Garage Door Extension Springs

6 years ago

I am getting ready to replace the extension springs on my 160 lb garage door that is 7' tall by 16' wide. The spring length says 25" and 42", which I know is the relaxed length and the "stretched" length. My question is when I look at the extension springs that are currently on the door that are only 130 lb springs, (wrong springs and the reason I'm replacing them), the springs are stretched to 72" with the garage door closed. Is this normal with extension springs? I guess I'm confused as to why the length of the spring is 25" & 4"2 but the spring is stretched to 72" when the door is closed. Would someone please explain this?

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DavidR

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I've done a lot of DIY in my time, and I sometimes think that people posting "call a pro" may at times be over-reacting a bit.

But now I'm posting something of the sort, because one of the few things I refuse to ever touch is garage doors. Those springs have enough kinetic energy behind them to kill. Worse than that, IMO, is their ability to main.

It's your life, but I strongly recommend that you not try to repair your own garage door spring unless you do it for a living, or have previously, and have the necessary training.

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Comments (9)

User
6 years ago
What is the max length of the spring you are planning to purchase?
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Tim Elliott
6 years ago
All the extension springs I find say 25x42. The extension springs have safety cables running through them to prevent property damage or bodily harm if they should break.
M
6 years ago
I second DavidR's recommendation. This is the one thing I absolutely refuse to do as a DIY project.
HU-955941711
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I believe the 25x42 springs are for doors with a 7 foot height and a 27x48 is specified for an 8 foot door.Almost all of the residential doors are 7 foot which would explain why the big box stores carry mostly, if not only, the shorter springs.
kathyg_in_mi
6 years ago
Hire a Pro. Too dangerous.
cat_ky
6 years ago
Even with a pro doing the work on our garage door at our last house, the spring flew off, and went across the garge and straight out the garage window, and landed in an apple tree. It would have killed anyone that might have been in its way. Please read these warnings, and hire a pro, and then stay out of their way, while they work on it, and make sure there are not any others outside in that area, including pets.
Tim Elliott
6 years ago
That spring should have never flown anywhere had there been a safety cable running through the extension spring. Professional obviously missed that step. But you all make a good point about safety.
Tim Elliott
6 years ago
I understood everyone's concerns, but I changed the extension springs, pulleys, and pulley cables on my overhead garage door today. It really wasn't that hard. I had already weighed my garage door and discovered it weighs 170 lbs, so I used 170 lb. extension springs. I also installed safety cables through the sorings to prevent any bodily harm or property damage in the event one of the springs should break. It works A LOT better now. I can actually open and close it with one hand. Here are a couple of photos of the newly installed extension springs, pulleys, and pulley cables.