Two steel cables run from the bottom corners of the door up to the drums on the spring bar. They carry the door's weight, and when one frays or slips off its drum the door hangs crooked, jams in the track or drops on one side. It is among the most dangerous failures a garage door has, because the side that lets go falls fast.
We replace the cable and check its partner, since two cables have worked the same cycles. Replacement starts from $150 per cable. If the drum is grooved or cracked, or the bottom bracket is bent, those are replaced too, otherwise the new cable will fray at the same place.
Cable trouble often goes with a worn spring, so we check the springs on the same visit.
Signs You Need Garage Door Cable Repair
- One corner of the door sits low.
- A cable hangs loose or is wound off the drum.
- You can see broken strands near the bottom corner.
- The door jerks and tilts as it travels.
- A metal "twang" is heard, and then the door will not move.
Where cables wear first
Cables rub most at the bottom bracket and where they wind onto the drum. Moisture and de-icing salt tracked in on tires can speed up rust at the bottom bracket, and the first sign is a few broken strands near the corner.
If you spot a fraying cable, don't wait for it to snap. Phone the shop; a worn cable costs less to swap than a door that has fallen onto a car.
How We Handle It
Take the load off
The door is secured and the tension released, so the cable can be removed safely.
Inspect the drums and brackets
We look for worn grooves, cracks and bent brackets before fitting anything new.
Fit and tension
Cables are seated in the drum grooves and tensioned evenly on both sides.
Test the travel
The door is cycled by hand and by opener until it moves level and stops square.
Starting Prices — Garage Door Cable Repair
- Lift Cable Replacement per cable
- From $150
- Diagnostic Service Call $0 with a completed repair
- $0
Each figure is where a job begins, not where it ends. Most doors have two lift cables and one or two springs, and the final number moves with the door's weight, the hardware grade and how many parts have worn out. You hear it at the door before any work starts.