How to Replace Garage Door Springs

Replacing Garage Door Springs

Torsion Springs are located above your garage door, mounted on a steel tube that spans the width of your garage door.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Garage Door Springs
• Safety Goggles
• Step Ladder
• Winding Bars pr. 1/2 " round steel bars, 18" long each.
• 1/2" open-end wrench
• 7/16" open-end wrench
• Set of locking pliars

1. Today we will learn how to replace TORSION SPRINGS.
   
   Lock garage door in the down position either by lock or locking pliars just above lower roller in track to prevent garage door from raising.

2. Disconnect your garage door opener from your garage door with the safety rope. I would suggest unplugging it completely.

3. Warning~! Torsion Springs are under extreme tension when tight or when the garage door is in the down position. Make sure you take every safety precaution, wear your safety glasses and make sure your ladder is stable.

4. Unwinding of Torsion Springs; One-car garages usually have one torsion springs as two-car garages have two garage door springs. If you have two springs on your door, you will need to SAFELY UNWIND the torsion spring that didn't break. If you only have one broken spring, then go to the next step.
   
   Place ladder under winding cone of unbroken spring. Winding cones are usually pointing away from center of door. Stationary cones are mounted to a bracket with two bolts.
   
   Place one winding bar in the winding cone hole. (Make sure the winding bar is inserted fully into the winding cone holes when making adjustments to spring.) While firmly in winding hole, press winding bar up toward roof just enough to feel the tension of the torsion spring. This will prepare you and your arm for our next step.

5. While holding slight pressure with one winding bar in spring, Grab your 7/16" to slowly unscrew the two set screws of winding cone. Slowly unscrew both set screws to the point where you can move and unwind the torsion spring. With both winding bars, slowly unwind your torsion spring with 1/4 turn intervals. Making sure your winding bar is firmly in the winding cone before removing the other bar from its hole. 7' tall garage doors have roughly 30 quarter turns on each spring.

6. Removing your old garage door torsion springs from center bearing plate. With your 1/2" wrench, remove the two bolts that run through the torsion springs near the center of the door. Make sure all set screws are loose on your springs. Move your ladder to your left under the RED cable drum and release the set screws. Repeat on the right side with the BLACK cable drum. At this point your can remove the torsion assembly and torsion tube. I like to have a helper hold the other end of the torsion tube during this process.

7. Now that you have the torsion tube on the garage floor you can remove the drums entirely along with the old torsion springs. Please take note of the orientation of the torsion springs and cable drums. They are painted with red and black paint. From Left to Right. Red drum, red spring, center bearing bracket, black spring, black drum. Slide the new garage door springs on at this time. Put the cable drums back on the tube as well. Give yourself about 10" of torsion tube on each end and slightly tighten the set screws on your springs and drums so they don't move while you place the tube back in place.

8. With a helper, slide the torsion tube back through your end bearing plates and center bearing plate. Slide your torsion spring(s) back over to your center bearing plate. Re-install the bolts through your stationary cone and center bearing plate and tighten. Double check your spring and drum orientation before moving on to the next step.
   
   Important: If you have a badly dinged up torsion tube, we recommend that you replace it. Or slide tube 6" one way or the other to give your drums and springs a new surface to connect to.

9. Place ladder under the RED cable drum on your left. Run the cable from your bottom bracket near the bottom roller, all the way up and around the cable drum to where it mounts.
   
   Important: Make sure the cable is between the roller stems and opening of garage door. Drum, mounted directly against the end BEARING plate for obvious reasons. Cable comes up and around the drum and connects in the slot. Make sure it connects and locks into cable drum.

10. With cable locked in place, manually apply tension to drum to where the cable is tight as a guitar string. Lock set screws on drum. While holding the drum and cable tight, lock in adjustable pliers on torsion tube leveraged against the header of the house. This will keep tension on the cable so you can repeat process to other drum. (It is very important that you start on the left side.)

11. Repeat process to other drum and cable. Manually apply tension to drum and lock set screws. Locking pliers are not necessary on this side.
    Make sure both cables are equally taught. Adjust if necessary.

12. Applying tension to springs. If you have a two spring application you can start on either one. Double check that the garage door is setting flat on the concrete. Double check tightness of cables.
    
    Ok, place ladder under one of your torsion springs and get your winding bars and 7/16" wrench to tighten the set screws. For a standard lift 7' high garage door, your garage door springs will require 7 1/2 full turns. So lets get started. Alternate turns with your winding bars until you reach 30 quarter or 7 1/2 full turns. Once you reach the desired tension, hold the winding bar as you lock both set screws.
    Note: Tighten down one full past contact with torsion tube. This will dimple the tube without squashing it.

13. Repeat to other torsion spring if you have two.

14. Remove locking pliers from torsion tube near the cable drum. Unlock the garage door or remove locking pliers from track. In some cases your garage door may tend to creep up on its own. If this happens you have too much tension on your garage springs. You will need to back off each spring a quarter turn to balance.
    
    Open the garage door slowly while checking your garage door track verticals. The roller stems should have a 1/2" gap between roller and track. Older garage door track should be replaced before replacing garage door springs.

15. Balancing your garage door. Garage door should hold on its own around waist high. You should be able to open and close your door manually with little effort. If door seems heavy, apply a quarter turn to each spring. If door feels to light and hard to close, back off a quarter turn on each spring.

16. Open and close your garage door manually a couple times slowly before re-connecting your garage door opener.
    
    You have accomplished this DIY job. Good Work!
    
    For Replacement Garage Door Springs
    visit www.diygaragerepair.com
    
    or Call Toll Free 800-997-7606

Tips & Warnings

• I have been in this business for over 20 years and have seen and read many things about installing your own garage door springs. Most negative articles are written by garage door service repairmen or owners of garage door companies that would rather you call them for the repair. They hire guys right off the street with little experience to charge you upwards of $600 for inferior torsion springs. Read what you can, educate yourself and give us a call if you have any questions.

Resources

• Replace Garage Door Springs

[whitsey]

on 10/12/2009 Very good and thorough instructions however I always recommend using a professional to help with these sorts of things. Only then can you be assured of workmanship and quality. http://www.australianagaragedoors.com.au