How to Safely Replace Torsion Garage Door Springs

Garage doors are the heaviest moving objects in your home, and the torsion springs are the muscles that make them manageable. When a spring snaps, it sounds like a gunshot in the night; do not attempt to 'repair' a broken spring by welding or reconnecting it, as the metal is fatigued and will fail again immediately. Replacement is the only safe path forward. Performing this task requires absolute focus and respect for the tension held within the spring assembly. If you aren't comfortable working with high-tension components, call a professional. If you proceed, ensure your winding bars are solid steel, not makeshift tools, and keep your body clear of the arc of the winding cone at all times.

  1. Lock the door down first. Close the garage door completely and use a C-clamp or locking pliers on the track just above a roller to prevent the door from moving. Verify the door is locked before touching the spring mechanism.
  2. Release the tension carefully. Insert a winding bar into the winding cone of the intact spring. Hold the bar firmly and slightly rotate to release the set screws, then slowly unwind the spring using the bars in a stair-step fashion.
  3. Slide the old spring free. Loosen the set screws on the stationary cone attached to the center bracket. Slide the spring away from the center bracket and off the torsion tube to remove it from the shaft.
  4. Mount the replacement spring. Slide the new spring onto the torsion shaft, ensuring the winding cone faces the outside of the door. Reattach the stationary cone to the center bracket and tighten the bolts firmly.
  5. Count every quarter-turn. Insert the winding bar into the cone and begin rotating upward toward the ceiling. Count every quarter-turn carefully as you apply the manufacturer-specified number of turns.
  6. Test and finish strong. Remove the winding bars, tighten the set screws against the shaft, and remove the C-clamps from the tracks. Operate the door manually once to ensure smooth travel before engaging the automatic opener.