Garage door spring replacement

Question

Does anybody have any experience with changing Garador garage springs . I would welcome any knowledge you have . Cheers

Answer 1

Some doors use a torsion spring wrapped around a bar above the door. Other doors use an extension spring which might be mounted parallel to the track on each side. Procedure is entirely different for one vs the other.

The main thing to understand is that an overhead garage door is a system with a LOT of stored energy. That in itself isn't unusual; we successfully deal with high-energy storage systems every day. Think of lithium-ion batteries in a laptop computer. Gasoline in a vehicle. Compressed air. A vehicle raised on a jack to allow repairs. To work with these things safely we think about the risks and take steps to mitigate them. Don't overheat batteries. Avoid spark and flame near gasoline vapors. Don't crawl under the raised vehicle until jack stands or cribbing are securely in place.

When working with a garage door system there are likewise precautions that can be taken to minimize risks. Lower the door to the ground if possible; if it must remain overhead then block it so it can't fall. Use pry bars of appropriate length for adding or removing tension in springs. Make sure the sockets or prying surfaces are in good condition so the pry bars will remain engaged well. Stand and keep body parts clear so that if the spring should break or a pry bar slips you (and others) are clear of the danger zone. Replace springs in pairs and tension equally to avoid overload.

It's not impossible to do but good situational awareness is vital. Some people have that knack and some don't. Honestly consider whether that's one of your strengths. If it isn't, bring in somebody who does have that knack.

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