How do I replace a counterbalance spring?
I have an overhead sectional garage door that has two springs wrapped around a common axle at the top of the door, to balance it. One of these springs has broken. How do I go about replacing it? What precautions do I need to take? Should I replace only the broken spring or both of them?
Expert
Maestro
This is not really a job for the do-it-yourselfer. The energy stored in the springs is significant, as is the weight of the garage door with no counterbalancing springs. There are different configurations, but in most circumstances, the axle or shaft has to be removed to replace the damaged spring. This is best left to a professional. We see the likelihood of needing to replace the other spring as very low. There is the remote possibility that the other spring has been damaged by performing double duty. Therefore, the decision to replace it is a function of the cost of the spring, because the labor component should be virtually identical for replacing one or both springs.
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