Garage Door Cable Came Off the Drum — Now What?
A snapped or off-track lift cable is dangerous. Here's why it happened, what NOT to do, and how a pro fixes it safely.
What do I do if my garage door cable came off?
Stop using the door. Don't open or close it again — even with the wall button. A door with one cable off the drum will lift unevenly, jam in the tracks, and can cause the other cable to snap or pull a roller out of the track.
Cables come off for three reasons: a broken spring caused the door to slam down (the spring was holding the cable taut), the door was forced down on a blocked roller, or the cable frayed and snapped from rust at the bottom bracket.
Never try to re-thread a cable yourself. The bottom brackets they attach to hold the same energy as the springs — about 200 lbs of tension. Releasing them improperly causes the same injuries as a spring failure.
A pro re-threads the cable, inspects the drums, replaces both cables in pairs (cables age together), and re-tensions the springs. Cost in Angier, NC runs $185–$240 including parts.
Key takeaways
- Stop using the door immediately
- Cables off = usually means a broken spring upstream
- Bottom brackets hold 200+ lbs of tension — pro only
- Replace cables in pairs ($185–$240 in Angier, NC)
Need a real garage door tech in Angier, NC?
Same-day service across Angier, Lillington, Fuquay-Varina and all of Harnett County.
Email office@angiergaragedoorrepair.com