We repair garage door cables that are frayed, rusted, broken, or off a drum. Each lift cable runs from a bottom bracket to a cable drum, which winds the cable as the door moves. If one cable slips or fails, the door may hang unevenly, bind, or leave the track. Stop operating a crooked or hanging door and keep clear of the bottom brackets, which hold full spring tension.
Along the Gulf coast, salt air can corrode metal parts, so we inspect the cables and nearby hardware for rust and wear. We check the torsion tube, the shaft above the door, and the cable drums at its ends. The center bearing supports the middle of the tube, while end bearing plates support its ends. A strut is a brace across the door; the astragal is the seal along its bottom edge.
Our crew unloads spring tension before removing cables, then installs both cables at the correct length and diameter. We carry replacement cables and common door hardware on the truck, reseat the cables on the drums, and rebalance the door. We finish by checking door balance and confirming that the opener’s safety reversal works.
Signs You Need Garage Door Cable Repair
- The door may tilt, with one edge sitting below the other.
- It may start opening at an angle.
- A cable is loose or dangling beside the track.
- I can see frayed strands on the cable.
- The door binds or stops partway up.
- The door came off track after a cable slipped.
🌊 The Santa Rosa Beach Salt-Air Factor
Rust and fraying go together on this coast. Door makers say salt air and humidity speed up corrosion on metal parts, and they advise checking for rust after storms and replacing frayed cables, since a frayed cable is in danger of breaking and can cause serious injury. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the Destin airport station show about 55 inches of rain a year, so we inspect each cable along its length, at the drum and at the bottom bracket, for rust, broken strands and uneven winding.
How We Handle It
We answer the call
A crew member asks what the door is doing and whether a cable is loose, broken, or off its drum. We advise you to stay clear of a door that is crooked or hanging.
We inspect and quote
On site, we inspect both cables, the drums, springs, and supporting hardware. We review the work needed and provide the exact quote before beginning.
We replace and reset
After releasing spring tension, we fit a matched cable set, secure each cable on its drum, and restore door balance. We also check for a problem that may have contributed to the cable failure.
We test the door
We verify that the door is balanced, then check the opener’s reversal and photo-eye sensors. We confirm that the door travels evenly.
Starting Prices — Garage Door Cable Repair
- Garage Door Cable Replacement per cable
- From $150
- Diagnostic Service Call $0 with a completed repair
- $0
Starting prices. A door has two lift cables and one or two springs; the exact price depends on the door, the hardware grade and how many parts are replaced, and is confirmed on site before any work starts.