Broken Springs
Cables and springs share the load path — spring failures snap cables and vice versa.
Learn more →What the Cables Do
Each bottom corner of your door anchors a steel lift cable that runs up to a grooved drum on the torsion shaft. When the springs turn the shaft, the drums wind the cables and the cables lift the door — evenly, as long as both cables are identical in length, tension and condition. They're the link between stored spring energy and door movement, which is also why they're under load any time the springs are wound.
Warning Signs
- Fraying: broken strands sticking out like whiskers, usually near the bottom bracket. This is the cheap moment to act.
- Rust or kinks anywhere along the cable's length.
- Slack or drooping cable while the door is closed — tension has gone somewhere it shouldn't.
- Cable off its drum: a mess of steel wrapped around the shaft instead of sitting in neat grooves.
- Uneven door: one side leading the other, or a visible tilt at rest.
A frayed cable is a countdown, not a curiosity
Cables fail strand by strand, then all at once — typically mid-lift, when the load peaks. When one lets go, the door lurches onto the remaining cable and usually twists off track. If you can see fraying, schedule the replacement now while it's a small job.
Our Cable Service
- Diagnose the cause
Worn-out cable, or victim of a rough drum, misaligned track or failing spring? We find out first.
- Release tension safely
Spring tension is unloaded with winding bars before any cable hardware is touched.
- Replace as a matched pair
Correct-length, correct-gauge cables for your door's height and drum size — both sides.
- Re-tension and level
Springs rewound, cable tension equalized at the drums, door leveled and cycle-tested.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
My door lifts unevenly and one cable looks loose. Is that the cable's fault?
Sometimes — but a loose cable is just as often a symptom. A broken spring, a cable that jumped its drum groove, or a door starting to rack sideways all present as one slack cable. That's why we diagnose the whole lift system rather than swapping the visible part.
Why do garage door cables fray?
Cables die at their stress points: the bottom bracket attachment where moisture and grit collect, and the drum where the cable bends every cycle. Rust, a rough drum groove, misalignment that drags the cable against the track, and simple fatigue all contribute. In the desert, fine dust works into the strands and grinds them from inside.
Can I replace a garage door cable myself?
The cables are attached to the same system the springs load — the bottom brackets they anchor to are under tension whenever the springs are wound. Releasing spring tension safely is a technician task with proper tools, so cable replacement is too.
Should both cables be replaced at once?
Yes, almost always. Both cables have identical wear, and matched cable lengths matter for even lifting. Replacing them as a pair keeps the door level and avoids a second call for the twin failure a few months later.
Keep exploring
Related Services
Off-Track Repair
A snapped cable drops one side of the door — the fastest route off the rails.
Learn more →Maintenance
Annual inspections catch fraying strands long before they let go.
Learn more →