Different garage door cables are installed for torsion and extension springs, depending on which spring systems you use. Both cable types wrap around the drum at the top of each side as the garage doors open.

Torsion Spring Cable System

Lift cables attach to the garage door torsion springs. These counterbalancing steel cables connect to the drums on each side of the shaft. The door opens by rotating a winding cone at one end of the post. This causes the spring to uncoil and release the energy required to spin the drums, wrap the cables, and lift the door. When the garage door lowers, the process reverses.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A LIFT CABLE HAS SNAPPED?

The door is struggling to open. The motor appears to be working fine. The spring or springs appear to be intact. If this happens to your garage door, it’s likely either a broken spring or a broken lifting cable, and it will need repairing as soon as possible.
If you notice a cable hanging loosely beside the garage door, it’s likely the remains of a lifting cable that has snapped.

Extension Spring Cable System

Garage doors with extension springs use retaining cables/safety cables. Located inside the springs, retaining cables prevent a broken spring from turning into a projectile if it breaks, causing severe damage and even death. The spring can come off the pulley system and damage property. Extension springs and their retaining cables run down each side of the garage door. The extension spring cables connect to the door and the springs.

As you can see, inspecting your garage door cables regularly and calling a professional if one is broken or damaged is crucial.

What Might Cause Your Garage Door Cables to Break and Come Loose? 

1. Age or normal wear-and-tear. Garage door cables can and will break from time to time. Lines can break simply due to their age. Just like every other component, cables experience wear and tear. These cables may eventually become frail and snap over time.
2. A garage door set down on an object will create an uneven weight distribution and slack in the cables on one side of the door. This slack will cause the line to jump across the grooves in the drums, causing issues. The crooked garage door in the opening is often caused by closing the door on top of an obstruction.  
3. A broken extension spring. 
4. A broken torsion spring. It’s always best to have a two-torsion spring setup when the option is available. The second spring can temporarily keep some tension on the cables until repairs are made if one spring breaks. When a single spring breaks, the door doesn’t have a backup; this can cause slack in the cables causing them to slip out of the grooves.
5. Corrosion. Garage door cables can break because of rust. If you don’t catch it quickly, rust can eat through a cable, causing it to corrode. 
6. Wrong spring configuration. The door won’t work correctly if these springs are not calibrated or installed per manufacturer specifications. 
7. Wrong cable drum configuration. 
8. Loose set screws. 
9. Excessive manual force. 
10. Fraying is another reason garage door cables can snap. Many little wire cables twist together to create a more robust and thicker cable. Broken cables can cause fraying of the surrounding cables, leading to the cable snapping.
11. Faulty cables were installed for the weight of the door.  
12. Loose or uneven installation. Defective cable assembly. 
13. Sometimes the pulleys get worn. If this happens, the cable will not slide through as smoothly, and your door will become stuck or cocked towards one side. If this is the case, replacing the pulleys is a must. 
14. I have worn-out roller wheels. 
15. Bent door sections.
16. The bent or unlevel track can cause the garage door to catch or bang rather than roll smoothly. 
17. Broken brackets or drums. 
18. Poor maintenance.  

How can you avoid damaging a garage door’s cable?

Inspecting your garage door cables regularly for fraying or kinks would be best. Always check the pulleys as well, as they can wear out. You can follow the cable’s path to determine the cause of the frayed cable. There may be something sticking out of the cable, causing the damage. You can then remove whatever it is before it causes more damage. 

Your cable’s health is also essential. Clean your cables of any debris. Also, keep them free from lubricants. These lubricants can attract dirt and grime, which can cause cables not to work correctly.

When Cables Break, Avoid Using Your Garage Door, Even Manually

Broken cables can cause extra tension to transfer onto the other cable, putting tremendous strain on it. The garage door can become unbalanced and crooked by this. If your garage door starts shaking, creaking, or acting strangely, it could be a problem with the cable. If a cable is damaged or frayed, the only option is to remove it and use a new cable to replace it. We highly recommend you call a professional for this. 

Opening or closing a garage door with loose or frayed cables can be dangerous. The remaining cable could snap, causing the door to crash down to the floor or get stuck halfway in the opening. 

You should not open or close your garage door using your garage door opener if it has a broken cable. The added force to lift the door could strip the internal nylon drive gear. Broken wires can lead to more damage, resulting in more expensive repairs. You should always leave any damage to the professionals to avoid any injuries. Call for service immediately. 

Can I replace the garage door cable myself?

A professional should perform garage door cable repairs. Thousands of people are hurt trying to fix broken garage doors yearly. Don’t attempt to repair a garage door —instead, contact professionals for a reliable, safe repair.