How do I replace my cable?

To replace your garage door cable that is frayed, broken, or off drum, you need to follow safety steps because cables are under high tension from springs, and professional replacement is strongly recommended due to injury risk. First, fully close garage door and clamp it with locking pliers or C-clamps on tracks just above rollers to prevent it from moving. If you have torsion springs above door, you must release tension by inserting solid steel winding bars into winding cone and carefully unwinding spring with proper technique, counting quarter turns so you can rewind same tension later; this is dangerous and requires experience. Once tension released, remove old cable from bottom bracket and drum, noting how it winds around drum. Install new cable of correct length for your door height, typically 8 feet for 7 foot door, feeding it through bottom bracket and winding it properly into drum grooves, ensuring no twists. Then rewind torsion spring with correct number of quarter turns and tighten set screws. For extension spring system, open door fully and clamp, then disconnect extension springs to relieve tension before replacing cable. Always replace both cables for even tension. Wear safety glasses and gloves. If cable broke due to broken spring, replace spring too. After installation, test door balance manually and adjust tension. Professional cable replacement costs 100 to 250 dollars and includes warranty and safety check, which is worth cost over DIY risk.