Two Cables, One Level Door
A pair of steel cables climbs from the lower corners of the door to the drums above, sharing the load as the springs lift. Fraying shows first near the bottom bracket or at the drum, where the strands bend and rub. Once one cable fails or slips, that side sags while the other carries on.
A door left lopsided leaves a wedge-shaped gap along the floor and strains the track, so the repair matters beyond lift alone. We replace cables in pairs when wear shows, inspect the drums and brackets where cables attach, and then set the door level so it lands squarely on the bottom seal.
Signs a Cable Is Going
Broken strands near the bracket
Look at the lower corners for wires sticking out or a shiny, flattened section. Rust there often means the cable has been wearing for a while.
One corner hangs lower
A tilted door, or a gap that is wider on one side, suggests a cable has come off its drum or has stretched.
Loose cable hanging down
Slack in a cable when the door is closed shows it has jumped the drum, and moving the door risks damaging track and panels.
What We Do
- 1
Keep the door still
We secure the door before touching anything, because a loose cable and a door under spring tension should never be moved casually.
- 2
Replace the cables
New cables go on as a pair when the old ones show wear, matched to the door's height and routed correctly around the drums.
- 3
Inspect drums and brackets
Grooved drums that are chipped or bottom brackets that are bent can chew through a new cable, so they are replaced when worn.
- 4
Level and test
We confirm both sides rise together and the door closes square against the floor, with the opener and its reversing tested last.
Cable Questions
- Can I use the door with a frayed cable?
- It is best not to. A frayed cable may let go with no notice, dropping a corner of the door and jamming the track. Leave it shut, park elsewhere for now and book the cable replacement.
- If only one cable failed, do both need replacing?
- Usually, yes. The two cables age together and carry the same load, so when one has frayed the other is often not far behind. Replacing them as a pair also keeps both sides of the door matched, which helps it rise level and settle square on the floor instead of leaning.
- Why does the door look crooked after a cable repair elsewhere?
- A cable set to the wrong length, or wound unevenly on its drum, leaves one side higher than the other. The cure is a proper re-level, and often a look at the springs, since two springs with different tension can pull the door out of true as well.
Frayed Cable or Crooked Door?
Tell us what you see at the lower corners and how the door hangs, and you will hear what the repair involves.
Describe the cable trouble — (239) 388-7750