Repair Garage Door Springs - Garage Door Spring Replacement Video

We've all had that sick feeling when we find the garage door won't open, and no amount of pushing or pulling will get it to budge. That rusty old spring that had been silently doing its job for the last several years has given up the ghost and broken into two pieces.

For many of us, the garage door is the key entry into our homes and when it is broken, some people don't even have a house key to get in the house. When this problem "springs" on you unexpectedly, you panic to find a solution. We are generally not in a position to do a lot of price shopping, and it can be several hundred dollars to get one replaced. But if you have the time and don't need the door working in the next hour, it is possible to replace your own garage door springs with some quick research and "how to" instructions.

WARNING - THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS - PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION

The garage door is one of the heaviest objects in any home, so to lift it requires some type of assist, and the spring coil is the most common way to provide that extra lift. However, since it is under tension, it can pack a lot of energy if it is released suddenly while you are working on it. IF YOU ARE UNCERTAIN ABOUT YOUR ABILITY TO DO THIS, CALL A PROFESSIONAL.

The torsion spring acts as a counterbalance, and can use one or two springs. Typically this is mounted on the wall above the door, and the spring will be fixed on one end and is attached to a stationary cone on the other.

Replacement garage door springs can be purchased on Amazon or Ebay. Especially if you have a two-spring system and only one is broken, you need to take care in releasing the remaining good spring. This is done with bars that fit through the cone of the spring that allow you to unwind it a quarter turn at a time.

After the tension has been released on the springs, you remove the springs but taking the bolts out of the center cone in the middle of the door. After you take the screws out be sure to clamp it in place with something like a set of locking pliers.

Next mark the position of the end drums so they can be reinstalled in the same position when putting it back together. Remove them and then remove the old springs.

Next you put the new springs on the bar. BE SURE TO PUT THEM ON IN THE RIGHT ORIENTATION. Then reinstall the drums, aligning them with the marks that you made before you removed them.

After the drums are installed, attach the springs to the center bracket. Before you start the process of winding the springs, clamp the garage door in place with a C clamp or something similar.You wind the spring based on the height of the door, so be sure to keep track of the number of turns (or actually quarter turns) that you wind in before you tighten down the set screws (be sure to have the wrench for the set screws in reach while winding the spring). Be sure you are in a position to get some leverage while winding the springs, as the last few turns you are doing a lot of work. When you set the screws, be sure to pull the end cone out a quarter of an inch to give the spring some room to move. Check the adjustment of the spring tension to make sure the door does not tend to move on its own, and that it doesn't fight the garage door opener either. Readjust the tension as needed.

You are now ready to try opening and closing the garage door!