Identify the Specific Spring Size You Will Need to Buy
Depending on the type of door springs you have, the next step is to measure the springs or weigh the door.
Measuring Springs
We recommend measuring standard residential torsion springs. You can find instructions for measuring springs on our Garage Door Springs page.
In order to process your order for springs, please provide the following information about each spring: (1) length, (2) wire size, (3) inside diameter, (4) spring wind, and (5) type of ends.
If you have two springs on a residential or commercial door, it is critical that you measure both springs. Approximately 30% of manufacturers and service companies mix wire sizes. Following the steps below will help in getting the correct dimensions.
This video explains how to measure garage door torsion springs:
Weighing the Door
Sometimes the best way to buy a spring is to weigh the door and measure its width and height.
We recommend weighing your garage door to confirm the torsion spring dimensions. This weight, along with the information regarding the door height, track radius, and drums, will help us determine the correct springs to balance your door.
Important: Do not use a digital scale. Regular analog bathroom scales adjust the reading as the weight changes, but most digital bathroom scales are designed to register weight in a narrow window of time. The better commercial scales for weighing packages do tend to be reliable as they will register changes in weight as they occur.
Caution! Working on garage doors is dangerous. This tutorial is to be used with our instructions for Torsion Spring Replacement (Two Springs) – DDM Garage Doors. Pay special attention to the dangers and safety measures.
How to Weigh a Garage Door That Has Torsion Springs
Pre-Cut Torsion Springs by Door Height and Weight:
2" ID Torsion Springs for 7' High Doors 74 to 100 pounds
2" ID Torsion Springs for 7' High Doors 101 to 125 pounds
2" ID Torsion Springs for 7' High Doors 126 to 160 pounds
2" ID Torsion Springs for 8' High Doors 82 to 109 pounds
2" ID Torsion Springs for 8' High Doors 110 to 145 pounds
2" ID Torsion Springs for 8' High Doors 150 to 175 pounds
1-3/4" ID Torsion Springs for 7' High Doors 64 to 105 pounds
1-3/4" ID Torsion Springs for 7' High Doors 101 to 140 pounds
1-3/4" ID Torsion Springs for 8' High Doors 71 to 90 pounds
1-3/4" ID Torsion Springs for 8' High Doors 115 to 143 pounds
Educational Material
Torsion Springs Replacement - Safely and Correctly
The video is here live! All the steps for replacing garage door torsion springs on a two-spring system are provided in clear, sequential steps.
Written Instructions for the S3 Winder
Are you hesitant to buy torsion springs because of the danger of winding and unwinding the springs? Let the S3 Winder remove this obstacle for you!
How Many Turns do You Wind a Torsion Spring?
Determining how to wind a torsion spring depends on many factors, including what kind of garage door you have and the width of your cable drums.