Like any other part of your garage door, springs suffer wear and tear, requiring garage door spring repair or replacing. One of the major signs of a broken garage door spring is the loud sound produced as the spring snaps under tension. You may also know it’s time to replace your garage door spring if you find your garage door weighing twice as much when you lift it.

The good news is that, with the right tools and instructions, you can replace your garage door springs yourself. In this article, we’re going to guide you on how to replace a garage door spring correctly and as safely as possible:

How to Replace a Garage Door Spring?

Before we delve into how to replace your garage door spring, it’s crucial to understand the different types of garage doors. This helps you know the kind of spring to replace, so you can follow the correct replacement procedure.

Types of Garage Door Springs

Typically, there are two types of garage door springs, namely extension and torsion springs.

Extension Springs are usually long, thin springs that run side-by-side to each horizontal door track. They can be clipped-end, double-looped, or open-looped. They typically store energy by extending when you move the door. Extension springs are widely used in residential garage doors.

On the other hand, torsion springs are wide springs found on the shaft directly above your garage door. They come in early-set, standard, torque-master, or steel rolling springs. These springs are often used for commercial applications with heavier than usual garage doors.

How to Replace Extension garage door springs

Extension springs are usually easier to replace than torsion springs since the process doesn’t involve managing spring tension. So, if you’re a DIYer, you’ll have an easy time replacing your garage door’s extension springs. Follow the below steps to safely and correctly replace the extension spring of your garage door:

Open the door to release the tension and secure it in position using C-clamps. Then, disconnect the door opener, the spring pulley, and the spring from the track bracket. Be sure to mark the pulley’s position, so you can reinstall it at the same exact position.
Also, disconnect the safety cable attached to the spring from the bracket. This will let you remove the broken or old spring that requires replacing.
Once you’ve removed the old extension spring, slide in the safety cable through the replacement spring and install the spring into the bracket.
Next, reinstall the pulley and the cable in their correct positions. Always ensure that the pulley’s wire doesn’t come into contact with the cable.
Finally, disconnect the clamps on the track and install the opener back into position, and that’s it. You can test your door to ensure you installed the new spring correctly and all the other parts are working as needed. If necessary, adjust the various parts accordingly until everything works perfectly.

For one-piece garage doors with side springs, open the door to release the tension and replace the old springs on the opener-arm mechanism with new ones. The best part is that you don’t have to deal with pulleys or cables and the springs usually come equipped with internal safety rods. Also, if your garage door is designed with tensioners, you need to loosen the tensioner to remove the spring.

Always ensure you have the right replacement spring for your door before installing it. Extension springs are usually color-coded to indicate their lifting capacity, so you can quickly identify what spring to purchase.

How to Replace Torsion Springs on Your Garage Door

Unlike extension springs, torsion springs can be more complex and potentially dangerous to replace. And that’s why you should let a professional replace them for you. However, if you’re an experienced DIYer who understands how torsion springs work and can handle the entire process with great caution, you can replace torsion garage door springs quite quickly and safely. Follow these steps to safely replace torsion garage door springs:

Torsion spring replacement is usually performed with the door closed. So, after you’ve unplugged the opener, you need to secure the door to prevent it from opening when the tension is released.
Once you’ve clumped the door, insert a winding bar in the spring’s winding cone and push it up one-quarter turn at a time to release the tension.
Next, loosen the screw set, ensuring the bar stays in the cone to keep it from unwinding and injuring you. Then, place a second bar into the hole next to the first bar and apply pressure.
Remove the first bar and reduce the pressure on the second bar and allow another one-quarter turn. Then put the first bar into the next hole, unwinding the spring a quarter turn at a time. Repeat the same action until all the tension is released and the spring unwound completely.
Once unwound, loosen and remove the bolts and set screws that secure the fixed cones to the bracket. Detach the lift cables and remove the drums from the torsion shaft and the springs.
Slide the left replacement spring into place on the torsion tube and reattach the cable drum. Repeat the same process for the right spring. Then, install the center bearing and tighten the cones.
Thread the safety cables and secure the drums by tightening the screw sets. Ensure both sides have equal tension to prevent your garage door from closing and opening unevenly.
Tension the torsion springs by winding them in the reverse direction to the one you used to unwound the springs using the winding bars. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation on the number of turns to make to achieve optimum tension.
Tighten the set screws on the winding cones and apply a lubricant to ensure a smooth operation. And get rid of the clamp.
Test the performance of your newly installed springs by lifting your garage door at least 3 feet up. If it stays in place, then the replacement spring is working properly. If it falls, tighten the spring to increase the tension. If it opens, loosen the torsion spring until it balances.

To ensure you purchase the correct torsion spring replacements, measure the wire size, inside diameter, spring length, and determine the winding orientation. This will help ensure you purchase a spring that resembles the old one to eliminate compatibility issues during installation.

Conclusion

While you can hardly find all garage door springs damaged or broken at the same time, it’s always best to replace all of them to ensure optimum performance of your garage door. Gather the right tools and equipment and take precautions to ensure you replace your garage door springs the right way and as safely as possible. If in doubt, leave the task to a professional for your peace of mind. This can also help you prevent potential damages to your property or causing injuries to yourself.

Looking for a reliable and professional garage door repair service in Westchester, NY? Look no further. OnTrack Garage Doors is here to help you with all your garage door needs, whether it’s an urgent issue or your garage door isn’t working. Contact us, and we’ll respond quickly to your call to get your garage door up and running again.