Doors that bind, grind, sag or jump the track, aligned and running true again · (239) 445-4425

(239) 445-4425 Get It Running True
Worker in a hard hat and gloves holding a yellow level

Counterbalance repair

Ave Maria Garage Door Spring Repair

Torsion or extension springs are measured against the door's weight, replaced as a pair and wound until the door hovers level, lifting evenly on both sides.

Ask about your springs — (239) 445-4425

Where the Lifting Force Comes From

Springs, not the opener, carry a garage door. A torsion spring sits on a shaft above the opening and twists as the door lowers, storing the energy that lifts it back. Extension springs, by contrast, run beside the upper tracks and lengthen whenever the door comes down. A basic spring is rated for roughly ten thousand lifts, which a busy door can spend in a few years.

A tired spring also changes the travel: drums wind unevenly, one side rises ahead and the opener strains against stray weight. The repair therefore measures the door, matches wire size, length and wind direction, and sets tension until the door holds still partway up.

How Spring Trouble Shows Up

  • A visible break in the coil

    When a torsion spring breaks, a clear gap opens in the coil, often preceded by a loud bang from the garage. The door will then feel as heavy as it truly is.

  • Door drops when released

    If the door sinks fast once the opener is disconnected, the springs are no longer cancelling its weight, and the lift has been shifting onto the cables and motor.

  • A lopsided rise

    When one spring is much weaker than its partner, one cable pulls harder and the door lifts crooked, a pattern that also pulls on the bracket and track.

From Broken Spring to Balanced Door

  1. 01

    Secure the door

    The door is clamped shut before anything is loosened, and leftover tension is let out a quarter turn at a time on winding bars, since a wound spring stores serious force.

  2. 02

    Match the replacement

    Door height, weight and track radius decide the wire size, spring length and left or right winding, so the new pair suits this door rather than an average one.

  3. 03

    Wind and fix

    New springs are mounted on the shaft, wound a measured number of turns and the set screws tightened against the shaft, with the center bearing and drums checked.

  4. 04

    Balance by hand

    With the opener still released, the door is raised to mid-height. If it stays there, the lift is level, and the opener can then be reconnected.

Questions About Springs

Why do torsion springs come with different winding directions?
A pair sits on one shaft, one at each end, and they must twist the same way relative to the drum they feed. One is left-wound and one right-wound so both pull the cable in the same direction.
Can I wind a spring myself with a screwdriver?
That is dangerous. Spring force is high enough to throw a bar or injure a hand. Proper winding bars, a firm stance and the right number of turns are the only safe method, and it is best left to a technician.
Does a higher-cycle spring change how the door moves?
The door feels the same once it is balanced. The difference is longevity, since heavier wire or a longer coil sustains more lifts, so the springs keep the door in balance for more seasons before they need attention.

A Door That Hovers Is a Door That Is Balanced

Tell us whether the door is heavy, drops when released or lifts crooked, and we will talk through which spring problem it points to.

Ask what your springs need — (239) 445-4425