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Garage Door Cable Repair & Replacement

Garage door cables work with the springs to lift and lower the door. When a cable frays, slips off its drum or snaps, the door can hang crooked, get stuck or close hard.

Joy Garage Services repairs and replaces garage door cables for homes and businesses. Cable problems often go together with a spring problem, so we also look at the springs. Call (252) 832-8312 and we come to you. Price Before Work Starts.

Call (252) 832-8312 and we come to you. Same-Day Service Available. We'll look at your cables in person and give you a free estimate.

Call (252) 832-8312
Lift cable wound on a garage door cable drum at the end of the torsion bar
Garage door cable drum and bracket at the top corner of a door
Photo: stebulus, CC BY 2.0

Symptoms

A cable is hanging loose next to the door.
The cable has come off the drum at the top of the door.
The door is crooked, with one side higher than the other.
The door won't open, or stops partway.
The door slams down or closes hard.
A snapping sound, followed by the door not working right.
Close-up of steel cable strands

Warning signs

Frayed, rusty or broken strands on the cable.
A cable that looks loose or slack.
Uneven gaps at the bottom of the closed door.
Noise near the bottom corners of the door.
Worn warning sign with an exclamation mark

What to do first

Safety first: cables are connected to the springs and are under tension. Please don't touch, pull or adjust a loose cable, and stop using the door and the opener. Call us.
  1. Stop using the door and the opener.
  2. Don't touch, pull or try to reattach a loose cable.
  3. Keep people and pets away from the door, and don't walk or park under it.
  4. Don't try to lift or lower the door by hand.
  5. Call (252) 832-8312 and tell us your address and what you see.
Close-up of a coil of steel wire rope
CABLE REPAIR & REPLACEMENT

Why garage door cables fail

Wear over time. Cables carry the weight of the door every time it moves. Over the years the strands fray and weaken until the cable breaks.
A broken spring. When a spring breaks, the sudden change in load can make a cable slip or snap. Spring and cable problems often show up together.
Rust and moisture. Damp conditions rust the cable and weaken it from the outside in. Rust is easy to miss until a strand starts to fray.
A door that came off track. If the door jumps its track, the cable can come off the drum or get caught and damaged.
Damaged drums or bottom brackets. A drum or bracket that's worn, rusted or bent can chafe the cable or let it slip out of position.
A door that isn't level. If the door runs uneven, one cable carries more of the load and wears faster than the other.
Torsion springs, cable drums and lift cables laid out before installation

The cable parts on your door

The cables are only one piece of a small system. Here's what each part does.

Lifting cables

One cable on each side runs from the bottom corner of the door up to a drum. They work with the springs to lift and lower the door.

Drums

The grooved wheels at the top of the door where the cables wind up. A cable that slips off the drum leaves one side of the door unsupported.

Bottom brackets

The fittings at the bottom corners of the door that the cables attach to. They carry a lot of load, so a damaged bracket matters.

Safety cables on extension springs

If your door has extension springs, a safety cable runs through each spring. It's there to hold the spring in place if it breaks. If your door has these, we check them too.
Gloved hands working with a cable
HOW IT WORKS

How a cable visit works

1

You call us

Call (252) 832-8312, tell us what you see, and give us your address. We tell you when we can come.
2

We make the door safe

We secure the door first to keep it from moving while we work.
3

We inspect the cable system

We check both cables, the drums, the bottom brackets, the springs and the rollers, to find what failed and why.
4

We explain and give you the estimate

We show you what we found and go over your options. Price Before Work Starts.
5

We replace and reseat the cables

We replace damaged cables and seat them properly on the drums, and replace a worn drum or bracket when needed.
6

We balance and test

We check that the door is level and balanced, test it with the opener, and show you how it runs.
Cable running over a metal pulley wheel

What the service includes

  • We inspect the cables, drums, bottom brackets, springs and rollers.
  • You get a free estimate on site. Price Before Work Starts.
  • We replace damaged cables and seat them correctly on the drums.
  • We check the springs, because a loose or snapped cable often goes with a spring problem.
  • We check the balance, test the door and the opener, and show you how it runs.

The fastest way to a real price is to let us see the door. Price Before Work Starts. Call (252) 832-8312.

(252) 832-8312
Steel cable wrapped around a post

Replace one cable or both?

Cables on the same door wear at a similar pace. We check both and tell you what we recommend, and you decide.

Usually a repair

  • A cable only slipped off the drum and isn't frayed or damaged.
  • The cable and drum are in good shape and can be reseated.
  • The door is level and nothing else is worn.

Usually a replacement

  • A cable is frayed, rusty or broken.
  • Both cables are the same age and one has already failed.
  • The drum or bottom bracket is damaged.
  • A broken spring has put extra strain on the cables.

Why choose Joy Garage Services

White garage door framed by climbing roses
  • We look at the springs as well as the cables, because a cable problem often comes with a spring problem.
  • Same-Day Service Available. Call with your address and we tell you when we can be there.
  • Price Before Work Starts. We look at the door first and give you the estimate on site.
  • We answer 24 hours a day, 6 days a week.
  • Residential & Commercial. We serve homes and businesses.
  • Free estimates.
  • Rated 5.0 on Google. 6 years of experience.
SERVICE AREA

Service area

We repair and replace garage door cables across central North Carolina and Virginia. Not sure if we reach you? Call (252) 832-8312 and ask. In Virginia, work is performed by licensed local technicians.
(252) 832-8312 Our location, hours and the towns we serve

North Carolina

Counties we serve (37)

  • Alamance
  • Alexander
  • Anson
  • Burke
  • Cabarrus
  • Caldwell
  • Catawba
  • Chatham
  • Davidson
  • Davie
  • Durham
  • Edgecombe
  • Forsyth
  • Franklin
  • Gaston
  • Granville
  • Guilford
  • Halifax
  • Harnett
  • Iredell
  • Johnston
  • Lee
  • Lincoln
  • Mecklenburg
  • Moore
  • Nash
  • Orange
  • Randolph
  • Rowan
  • Stanly
  • Surry
  • Union
  • Vance
  • Wake
  • Wilkes
  • Wilson
  • Yadkin
Map of the 37 North Carolina counties Joy Garage Services serves

Common questions

Person holding a smartphone

Why did my garage door cable come off?

Common causes are a broken spring, worn cables, a door that came off track, or a problem with the drum or bottom bracket. We find the cause when we come out.

Is a broken cable related to a broken spring?

Often, yes. The springs and cables work together. That's why we look at both.

Can I still use the door with a loose cable?

No. Stop using the door and the opener until it's checked. The door can drop or jam.

Should both cables be replaced?

Cables on the same door are usually the same age. We check both and tell you what we recommend. You decide. Price Before Work Starts.

How soon can you come?

Same-Day Service Available. Call (252) 832-8312 with your address. The time depends on your location and who is available.

How can I tell if a cable is wearing out?

Look for frayed or broken strands, rust, or a cable that looks loose. Uneven gaps at the bottom of the closed door can also point to a cable problem.

What does the drum do?

The drum is the grooved wheel at the top of the door that the cable winds onto. It keeps the cable in line as the door moves.

Do extension-spring doors have different cables?

They have lifting cables too, plus a safety cable inside each spring on many doors. We check which setup you have when we come out.

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