Anyone replace their own garage door springs? Torsion type..

Cranky · Jul 18, 2017

Thinking about giving it a shot after the garage door company told me 289 bucks. Anyone have any advise on doing this job? I've watched doors get installed several times and have adjusted my own springs before and have helped with an installation....33 years ago. Yup, the springs lasted that long. The front door went last summer and my back door broke last week. There's also some good vids on the net on how to do it....or at least they seem to be informative. Another issue is I have a car within 22" of the door that has no suspension under it and it's in the process of getting it. It's just too close and makes the work area very tight.

snakeyes · Jul 18, 2017

be very very very careful alot of people have gotten hurt or died

alsant · Jul 18, 2017

Second that!

NJRR · Jul 18, 2017

If you do decide to go for it, make sure you use the correct rods to torque the spring. They have to be hardened, not just plain steel rod. I had a company doing my overheads at work and the "professional" installer was using one plain steel rod that suddenly bent and slipped out of the hole. The other rod spun back onto his face and head. He was conscious when they took him away in the ambulance, but his face was a mess. Not sure if it's worth saving the $289......

snakeyes said:
be very very very careful alot of people have gotten hurt or died

Ranger16 · Jul 18, 2017

Funny this should come up now. Just replaced one of mine last week. Follow the instructions on the spring box, and the excellent video above. Not a hard job.

747mopar · Jul 18, 2017

I installed all 3 of my garage doors including the spring and there's not much to it. Take note of the twist and what side they come off of, most are painted red or black on the cones and cable pulleys to designate which side goes where. If your lucky the tag will still be on the original spring telling you the amount of turns, not a big deal but does save time. Don't sweat it just be careful not to let a bar slip. I used long 1/2" bolts, the threads bite the aluminum making it hard to slip.

Lazerwolf · Jul 18, 2017

I've installed my own garage door and replaced the springs on both my mom's and son's garages. Pretty much second everything stated here. Not hard but be careful and pay attention. Correct winding rods are critical too. I picked mine up at Menards for under $15 for a set. Go for it and good luck.

Cranky · Jul 18, 2017

NJRR said:
If you do decide to go for it, make sure you use the correct rods to torque the spring. They have to be hardened, not just plain steel rod. I had a company doing my overheads at work and the "professional" installer was using one plain steel rod that suddenly bent and slipped out of the hole. The other rod spun back onto his face and head. He was conscious when they took him away in the ambulance, but his face was a mess. Not sure if it's worth saving the $289......

I have stainless steel for rods or will be rods. 316 SS doesn't bend very easily at all....and 289 isn't chump change when a divorce is on the horizon...and if I can build rear ends and do all I've done with cars, I can do this too

Bruzilla · Jul 18, 2017

$289 seems like cheap insurance to me. I have paid both times I needed this done.

Daves69 · Jul 18, 2017

Take your time and make sure the rod is completely in the adjuster hole.

Alternative cost more..........

Billccm · Jul 18, 2017

NJRR said:
He was conscious when they took him away in the ambulance, but his face was a mess. Not sure if it's worth saving the $289......

I was a volunteer fireman many years ago and helped with a call for a garage door spring 'explosion'. I wouldn't touch it even if it was $587 for a expert to replace.

NJRR · Jul 18, 2017

Cranky said:
I have stainless steel for rods or will be rods. 316 SS doesn't bend very easily at all....and 289 isn't chump change when a divorce is on the horizon...and if I can build rear ends and do all I've done with cars, I can do this too

I hear ya. I'm a do-it-yourself guy myself and hate paying for things I know I can or have done in the past. But, I'm also realizing that I'm physically not the same as I used to be (although I did do my 100 pushups this morning) and it takes a lot longer to heal.

snakeyes · Jul 18, 2017

with the wife :rofl:

moparnation74 · Jul 18, 2017

IMHO I would pay someones 289 bucks to do that.....

As another said cheap insurance...

65-440 · Jul 18, 2017

I try and do as Much as possible myself, but I paid to have my Garage door and tracks installed last year. Glad I did too, was a bit more involved than I thought. Plus, the door opens and closes like butter ! With the motor disconnected I can open the door with my pinky finger !

Daves69 · Jul 18, 2017

IMO, Not difficult but time consuming if you've never installed a complete door. I did mine a year ago due to dents, chalking, and piss poor insulation. Just needed a little help with stacking the top two panels.

Those drill adjust ends worked out pretty well. Sure beats the hand wind!

mr. b · Jul 18, 2017

Cranky I have done them myself not to bad to do just that your time and don't let that rod slip I'm sure you can do it the door I did was a 16 foot works perfect

bm02tj · Jul 18, 2017

Use good rods and work so that if one breaks or pops off you are not in line
and stay to the side of the spring so if it fails it will not get you
It is not hard

kiwigtx · Jul 18, 2017

I had my door replaced with one similar to what Dave posted above;

The installer told me that when I redo my garage ceiling to call him and he would adjust it for me....basically ...don't mess with it, because it can be dangerous without the correct tools and knowledge. I follow instructions

It looked like a rat-trap when it was being installed.

747mopar · Jul 18, 2017

Bruzilla said:
$289 seems like cheap insurance to me. I have paid both times I needed this done.

But if you ever did one yourself you'd be scratching your head why you ever paid that much, it's easy. Never did a garage door in my life and installed mine in maybe three hours a piece and that's the whole assembly, tracks, door, etc.

You guys are making a simple job sound like a disaster waiting to happen. Cranky is a machinist, you learn real quick as a machinist of where to place your body and how to handle tooling.... He's got this.

Anyone replace their own garage door springs? Torsion type..

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