Guide
Can you replace a torsion spring yourself?
You can buy the parts online, but we wouldn't do it. A wound torsion spring stores enough energy to break bones, and the job leaves no margin for a slipped bar or a loose set screw.
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Why torsion springs are dangerous
The torsion spring on the bar above your door is twisted tight enough to balance a door that can weigh well over a hundred pounds. To replace it, someone has to unwind the old spring and wind the new one a set number of turns, a quarter turn at a time, holding the full force with steel winding bars. If a bar slips out of the winding cone, or the wrong tool is used, the spring unwinds in an instant and the bar or the cone becomes a projectile.
The rest of the door is under that tension too. The cables and drums carry that load as well. Loosening the wrong bolt on a bottom bracket releases it.
What goes wrong for DIYers
- Using screwdrivers or rebar instead of proper winding bars.
- Buying a spring that is the wrong size for the door's weight. The door ends up too heavy or too light, and the opener pays for it.
- Winding the wrong number of turns, or winding in the wrong direction.
- Forgetting to clamp the door to the track first, so it lifts when the spring is wound.
What you can safely do
- Look at the spring. A gap in the coils means it broke.
- Lubricate the springs, hinges and roller bearings with a garage door lubricant a couple of times a year. A light coat cuts noise and friction. Skip heavy grease.
- Run the balance test: disconnect the opener with the door closed, lift it halfway by hand and let go. A balanced door stays put. One that drops or shoots up needs its springs adjusted by a technician.
- Replace the remote battery, clean the safety sensors and tighten loose hinge screws on the door sections.
Extension springs
Older doors may have long springs stretched along each horizontal track instead of one above the door. They hold less energy than a torsion spring when the door is open, but a spring without a safety cable running through it can snap and whip across the garage. If yours have no safety cables, have them added or replaced. Garage door safety.
What it costs to have it done
This Old House puts a torsion spring replacement at $350 to $540 installed, with the spring itself at $80 to $120 (March 2026). The difference is the labor and the risk. Given what can go wrong, I think that is a fair trade. Broken spring repair.
Common questions
Can I replace a torsion spring myself?
You can buy the parts, but we wouldn't. Winding a torsion spring with the wrong tools, or letting a bar slip, can cause serious injury. It is the one garage door job we always leave to a technician.
Should you lubricate garage door tension springs?
Yes. A light coat of garage door lubricant on the springs a couple of times a year reduces friction and noise. Wipe off the excess and avoid heavy grease.
How do I know if my garage door springs need adjusting?
Disconnect the opener with the door closed, lift the door halfway and let go. If it falls or rises on its own, the springs are out of balance. Have a technician adjust them.