket nuts or thermal stress warping the components slightly.
How to Fix It
Cool grill. Remove all cooking grates and accessories. Loosen, but do not remove, the two nuts on the front of each cast iron bracket. This relieves pressure on the rods. The top tier should now slide out. Re-tighten the nuts only until they are snug, not maximally tight.
If That Didn't Work
Inspect the stainless steel rods for bends. Roll them on a flat surface. A bent rod must be replaced. Also check that the ceramic fire ring is seated perfectly level. An unlevel ring torques the entire frame.
Heads Up
When installing the system, always place the top tier's front crossbar *under* the front support rods, and the rear crossbar *over* the rear support rods. Incorrect installation causes immediate binding.