Garage Door Cable & Roller Repair

Cables: what they do and how they fail

The cables run from the bottom brackets of your door up to drums at the top. They carry the door’s weight and work directly with the springs. When a cable frays or snaps, one side of the door drops and the door goes crooked.

Signs of a cable problem

• The door hangs at an angle or one side is lower than the other.
• A loose cable dangling beside the door.
• Visible fraying, rust or broken strands.
• The door jams in the track partway through.
• You hear a snapping or twanging sound.

Why cables fail

• Rust. The most common cause in Ontario. Damp garages, road salt and lake air eat cables from the bottom up. Very common in older Oshawa, Pickering and Toronto garages.
• Age and wear. Thousands of cycles gradually fray the strands.
• A door that is out of balance. Uneven load wears one cable faster.
• A spring failure. When a spring goes, the shock often damages the cables too.

We replace cables in pairs, same as springs, and always check the drums at the same time.

Rollers: the cheapest fix for a loud door

If your garage door is grinding, rattling or shaking the house, worn rollers are the most likely cause.

Why builder rollers wear out

Most new homes come with basic steel rollers that have no bearings. After a few years they flatten on one side and stop rolling — they start sliding along the track instead. That is the grinding sound, and it wears the track too.

Nylon rollers make a big difference

Nylon rollers with sealed bearings are quieter, smoother and last far longer. Of everything we do, this is probably the best value-for-money upgrade on a garage door. Customers notice it the same day.

Worth it especially if there is a bedroom above the garage — which describes a large share of homes in Whitby, Brooklin, Richmond Hill and Brampton.

Signs your rollers need replacing

• Grinding, squealing or scraping when the door moves.
• The door shakes or judders instead of gliding.
• You can see flat spots or chips on the rollers.
• Rollers wobble in their brackets or have come loose.
• Black dust or metal filings along the track.

What we do

• Inspect all cables, drums, rollers and hinges.
• Replace cables in pairs with the correct gauge for your door.
• Reset the drums and re-tension the system.
• Replace rollers — nylon with sealed bearings where you want a quieter door.
• Clean and check the tracks for damage.
• Rebalance the door and test the opener’s settings.