Quick answer
If a garage door cable has snapped or come off its drum, the door will usually hang crooked, stop partway or refuse to open. Stop using the door and the opener, do not pull the emergency release, and keep clear. The cables carry the door’s weight from the springs, so the repair, a new cable or rewinding it on the drum and rebalancing the door, is a job for a technician.
Two steel lift cables run from the bottom corners of the door to drums on the spring bar (or to pulleys on extension spring doors). They carry the door’s weight, so when one fails the door can no longer move evenly.
Signs of a cable problem
- One side of the door is lower than the other
- A cable is hanging loose or in a loop beside the track
- Visible fraying or broken strands near the bottom corners
- The door stopped partway with a jolt
Why cables fail
Cables wear and rust over time, especially near the bottom brackets. A cable can also come off its drum when a spring breaks and the cable goes slack, when the door comes off its track, or when the door meets an obstruction while closing.
What to do right now
- Stop using the opener and unplug it.
- Do not pull the emergency release or try to lift the door.
- Do not touch the bottom brackets or the cable. They are under spring tension.
- Keep people and cars clear of the door, and call a technician.
What the repair involves
The technician secures the door, releases the spring tension, replaces the cable or rewinds it on the drum, checks the drums, bottom brackets and springs, then rebalances and tests the door. Because both cables wear at the same rate, they are commonly replaced as a pair. See garage door cable repair.
Common questions
Can I use my garage door with a broken cable?
No. The door is no longer supported evenly and can twist, jam or fall. Unplug the opener until it is repaired.
Why did my garage door cable come off the drum?
Usually because the cable went slack: a spring broke, the door came off track, or the door hit something while closing. A worn drum or loose set screw can also let it slip.
Should both garage door cables be replaced?
Usually, yes. Both have worn for the same time, and replacing them together keeps the door level.
