Garage Door Cable Repair
A snapped or slipped cable leaves one side of the door hanging. We replace the cable, check what damaged it and level the door.
- Lift cable replacement
- Drum and bracket check
- Off-track door recovery
- Balance and safety test
Garage door cable repair means replacing the steel lift cables that run from the bottom corners of the door to the drums on the spring shaft. Cables carry the weight of the door. When one frays, snaps or slips off the drum, the door hangs crooked or will not move. We replace the cable, find out why it failed and get the door level again. Call (213) 340-4232.
Why one bad cable stops the whole door
Each side of the door has a cable attached to the bottom bracket. The other end winds onto a drum when the spring turns the shaft. If one cable fails, only one side lifts, and the door tilts, jams or jumps the track.
Cables fail for a few common reasons: fraying from rust and wear, a broken spring that let the cable go slack, a door that rubbed or hit something, or a bracket that bent. Knowing which one matters, because a new cable on a bent bracket will fail again.
- Frayed strands or rust on a cable
- A cable hanging loose or wound the wrong way on the drum
- One side of the door higher than the other
- A door that jams a few inches off the floor
Cable repair checklist
A cable job is rarely only a cable. These are the parts we look at before we close up.
| Part | Why we check it |
|---|---|
| Both lift cables | If one is worn the other is usually close behind |
| Cable drums | A damaged drum cannot hold or wind the cable correctly |
| Bottom brackets | They hold the cable under the door's full load and can bend |
| Springs | A broken spring often causes the cable to slip |
| Track and rollers | A bent track or stuck roller can jam the door and strain the cable |
| Door level | We true the door before it goes back into service |
Bottom brackets and cables are under heavy tension. Do not loosen them yourself.
How we replace a lift cable
Secure the door and release the load
We clamp the door and relieve spring tension so the cable can be removed safely.
Replace the cable and check the drum
New cable, correct routing, and a check that the drum groove is clean and undamaged.
Straighten what is bent
We true the track, replace a damaged bracket or roller and fix anything that pulled the door off line.
Level, balance and test
We run the door through full cycles and make sure both sides lift together.
When the cable and the spring fail together
A broken spring and a slipped cable often show up together. When the spring lets go, the cable goes slack and can come off the drum. We repair both in one visit when we need to, and explain what each part does.
If the door is also crooked in the track, see garage door repair. If the opener keeps running but the door does not move, see opener repair.
- Do not run the opener with a loose cable
- Do not stand under a door that hangs on one side
- Call for service before the door falls
Prices
| Service | Price | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| Lift cable replacement, pair | $175 to $350 | Door weight and cable length |
| Cables with new drums | $250 to $450 | Damaged drums or brackets |
| Off-track door repair | $175 to $450 | Bent tracks, damaged panels or rollers |
Prices reviewed November 2026. Final price is confirmed after we see the problem.
What customers say
Real reviews from our Google listing, copied as the customers wrote them.
I was really happy with the work Emil did for me. He was a responsive communicator, arrived on time, and did a quality job on the repair I needed. I would hire him again without hesitation.Serenity · Google review
Technician, Emil, was prompt and efficient to identify and fix the issues with our garage door. Rest assured that I won’t hesitate to call these folks if repair is needed.MeMee · Google review
Doesn't get any better than this guy! I have recently purchased a condo with a broken garage door opener. It was missing some brackets. I called them, and Emil came out promptly the next morning. On time! He was able to run back to his shop and get the bracket I needed. It took him less than an hour to complete the entire project! My garage door works great now. I said a little thank you to Emil as I opened my garage door late last night and drove in my garage. I would definitely call him again if I needed anything done with my garage door. Highly recommend, plus he's just a super nice guy, which the process so much easier. Thanks Emil!Winston · Google review
Emil Garage Doors are my GO TO business for all things related to garage door repair, replacement and door openers! Talk about the gold standard for superb professional courteous responsive customer service - these guys are always on time, their rates are very reasonable and IMO lowest in town, and their work is always quality - from spring replacements to extra FOB programming & delivery! The owner is the real deal and makes good on all promises - We love doing business with him and don't hesitate to refer this business to all. He's that good!Ryan · Google review
Called the office to let them know my issues and asked if we could get someone out to look at my door. Was told between 11-12...drove home from work at 11:05 and Emil was waiting and ready to get to work. Not knowing anything about how to fix a garage door, Emil did a great job explaining why I was having issues. Quoted a reasonable price (well at least what I thought was reasonable) and less than 40 minute later he had fixed the problem. Great customer service from intake of the call to fixing my door! If you need a garage door repair...support local business and give them your business, you won't be disappointed.Guadalupe · Google review
My garage door and opener were pretty banged up and not working properly. Emil Garage Doors came out, did a thorough evaluation of door and all it's parts. Even though the previous home owner rigged up the garage door opener with the wrong springs and parts, Emil repaired the door and saved us money by using some of the old parts. That kind of honesty will get 5 stars all day long. Thank you Emil Garage Doors for your great service.Bradford · Google review
5-Star Rated on Google · Read all our reviews on Google · All customer reviews
Cities we serve
Garage door and gate service across Southern California. City pages list neighborhoods, ZIP codes and local notes.
Garage Door Cable Repair: questions we hear
What causes a garage door cable to snap?
Rust and fraying over time, a broken spring that left the cable slack, a bent bottom bracket or a door that rubbed or was struck. Wear shows up first as broken strands.
Can I use the door with one broken cable?
No. The door hangs on one side, can jam in the track and can fall. Stop using it and call us.
Do you replace both cables at once?
We usually recommend it. Both have done the same work, and replacing a matched pair keeps the door level.
My cable came off the drum. Is that a quick fix?
Sometimes, if the cause is a loose cable and nothing is damaged. We still check the drum, the bracket and the springs, because the cable usually slipped for a reason.
How do I know whether it is the cable or the spring?
A bang and a heavy door point to a spring. A crooked door or one side hanging points to a cable. Both can happen together. We check both before we quote.
Is cable repair dangerous to do myself?
Yes. The cables hold the door under spring tension, and a bottom bracket can release suddenly. We recommend a trained technician.
Need it fixed or replaced?
Call now or send your details. We will get back to you with the soonest appointment.