What a broken cable looks like, how dangerous it is, and how to get it fixed fast.
Garage door cables work alongside the springs to distribute the door's weight evenly as it opens and closes. When one breaks, the door becomes lopsided and potentially dangerous. Here's what to look for.
Yes. A garage door weighs 100–400 pounds. With one cable gone, the full weight is unbalanced and the door can drop or close unevenly. Stop using the door immediately if you suspect a broken cable. Do not attempt to operate it manually or with the opener until it's repaired.
If the door is fully open and stuck in that position (opener stopped it there), you can drive in and out carefully. But operating the door with a broken cable risks the door dropping suddenly, potentially onto a vehicle or person. This is a repair that shouldn't be delayed.
Cable repair in the St. Louis area typically runs $250–$375. Both cables are usually replaced together since they wear at the same rate — doing only the broken one means a second service call within a few months. The $100 service call fee is applied toward the repair.
Call 314-897-4721 for same-day service across Jefferson County and South St. Louis County.
No. A broken cable means the door weight is unbalanced. Operating the door risks it dropping suddenly or causing damage to the opener or tracks. Leave the door in its current position and call for repair.
Yes, in almost all cases. Both cables wear at the same rate — if one has broken, the other is typically near failure. Replacing both prevents a second service call and ensures the door operates evenly.
Cables fray and break from normal wear over time, especially near the bottom anchor point and around the cable drum where bending stress is highest. Corrosion from moisture (especially in uninsulated garages) accelerates wear. A spring failure can also cause cables to snap or coil abnormally.
Most cables last 8–15 years under normal use. High-use doors (4+ cycles/day) or doors exposed to moisture wear cables faster. Annual visual inspection during a tune-up catches fraying before it becomes a failure.