Your garage door is likely the heaviest moving object in your home. While the opener does the clicking, the garage door springs do the heavy lifting. When a spring snaps, your door becomes a dead weight, and your car might be held hostage.

A DIY garage door spring replacement is a common home maintenance project, but it comes with a major disclaimer: these springs are under extreme tension. If you don’t feel 100% confident, call a professional for garage spring repair. If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, here is how to get the job done safely.

Safety First: Read This Before Starting

Garage door springs store enough energy to cause serious injury.

  • Always use the correct tools (specifically winding cones).
  • Never use screwdrivers or pliers in place of winding bars.
  • Stay out of the path of flight. Never stand directly in front of the winding cone.

Tools and Materials You’ll Need

Before you climb the ladder, make sure you have the following:

  • Replacement Torsion Springs (Ensure they match your door’s weight/size)
  • Two Winding Bars (Matching the size of your spring’s winding cone)
  • Wrenches (7/16″, 1/2″, and 9/16″)
  • Locking Pliers (Vise-Grips)
  • Work Gloves and Safety Glasses

Step 1: Measure and Order the Right Parts

Don’t guess when buying new garage door springs. You need four specific measurements:

  1. Length: Measure the spring from end to end.
  2. Inside Diameter: Usually 2″ or 1.75″.
  3. Wire Size: Use a caliper or measure 20 coils.
  4. Wind Direction: Does it have a “Left-Hand” or “Right-Hand” wind?

If you’re unsure which spring type your garage door uses, our article on torsion vs extension garage door springs explains the key differences and helps you choose the correct option.

Step 2: Secure the Door

Close the garage door completely. Unplug the opener and pull the emergency release cord. Place locking pliers on the door track just above one of the rollers to ensure the door cannot move while you perform the garage spring repair.

Step 3: Unwind the Unbroken Spring

Even if only one of your garage door springs is broken, you should replace both at the same time.

  1. Insert a winding bar into the bottom hole of the winding cone on the unbroken spring.
  2. Hold the bar firmly while loosening the set screws.
  3. Carefully unwind the spring one quarter-turn at a time until all tension is gone.

Step 4: Remove and Install

  1. Undo the bolts at the center stationary cone.
  2. Slide the torsion shaft to the side to remove the old springs.
  3. Slide the new springs onto the shaft, ensuring the winding cones face the correct direction.
  4. Reinstall the center bracket and tighten the bolts.

Step 5: Winding the New Springs

This is the most critical part of garage door spring replacement.

  1. Insert a winding bar and turn it upward (toward the ceiling).
  2. How many turns? A standard 7-foot door usually requires 30 to 31 quarter-turns.
  3. Once the count is reached, tighten the set screws until they touch the shaft, then give them another 1/2 to 3/4 turn.

Step 6: Test the Balance

Remove the locking pliers and manually lift the door halfway.

  • If it stays put: Your garage spring repair was a success.
  • If it falls: It needs more tension.
  • If it flies up: It has too much tension.

If replacing a garage door spring feels risky or time-consuming. Our expert garage door technicians are here to help. Emu Garage Doors offers reliable garage door spring repair and replacement services. Call us on 02 9030 0686 for fast, safe, and professional assistance you can trust.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Common signs include the door becoming heavy to lift, unusual noises when operating, uneven movement, visible gaps in the spring coils, or the door refusing to open at all, often with a loud bang when the spring snaps.

Garage door springs are under extreme tension and can cause serious injury if mishandled. While some experienced DIYers may follow detailed guides, professional replacement is strongly recommended for safety unless you are fully confident with the correct tools and procedure.

Proper tools typically include winding bars, wrenches, locking pliers, and safety gear like work gloves and safety glasses. Using incorrect tools like screwdrivers as substitutes is dangerous and not advised.

For professionals, replacing a garage door spring generally takes about 1–3 hours depending on the door type and condition. DIY attempts may take longer.

Even if only one spring has broken, it’s recommended to replace both because springs tend to wear at similar rates. This ensures smoother balance and reduces the chance of a second failure shortly after.

Costs vary based on the type of spring and door, but in Australia professional spring replacement typically ranges around a few hundred dollars, depending on parts and labour.