You will know your torsion springs need immediate replacement if you spot a 2-to-3-inch gap in the coils, hear a loud "bang" in the garage, or if the door feels exceedingly heavy when lifted manually. Springs typically last 7 to 10 years and are evaluated through visual inspection and manual testing.
To tell if a garage door torsion spring is bad or broken, check for a visible gap in the metal coils or listen for a sudden, loud bang. A bad spring will also make the door extremely heavy to lift, move unevenly, or cause the opener to struggle.
How Often Should You Replace Torsion Springs? Most torsion springs last for 10,000 cycles. Depending on how frequently the door is activated, that could translate to nearly a decade or just a few years.
Replacing a torsion spring on a garage door typically costs between $200 and $400 for a single spring, or $350 to $750 for a pair, including parts and labor. Costs fluctuate based on door weight, spring size, and whether it’s an emergency repair.
A broken torsion spring (most commonly found on garage doors) looks like a tightly wound metal coil that has been split into two pieces, leaving a distinct gap of 1 to 2 inches between the coils. Instead of appearing as one continuous, unbroken piece of metal, the two halves pull apart.
The Cost of Replacing Just One Spring
In some cases, the uneven tension can even cause damage to your cables, drums, or opener. By replacing both springs together, you reset your system, ensuring balanced lifting power, maximum cycle life, and fewer repairs down the road.
Yes, you can replace a torsion spring yourself if you are an experienced DIYer with the right tools, but it is one of the most hazardous home repairs you can attempt. The springs are under immense tension and releasing them improperly can cause severe injury or property damage.
The average garage door spring lifespan is seven to 10 years or approximately 10,000 opening and closing cycles. You can maximize the lifespan of your spring with regular maintenance. The lifetime also varies by spring type and quality.
A garage door can still open if the spring is broken, but it takes a bit of manual effort. Trying to open it automatically with the opener could strain the motor or burn it out since the broken spring makes the door heavier to lift. We recommend not trying to open your garage door if it has a broken spring.
No, you should not spray standard WD-40 on your garage door springs. While it may temporarily silence squeaking, standard WD-40 is a water-displacing solvent, not a true lubricant. It will break down existing grease, evaporate quickly, and attract dirt, which can cause premature wear and tear on your springs.
It is usually not worth repairing a 20-year-old garage door opener. The typical lifespan of a motor is 10 to 15 years. Because replacing the entire unit generally costs between $220 and $700, investing in minor repairs on a two-decade-old machine often leads to more breakdowns.
A broken spring disrupts the counterbalance system, making the garage door extremely heavy and difficult—if not impossible—to open manually. If you have an automatic opener, it may strain or fail to lift the door, potentially damaging the opener.
Yes. Garage door springs weaken over time due to constant stress, metal fatigue from continually winding and unwinding, and exposure to fluctuating temperatures.
If your garage door suddenly becomes incredibly heavy to lift, it almost always means the counterbalance springs have failed or lost tension. Garage doors actually weigh between 130 and 350 pounds, and it is the springs (not the motor) doing 80% to 90% of the heavy lifting.
Replacing a garage door torsion spring averages $200 to $450 for a single spring, or $300 to $700 for a standard double-spring system, including parts and labor. The exact price depends heavily on the size/weight of your door and your local market.
To tell if a garage torsion spring is bad, look for a visible 2-inch gap in the coiled metal above your closed door. Other indicators include the door feeling incredibly heavy, cables hanging slack, or the door opening only a foot before stopping.
A new garage door typically costs between $1,000 and $3,500 fully installed, with the national average landing near $2,700. Your final price depends on whether you are replacing a single-car or double-car door, your choice of material, and whether you need to include a new opener.
A standard 7-foot tall garage door typically requires 7 ¾ full turns (or 31 quarter turns) on the torsion spring.
To make it weaker, you must make the outer or inner diameter larger. Because the wire diameter remains the same, we get the same effect out of it as we did when adjusting the wire diameter. If your coils are tighter, you have a smaller index, which gives you more force.
Gather Tools
In addition to the torsion springs you'll need a minimum of one or two 10" vise grips, an adjustable wrench, and two 1/2" X 18" winding bars. Most hardware stores sell 1/2" X 36" steel rods that can be cut in half. You'll also need a firm ladder and a rag for cleaning your hands.
No, you should not spray standard WD-40 on your garage door springs. While it may temporarily silence squeaking, standard WD-40 is a water-displacing solvent, not a true lubricant. It will break down existing grease, evaporate quickly, and attract dirt, which can cause premature wear and tear on your springs.
The size of the torsion spring for a 16x7 garage door depends entirely on the door's total weight, not just its dimensions. Standard 16x7 doors range between 150 lbs (uninsulated steel) and 350+ lbs (thick carriage house/wood). Most standard 16x7 steel doors require a pair of springs measuring 0.207" or 0.218" wire size, with a 2" inside diameter.
Garage door springs should be tightened just enough to perfectly counterbalance the weight of the door. A properly tensioned door will remain stationary when manually lifted halfway. If it flies open, the springs are too tight; if it crashes down, they are too loose.