Safety When Replacing a Broken Garage Door Cable

empty garage with door open
What You'll Need
Gloves
Eye protection
Tools as needed
What You'll Need
Gloves
Eye protection
Tools as needed

The garage door cable is a seemingly small but essential safety mechanism in a garage door.

Why You Need a Garage Door Cable

Garage door springs are alternately stressed and fatigued, and these alternating forces weaken the springs over time. An uncabled garage door spring that breaks will recoil with a violent force. At best, that can leave a nasty dent in a car. At worst, it can result in fatal injuries. The garage door cable that runs through the spring prevents it from recoiling and allows a broken spring to drop harmlessly. If the cable is broken, it is critical to repair it as soon as possible.

Release the Tension

Before attempting to replace the garage door cable, you must release the tension in the garage door springs. Open the garage door fully, and in order to prevent the door from sliding down, place several c-clamps on the track just below the door's lowest wheel. Once the door is securely open, you should be able to easily unhook the springs, replace the cable, and hook up the springs again. WARNING: Do not attempt to unhook the springs if you have not released the tension!