Different Types of Garage Door Springs

Acting in the same way counter weights have been used to balance doors in previous generations, so garage door springs act as counterbalance to the weight of the door. While there are many varieties, there are two main types: torsion springs and extension springs. No matter the design, each one works to ease the process of opening and closing both manual and electric garages/garage doors.

Torsion Springs

The springs are attached to a metal shaft that is installed above the garage door. It applies torque to the shaft with drums at each end, and attached to each drum is a cable that is fixed to the bottom of the garage door. As the spring unwinds and winds, it creates a balance system for both opening and closing the door.

Standard: The most common, standard torsion springs generally use two springs mounted to the spring anchor bracket along the top of the garage. Two springs are more popular as it prevents damage and injury should one of the springs break.

EZ-Set: These springs are attached to winders at the end of the shaft instead of the middle.

Wayne Dalton TorqueMaster: The safest spring system available, the springs are enclosed on the inside of the torsion shaft and are held in place by a winding cone. Unlike other springs, they can only be wound by the use of a power drill. Cable drums support the ends of the shaft. The Torque Master is also designed to sit about 2” higher than the supports so as to keep the cable from wear due to rubbing against rough material. One of the best features is a hook that is afixed to the wall in order to support the center of the shaft.

Standard Commercial: While the commercial springs come in a wide array, all follow a basic linear system in which four or more torsion springs are fitted along the shaft. Because of this design, it makes them ideal for wider doors generally used by manufacturers.

Steel Rolling Door: The steel rolling doors are comprised of interlocking slats that wind around a barrel as the door is raised. Inside of this barrel is the torsion spring.

One-Piece Curtain Door: Used by most self-storage units, one-piece curtain doors are almost identical to steel rolling doors with the only difference being the one-piece door is made from a single piece of steel.

Garage Door Extension Springs

Usually mounted along the side of the garage door, each spring stretches and contracts to act as the counterbalance. Residential garage doors generally only have two springs with larger, commercial garage doors requiring more.

Sectional Garage Door: The extension springs on this door go both above and parallel to horizontal tracks and counterbalance the door weight by pulling on cables. When the door closes, its weight is transferred from the track to the cable.

One-Piece Garage Door: Like the one-piece curtain doors of the tension springs the extension springs operate as one unit. As the door opens, the top moves along a track inside of the garage while the outside starts to stick out. The springs, attached to a connecting point, serve to counterbalance the additional weight.

Garage door repairs are dangerous and you always need to wear safety glasses,gloves and use the proper tools when working on your garage door. If you do not feel comfortable performing the repair or are of unsure of the procedures, always call your local garage door technician.