Last Updated on February, 2025
Up-and-over garage doors are a popular choice for many homeowners across the UK due to their efficient design. Their space-saving feature maximises garage space by allowing the door to lift and suspend overhead.
Despite their sturdy construction, these garage doors are not immune to wear and tear. One common issue is the cable snapping.
Dealing with a broken garage door cable can be annoying, and luckily, you don’t have to get a new door. We’re here to help!
In this article, we’ll discuss the step-by-step process of an up-and-over garage door cable repair, what you should know about these cables before you attempt to fix them, the causes of a broken cable, preventive measures, and so much more!
Let’s get started!
Quick Summary
- The process involves relieving spring tension, loosening the bracket and drum, adjusting cable tension, and testing the door after repairs.
- Frayed cables, exposure to moisture, and misalignment are typical causes of damage, and regular maintenance can help prevent these issues.
- It’s important to seek professional help for garage door cable repairs if you’re inexperienced, as the process can be dangerous.
How to Fix Up and Over Garage Door Cable? A Step-By-Step Guide
Before you get started on your garage door repairs, ensure that you prioritise safety by wearing appropriate protective gear. Additionally, make sure to unplug the electric door opener from the electrical outlet.
Once you have taken these precautions, you can proceed with the garage door cable repair process.
Loose Garage Door Cable
Here’s what to do if your garage door cables have become loose:
Step 1: Relieve the Tension On the Garage Door Spring
Handling a high-tension spring can be dangerous, so it’s essential to release the spring tension before working on the cables.
Start by closing the door and pulling the red emergency release cord at the base of the trolley track. This action will disconnect the door from the track, enabling you to lift the door manually and release the tension on the torsion spring.
Once the garage door is open, secure it by placing C-clamps on both sides just below the rollers, ensuring a safe working environment around your door.
Step 2: Loosen the Bracket and Cable Drum
The garage door cable has two ends: one is coiled around a cable drum in the lower roller, and the other is secured to the frame by the bracket.
Start by using a screwdriver to remove the screws from the bottom of the brackets of the door, which holds the cables to the frame. With a pair of pliers, remove the cables attached to the frame as you loosen the bracket.
Then, carefully turn the shaft to release tension in the garage door cable, ensuring you don’t turn it too much to avoid tangling the wires. Finally, use a wrench to loosen the cable drum.
Step 3: Adjust the Cable Tension
With the brackets and the cable drum now loosened, you can proceed to tighten the cables on both ends.
Begin by carefully winding the loose cables back onto the drum. Next, return to the wires you disconnected from the bracket. Pull the loose ends tight and reattach them to the frame using the hook or clip. Opt for the higher hole to ensure the wires are properly tensioned.
Be cautious when tightening your garage door cable, as over-tightening can make the door difficult to open. Once the cables are properly tightened, reattach the bottom bracket and secure the cable drum back to its original position by tightening the screws.
Step 4: Verify Cable Alignment
Inspect your work to ensure your garage door cables are properly aligned. Check the drums on both sides of the door to confirm that the wires are still taut and have not come undone.
Once everything looks correct, reattach the door to the garage opener by pulling the release cord back toward the door.
Step 5: Test the Garage Door Operation
Test your adjustments by opening and closing the door. The door should move smoothly and close slowly without any gaps at the bottom. Additionally, the tilting issue should be resolved.
Broken Garage Door Cable
Here’s what you have to do if you’re dealing with a snapped cable.
Before you replace your garage door cable with a new cable, it’s crucial to ensure that it’s safe to work on. Apart from unplugging the garage door opener, if both cables are broken, there will be no tension in the mainsprings, making the door safe to work on. In this case, you can skip directly to step 4.
- Step 1: If only one cable is broken, you’ll need to release the tension from the functioning cable by relieving the tension in the mainsprings. Insert one of your tension bars into a hole in the spring collar. Raise the tension bar until the 4 mm roll pin is parallel to the ground.
- Step 2: Once the tension bar is in position, use a pair of mole grips to secure the bar running through the centre of the main spring, near where you inserted it.
- Step 3: Next, move to the bracket on the other side of the door. You should see a hole in the bracket. Take the crook pin from your tension kit and tap it into the hole with a hammer. Two taps should keep it in place, making your garage door safe to work on.
- Step 4: Now, proceed to remove the plastic cone. Use a 4 mm long-nosed pin punch and a hammer to drive the roll pin into the timber until you can’t see it. You should then be able to remove the cone from the bar.
- Step 5: Attach the new plastic one, which has the cable connected, onto the bar.
- Step 6: Ensure the cable runs behind the plastic cone and sits in the outermost groove.
- Step 7: Firmly connect the cable to the roller spindle, ensuring it is free of any snags.
- Step 8: Use a hammer to drive the 4 mm pin into the new cone until about 2-3 mm remains visible.
- Step 9: To restore tension to the cables, use a screwdriver to remove the crook pin.
- Step 10: Insert one of your tension bars into the hole in the spring collar and remove the mole grips. You should now feel the tension in the bar.
- Step 11: Insert your second tension bar into the hole above the first one. Remove the first bar and slowly allow the tension to wind back into the cables.
- Step 12: Inspect the cables on both sides to ensure they run behind the cones and are in the outermost grooves.
- Step 13: Finally, reconnect the electric opener and check to see that your door is operating correctly.
What to Know Before You Repair Up and Over Garage Door Cables?
Before you start on the garage door repairs, it’s crucial to understand the type of cable system and its functionality.
The two common cable systems for garage doors that help ease the operation are the torsion spring-controlled cable system and the extension spring-controlled system.
Let’s take a closer look at these cable systems for garage doors.
Torsion Spring-Controlled System
Torsion springs are typically installed at a horizontal height above the opening of your garage door overhead. This system comprises a long bar with two high-tension springs coiled around each other, each ending with a grooved roller drum.
A cable is attached to the bottom of each side of the lowest door panel and secured to the grooved roller. When you lift the door, the cable winds around the roller, reducing the tension on the spring.
Conversely, when the door is lowered, the cable unwinds, increasing the spring’s tension. The coil springs are under the most tension when the door is closed, which makes putting the door in the up position easier, but also puts more stress on the cables.
Extension Spring-Controlled System
In the past, extension springs were primarily used in garages with insufficient headroom for a torsion system. However, over the last twenty years, they have become a more popular style because they are easier and safer to install.
Unlike torsion springs, which are mounted above the door and remain under constant tension, extension springs are attached to each horizontal track.
The cables run through pulleys at the end of the spring, pass through another pulley at the point where the track curves to go vertical, and then attach to the bottom panel of the door. When you keep the door open, the spring is relaxed, and the cable may be slightly loose.
When the door is lowered, the spring stretches as it is pulled by the garage door cable and the weight of the door. The spring reaches full extension when the door is completely closed, positioning it to assist with the door’s weight during the next lift to open it.
Relevant guides:
What Causes Up and Over Garage Door Cables to Break?
Many homeowners might never encounter a broken garage door cable, but several factors can eventually lead to this issue.
- All machinery parts have a lifespan, and over time, a cable may start to fray due to the constant garage opening and closing.
- Additionally, if your door is frequently exposed to moisture, the metal cables can corrode.
- Your door being out of alignment can also place extra stress on one cable over the other, which, if left unchecked, can cause a cable to break eventually.
Regular maintenance of your garage door is recommended to keep all parts in optimal condition. Simple tasks like doing some light cleaning around the rollers and cables and lubricating them can significantly extend the lifespan of your garage door cables.
Signs of a Loose or Broken Garage Door Cable
A loose garage door cable can result from problems like your door being out of alignment, a worn-out door, or a broken spring, or it could indicate a more serious mechanical issue.
Watch for these signs that your garage door cables are loose:
- The cables have come off the tracks.
- There is a noticeable gap at the bottom of the door when it is closed.
- The door does not open and close smoothly and tends to shut too quickly.
- The door is uneven or leans to one side.
Moreover, here are the signs that your garage door cable desperately needs repairs:
- The door frequently gets stuck in either the lifting action or lowered position without any obvious cause.
- The safety chain regularly gets tangled around the pulleys, hindering proper movement when you open and close the door.
- Visible broken cables.
Tools You Need to Repair Your Garage Door
There are several tools needed for garage door repairs.
For loose door cables, the tools you will need are:
- Protective gear, such as leather gloves and safety goggles
- A stepladder
- Two C-clamps
- A screwdriver
- A pair of pliers
- A wrench
For broken cables, you need the following tools:
- 2 cones
- 2 new cables
- 4 mm long-nosed pin punch
- A tension kit
- A hammer
- A screwdriver
How to Prevent Broken Cables or Replace Broken Garage Door Cables?
Maintaining your cables is crucial to extend their lifespan. Here are some steps to help ensure they stay in good condition for years:
- Regularly Inspect Your Cables: Every few months, examine your cables to catch any issues early. A damaged cable can compromise the entire safety system of your garage door. If you find any fraying or stretching, it’s time to replace the cable.
- Ensure All Screws Are In Place: A missing screw on either side of the pulley wheel can cause the garage door cable to snap. Make sure all screws are tight and everything is properly positioned, including the hinges on the side track and safety chain pulley.
- Remove Any Dirt And Debris: Dirt, dust, and leaves can obstruct the door’s movement. Clean the area around your cables regularly to prevent blockages.
- Verify Door Alignment: Checking your door’s alignment can help you identify cable issues. Use a lever to ensure the door is properly aligned.
- Promptly Replace Damaged Cables: If you notice any broken or frayed cables, replace them immediately to prevent further damage to your door.
When to Call in the Professionals?
Repairing your garage door is serious business. Unless you have experience with repairing and replacing garage door cables and are confident in your abilities, you should not attempt this on your own. You might end up putting yourself in danger and damaging your door.
Garage door repair services have the necessary tools and experience to fix and replace your garage door cables. Rest assured, your door is in good hands.
FAQs
Conclusion
Faulty cables in your garage door can be annoying, but with the right tools and know-how, you can fix it up in no time! However, if you lack experience, it is best to leave this task to the professionals.