Broken Garage Spring. How to replace?

So I noticed this tonight.



Anyone replace one of these before?

The door still opens and shuts but want to fix this before there is a problem.

 

you have to fix that or the other side will break...

that spring is one thing i hire out for..you watch them do it, and it looks flat out dangerous. they have these metal sticks they use to twist and tension the spring. one comes loose, or your grip slips..it will be like a Wil-e-coyote episode.

at least the repair is cheap.

 

ya when mine broke i just had to call the garage door guy.. wasnt much of a diy fix

 

There's a lot of energy built up in those springs. Better to leave that to someone else bud.

 

I also wouldn't use the garage door opener with only one spring. The door is too heavy and you might end up breaking the opener too. Probably best to replace both springs at once.

 

^This. I believe I paid about $140 - $150 to have someone change both springs. Well worth it not to hurt yourself or someone else.

 

Yeah, not worth losing a limb or digit over, get a professional to replace it for you. I'm sure you can find one in your local yellow pages.

 

I was an installer for many years. Like what has been said, it's dangerous. Most shops wouldn"t even sell you the spings. Spend the $ and hire somebody and don't worry about it for another 10 years.

Oh, the other spring has the same amount of wear and tear so replace both.

 

Yep..i saw one of them blow up on the door of my last job..hire somone to do it right, and safe.

 

One of the few jobs that I would pay someone to do

 

One of the few jobs that I would pay someone to do

 

I agree, dangerous, however I have to same I am suprised at the responses for those that put in their own coils on their truck

 

I had the same problem a few months back. In Nevada only a licensed contractor can purchase the springs because the install is so dangerous. Like everyone else has said, hire a professional.

 

I've done it myself before - if you take your time, be smart and maintain positive control at all times you'll be fine. Regardless, both need to be replaced at the same time. If you have any concerns about it, hire it done.

 

I spent extra for coilovers.

 

Easy job. Like others said there is stored energy in that other spring still. Use a few pieces of rebar and "walk" the tension off the spring. Once the tension is gone, put the new springs on the shaft.

You can get the springs at your local Menards. Usually they are sized by the door size, and indicate approximately what number of turns they need to be cranked to at installation. Make sure you wind them in the correct direction, the springs are supposed to help lift the door. When you install the new spring make sure you wind them both the same amount. And replace both springs, then keep the good one for a spare in a pinch. This is also a good time to check the cables at each end of the shaft that go from the pulley to to lower corner of the door for wear, and replace if necessary.

If you have any doubts pay someone, but really, this is only like a 6 on a 10 scale of difficulty.

 

You aren't on a ladder when installing coil springs. Sometimes it's not the initial blow of the garage door spring that gets you it's the fall.

 

our suspension wont spin steel rebar-like shafts like propeller blades into your soft fleshy hands, or face, or stomach..

having said that, i wont compress our springs without a wall mounted spring compressor.

 

UPDATE: Had a local garage guy fix it for me. $235 for both new springs installed. I'm happy. It turns out the springs I had on their were too stiff. He put on the same size spring and it didn't work right, not neutrally balanced. So he swapped them to a lighter spring and he showed me how the door should be balanced out when disconnected from the opener. He couldn't get it balanced on the heavier spring.

So if I tried to do it myself I would have screwed it up anyway since I would have bought the wrong springs.

Now it works better than ever.

Thanks for all the replies.