How to Adjust Garage Door Springs: Expert-Backed Steps

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Learn to loosen & tighten torsion springs or extension springs
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Garage door springs offset the weight of the door and allow it to open and close with ease. A problem with the spring tension could cause the door to open or close unevenly, improperly, or at the wrong speed, and adjusting the springs will likely solve the problem. The way you adjust these springs depends on which kind you have: torsion springs , EZ-set torsion springs , or extension springs . Note that adjusting torsion springs can be very dangerous, and it may be safer to call a professional.

Section 1 of 6:

Adjusting Torsion Springs

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  1. Unplug the opener if you have an automatic garage door. Note that because the garage door will be down, this will mean:
    • The springs will be under tension, which increases the risk of injury. Call a professional if you don't feel confident dealing with a spring under this much tension.
    • You should have sufficient lighting in the garage to work comfortably.
    • You will need an alternate way out if anything should happen.
    • All your tools need to be inside the garage with you when you begin.
  2. Place a C-clamp or a pair of locking pliers on the track of the garage door just above the bottom roller. Be sure they clamp over the cable that runs along the track. This will prevent the door from popping open when you're adjusting the tension. [1]
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  3. From the stationary center plate, use your eye to follow the spring out to where it ends. At the end, there will be a winding cone keeping it in place. The cone will have four holes evenly spaced around it, plus two set screws that are used to lock the spring in place on the center shaft. [2]
    • To alter the tension on the spring, you will be adjusting the winding cone by inserting the winding bars into the holes and rotating the cone in one direction or the other.
  4. Use solid steel rods or bars that are around 18–24 in (46–61 cm) in length. Insert the winding cone or solid steel rod into the bottom hole on the winding collar. Hold the cone in place with the bar and loosen the set screws with a wrench. [3]
    • Check the shaft to see if there are any flattened or depressed areas where the screws are meant to be set. If so, make sure you replace the screws in these same flats when you are finished with your adjustment to ensure they hold more securely.
    • Measure the diameter of the holes in the winding cone (the collar that secures the spring to the metal shaft) to determine what size bar or rod to use. Most cones have a hole diameter of 1 ⁄ 2  in (1.3 cm).
    • Only use steel winding rods—never use a screwdriver, wrench, or other tool. The tool can easily snap under the pressure of the spring, and you could be injured. [4]
    • Position yourself to the side of the bars so that your head and body are not in the way if the spring breaks. Always be ready to move quickly.
  5. To adjust the tension on the spring, make sure the first winding bar is securely inserted into the hole in the winding cone, and manually rotate the cone in one-quarter increments. To determine a 1/4 turn, rotate the winding bars 90 degrees. [5]
    • To increase tension for a door that's difficult to open or closes too quickly, wind the cone up (in the same direction as the garage door cable goes through the pulley).
    • To decrease tension for a door that isn't closing fully, is difficult to close, or opens too quickly, wind the cone down (in the opposite direction from how the garage door cable passes through the pulley).
    • Unless you know exactly how much you need to adjust your door, only tighten it 1 to 3 quarter turns, then test the door. Repeat as necessary, working in 1/4 turns, until you achieve the proper tension.
  6. Keep the bottom-most winding bar in place and remove the second bar. Measure out 1/4 inch from the end of the winding cone (away from the center) and make a mark with a marker or piece of masking tape. With the bar still in the bottom hole, pull slightly up (toward the ceiling) on the bar and toward the center plate. As you do this: [6]
    • Continue holding the bar up and over and tap on it with the second bar. Tap it just below the winding cone. Tap it away from the center plate and toward the mark on the shaft.
    • Tap the bar until you have stretched the spring to meet the mark on the shaft.
    • This will help prevent the spring from binding.
  7. Once you've finished adjusting and stretching the spring, keep the bar in place, then tighten the set screws. FInger tighten the screws first, then when they touch the winding cone, use a screw to tighten them another half turn. [7]
    • Make sure you replace the screws into their flats if there were any on the shaft.
    • To safely remove the bars: Insert the second rod into a hole in the winding cone before you remove the first one. Remove the rods one at a time slowly in case the door moves unexpectedly.
  8. Some torsion spring mechanisms have two springs (one on either side of the center plate). If this is the case, repeat this process on the other spring. Torsion springs must be adjusted equally to ensure balance. [8]
    • If the springs aren’t balanced evenly, one side of the door may open faster or slower than the other side, which can damage the door or opener.
  9. Remove any clamps or pliers that are securing the door and test the door to see if you have adjusted the tension enough. If not, repeat steps four to ten until you have found the right tension to correct the problem you were having.
    • Once your adjustments have been made, plug your opener back in if you have an automatic garage door.
  10. To keep your garage door in good working order, lubricate all springs , hinges, bearings, and metal rollers twice a year with a lithium- or silicone-based spray. Don't use WD-40. [9]
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Section 2 of 6:

Adjusting EZ-Set Torsion Springs

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  1. 1
    Place a locking pliers onto the door shaft and prop it against the wall or ceiling. Place the locking pliers on the shaft that runs across the door so they secure the cable against the track. Then, engage the lock on the pliers and rotate them so they’re resting against the wall or ceiling to keep them from moving. This will prevent the cable from moving, which will keep the garage door from opening or closing while you tighten the spring. [10]
    • This is an important safety measure, so don’t skip it!
  2. 2
    Tighten the winder clockwise with a drill with a 7/16” (11mm) socket. If you don’t have a 7/16” (11mm) socket for your drill , use a 1 ⁄ 4  in (0.64 cm) hex allen bit instead. Fit the socket over the outside of the nut on the winding unit, or set the allen wrench inside the hole on the nut. Then, run the drill at half speed to turn the nut. [11]
    • If you need to loosen the spring, set your drill to turn counterclockwise.
    • Be very careful not to touch the spring with your hands or clothing as it turns. [12]
  3. 3
    Count how many times the spring turns so you know how much to tighten it. The easiest way to do this is to spray paint a horizontal line across the spring (some springs will already have this line). As you tighten the spring, the line will appear to wrap around the spring—count how many times it wraps to know how many complete turns the spring has made. [13]
    • Refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines to know how many turns the spring should have.
    • If the door starts to open by itself, the spring is too tight—back it up a turn to release some tension. [14]
    • If you’re tightening a Wayne Dalton TorqueMaster spring, follow the same procedure, but use the numbers on the counter wheel to count the turns so you’ll know when the spring is properly tightened. [15]
  4. 4
    Remove the vice grip and open the door halfway to test it. Slowly raise the garage door to about the halfway point and carefully release it. If it stays in place, the door is properly balanced, and you’re finished. [16]
    • If the door closes on its own, the spring needs more tension. Tighten the spring another quarter-turn at a time until the door is balanced.
    • If the door pulls itself up, the spring is too tight. Loosen the spring a quarter-turn at a time until the door is balanced.
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Section 3 of 6:

Adjusting Extension Springs

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  1. Before you can work, you need to release the tension on the springs. Open the door until it hits the stop bolt and can't go any farther. For an automatic door, open the door, unplug the opener, and disconnect the door from the opener by pulling the emergency release cord down and back until the spring locks in the open position. [17]
    • You will then be able to open the door fully and release the tension on the springs.
  2. Place a C-clamp below the bottom roller or use two locking pliers (one on each track under the bottom rollers).This will ensure the door doesn't fall while you are working. [18]
  3. The spring will be attached to the track hanger by a large hook that's kept in place with a nut. Once there's no more tension on the spring, remove it from the track hanger. Use an adjustable wrench to remove the nut on the back side of the bracket.
    • You'll now be able to move the hook to a lower or higher hole to decrease or increase the tension.
  4. To make sure you achieve the right tension, adjust the spring by one hole at a time. Adjust both springs equally , one at a time, if your door was balanced. Once you've moved the hook to its new location, replace the nut on the back and use the wrench to tighten the hook into place. [19]
    • To decrease tension and fix a door that isn't closing fully, is difficult to close, or opens too quickly, hook the spring onto a lower hole on the track hanger. This reduces the length of the spring and the tension on it.
    • To increase tension and fix a door that is difficult to open or closes too quickly, hook the spring onto a higher hole on the track hanger. This stretches the spring and increases the tension on it.
    • To adjust tension on one side and correct a door that wasn't closing evenly, adjust the spring only on the side where the gap was. Decrease the tension on that side by hooking the spring onto a lower hole on the track hanger.
  5. After adjusting your spring(s) by one hole, unclamp the door and test the springs by lowering the door to see how it feels. Make another single-hole adjustment if your door is still closing too quickly, slowly, or unevenly (with gaps).
    • Repeat steps one to five until your door is closing properly and evenly, or until your gap is gone.
    Overcome tension troubles through carefully unwinding. "I was having the hardest time closing my heavy wooden garage door. It would get stuck halfway down. This article was a lifesaver. It walked me through how to safely release the tension on the torsion spring and unwind it bit by bit. I was scared to mess with it at first, but the steps were so clear even I could follow them. Now my door glides up and down just right." - Johnny J.
    Balance uneven doors by adjusting side springs individually. "I could never get my garage door to close all the way. It always had a gap on one side, which drove me nuts. The article explained how to tweak the extension springs on each side separately. I was amazed that I could customize each spring's tension. I decreased the tension a tad on the one side, and voila — no more gap! My door finally closes evenly." - Ron G.
    Replace spring hooks effortlessly by following the illustrated steps. "I about had a heart attack when one of the spring hooks on my garage door busted off. Just looking at that heavy spring gave me the creeps. But the article had photos for every step in replacing the hook. I studied them closely and took my time. I couldn't believe I got the new hook on there myself in less than an hour. Those pictures were worth a thousand words." - John H.
    Achieve smooth operation through gradual tweaking. "My garage door was always too heavy to open. And then, once I got it open, it would slam down quickly. This article suggested making teeny changes to the tension, like moving the spring hooks down just one hole at a time. I kept testing the door in between adjustments. It took some patience, but working gradually let me get it adjusted just right. Now it opens smooth as butter and closes nice and slow." - Troy T.
    Did you know that wikiHow has collected over 365,000 reader stories since it started in 2005? We’d love to hear from you! Share your story here .
  6. The cable inside the spring will also be attached to a hook or the track, and you can adjust this by tightening or loosening the knot or the clamp attaching it and tweaking the length of the cable. [20]
    • Shorten the cable to slightly increase the tension, or lengthen it to slightly decrease the tension.
    • Your cable may be attached to the track by an S-hook, and if that's the case, move the hook to a higher hole to increase tension slightly or to a lower hole to decrease tension slightly.
  7. Determine if your door is opening and closing the way you would like, and ensure it's balanced (closes evenly and without gaps). Continue making minor adjustments with the cable and testing the door until it's correct.
    • When you have finished with your adjustments, be sure to remove anything that was securing the door in place, pull on the emergency cord to release the spring and reattach the door to the opener, and plug in your automatic door opener.
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Section 4 of 6:

What type of garage door spring do I have?

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  1. 1
    Side-mounted extension springs run above and parallel to the door track. They have an attached pulley and cable. The cable, which holds the spring, attaches to hooks in the track hanger assembly. There will often be two springs: one above each track on either side of the garage door. [21]
  2. 2
    Torsion springs are mounted above the door. They run along a metal shaft that's parallel with the top of the door. These are some of the most common types of springs found in garage doors.
    • The winding cone on a torsion spring has four equally-spaced holes all the way around it for inserting winding rods.
    • Lighter and smaller doors may only have a single torsion spring, while larger and heavier doors may have two springs, with one located on either side of the central plate.
  3. 3
    EZ-Set springs are on top of the door at one or both ends. The winding cone has a spacer on the shaft next to the spring. These springs have a single nut on the side or end of the winding cone—they don’t have multiple holes for inserting winding rods. [22]
    • If you don’t see a spring, you may have a Wayne Dalton TorqueMaster spring—it’s encased in a tube. It can be tightened the same way as an EZ-Set spring.
  4. 4
    When in doubt, check the manufacturer and model of your door. Most garage doors have a label that includes the name of the manufacturer and your door’s model number. If yours has this label and the springs are original to the door, you can use this information to determine exactly which type of spring you have installed. [23]
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Section 5 of 6:

How do I know if I need to adjust my garage door spring?

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  1. The problem you're having will help you figure out how you need to adjust the spring to fix the door. Doors that need spring adjustments may be difficult to open or close, open or close too quickly, not close fully or properly, or close unevenly, leaving a gap.: [24]
    • Decrease the tension if your door isn't closing fully, is difficult to close, or opens too quickly.
    • Increase the tension if the door is difficult to open or closes too quickly.
    • Adjust the tension on one side (where the gap is) if your door is closing evenly.
Section 6 of 6:

Is adjusting a garage door spring dangerous?

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  1. Yes, this is a dangerous DIY project because of the tension on the spring. Home improvement specialist Jacob Pischer says, “The tension springs on garage door tracks are under a lot of pressure. If they snap, they can seriously injure or kill you. I usually recommend that people use a professional for this job because it’s dangerous.” [25]
    • Professional handyman Barry Zakar agrees: “Garage door springs are under a lot of tension, and I don’t suggest working on them yourself. I recommend calling a garage door specialist.” [26]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What causes the cables to come off the wheels?
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Expert Answer
    Check the track, and if that looks okay then it may be loose.
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    Not Helpful 34 Helpful 53
  • Question
    How many turns for a single garage door?
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Expert Answer
    For a single garage door, I recommend starting with two turns and then checking to see if it works.
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  • Question
    Can the bottom rubber be replaced to keep rainwater out?
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Expert Answer
    Yes, the bottom rubber can be replaced to keep rainwater out. Alternatively, you can use a retrofit part.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infgar/infgar1b.html
      2. ↑ https://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infgar/infgar1b.html
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/KiZvXfMCmgs?t=183
      4. ↑ https://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infgar/inftorsion/inftorsion.html
      5. ↑ https://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infgar/infgar1b.html
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/KiZvXfMCmgs?t=284
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/KiZvXfMCmgs?t=342
      8. ↑ https://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infgar/infgar1b.html
      9. ↑ http://www.garagedoorrepair.com/2013/06/5-garage-door-maintenance-tips/
      1. ↑ https://ddmgaragedoors.com/diy-instructions/ez-set-torsion-spring-replacement.php
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/pxJfHdSjbIo?t=8
      3. ↑ https://ddmgaragedoors.com/diy-instructions/ez-set-torsion-spring-replacement.php
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/pxJfHdSjbIo?t=63
      5. ↑ https://ddmgaragedoors.com/diy-instructions/ez-set-torsion-spring-replacement.php
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/dtcQz1B1qz4?t=1090
      7. ↑ https://ddmgaragedoors.com/diy-instructions/ez-set-torsion-spring-replacement.php
      8. ↑ https://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infgar/infgar1b.html
      9. ↑ http://www.home-repair-central.com/adjusting-garage-door-springs.html
      10. ↑ http://www.home-repair-central.com/adjusting-garage-door-springs.html
      11. ↑ https://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infgar/infgar1b.html
      12. ↑ https://alutech-group.com/sites/default/files/uploads/itm/files/2018/02/08/gd_design_description_and_technical_guide_for_garage_doors_en_01.2018.pdf
      13. ↑ https://ddmgaragedoors.com/springs/ez-set-torsion-springs.php
      14. ↑ https://ddmgaragedoors.com/springs/ez-set-torsion-springs.php
      15. ↑ https://alutech-group.com/sites/default/files/uploads/itm/files/2018/02/08/gd_design_description_and_technical_guide_for_garage_doors_en_01.2018.pdf
      16. ↑ Jacob Pischer. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 4 September 2020.
      17. ↑ Barry Zakar. Handyman. Expert Interview. 16 July 2020.

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To adjust your garage door’s side-mounted springs, first, open your door fully and secure it in place with a c-clamp below the bottom roller. Once your garage door is secured, remove the spring hook from the track hanger, which will allow you to move the hook and adjust the spring's tension. If you need to increase the spring tension, hook the spring onto a lower hole on the track hanger. To decrease tension, move the hook to a higher hole. After adjusting your spring, unclamp the door and lower it to test the spring. If it is still not closing correctly, secure the door again and keep adjusting the spring until your door fully closes. For more advice, like how to adjust your garage door’s torsion springs, read on!

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