Torsion Spring vs. Extension Spring: Which Does Your Garage Door Use?
Both spring types fail the same way, loudly and without warning, but they’re repaired differently. Here’s how to tell which one you have.
Torsion Springs
Torsion springs mount horizontally on a metal shaft directly above the closed door, centered over the opening. They wind and unwind to lift the door, and most doors installed in the last 20 years use this style since it puts less strain on the tracks and lasts longer under regular use.
Extension Springs
Extension springs run horizontally along the upper tracks on either side of the door, above the horizontal track section, and stretch to provide lifting force. They’re more common on older or lighter doors and are generally less expensive to replace, though they require safety cables threaded through them since a snapped extension spring can whip dangerously without one.
Which One Do You Have?
Look above the closed door. If you see one or two springs on a single horizontal bar centered over the door, that’s torsion. If you see springs running along the tracks on the upper left and right sides of the garage, above the horizontal rails, that’s extension. Both fail the same way, a loud bang followed by a door that won’t open, but repair approach and parts differ.
Either way, this isn’t a DIY repair. Both spring types are under significant tension. See our spring repair page for cost and process details, or our disclaimer for why we don’t recommend attempting spring work yourself.
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