How do you reattach a garage door cable?

Reattaching a garage door cable depends on whether you have a torsion system where cables wrap around drums above the door, or an extension system along the side tracks, and it is a dangerous job due to spring tension that is best left to professionals. For a torsion system, you must first fully close the door and clamp locking pliers onto the tracks below the rollers to prevent movement, then release tension from the torsion springs by carefully unwinding them with solid steel winding bars inserted into the winding cone, not screwdrivers, turning in quarter turns until tension is released. Only then can you unwind the cable from the drum, loop the new cable end through the bottom bracket slot, run it up along the door edge, and wrap it around the drum in the correct direction with proper overlap, then rewind the springs to proper tension. For an extension system, open the door and clamp it, release tension by opening door fully so extension springs are relaxed, then reattach cable end to the bottom bracket, thread it through the pulley and up to the S-hook at the top track. In both cases, you must ensure the cable sits properly in the drum grooves and is not kinked or frayed. Because springs store hundreds of pounds of force, improper reattachment can cause the cable to snap and cause severe injury, so most homeowners should hire a professional for 150 to 300 dollars to reattach or replace cables safely and balance the door.