The cables on your garage door are one of the most important safety features of your garage door opener’s infrastructure. They help keep your overhead door balanced, but they also act as a safeguard in case your garage door’s torsion springs break. You garage door’s torsion springs do the heavy lifting when it comes to operating your overhead door; the garage door opener is more of a guide than anything. So torsion springs, then, are under a huge amount of torque, and if they snap, things get scary.
The torsion cables are there in case that torque is all released at once, and are supposed to make the spring fall straight to the ground, as “safely” as possible. Cables can become uneven or loose over time as the door undergoes wear and tear, weather, age, and even damage. So, as part of your regular DIY garage door maintenance, checking up on your cables should be up there in the list of important things to hit.
Let’s say you’ve noticed your door is crooked when it’s closed, and it looks like the cause is loose, uneven cables. Here’s how to adjust them and get your garage door back on track:
Supplies to Gather
- Ladder
- Pliers
- Screw driver
- Step ladder
- Vice grips
- Wire cutters
Adjusting the Cables
- First, disengage the overhead door from the track while it’s in the closed position. You’ll notice the springs are at tension when the door is closed. Disengage the opener, and unplug it, too, just in case.
- Lift the door manually to release the tension on the springs.
- Place vice grips or C clamps directly under the door on either track so the door is secured in its open position. You can also choose to place a ladder under the middle of the door as another safeguard.
- Disconnect the end of the cable that’s on the bracket. This is the end of the cable that’s adjustable.
- Reattach the cable to another opening in the bracket that leaves the cable taut.
- Reattach the cable to the bracket.
- You can now use the adjuster to fine tune the cable tightness. Make sure the tension is even on both sides of the overhead door, otherwise you’ll still have a crooked door when you’re done.
- Double check the cable is secure on both sides. Then, take the vice grips off and manually lower the door.
Re-engage the door to the garage door opener and test out your handiwork!