The garage door spring is part of making sure your garage door opens smoothly and efficiently. It is under tension to allow the cable to lift the garage door. Garage doors come in all shapes and sizes, and so do their springs. Whether you’ve got a hefty, solid wood door or a lighter, more modern design, there’s a spring out there that’s just right for you. So, let’s get started and find the spring that will be suitable for your garage door.
| 1st Step: Check the Wind Direction
The first step to identifying a garage door spring is understanding the wind direction. The secret lies at the very end of the spring. A spring that concludes in a clockwise swirl signifies a left-wound type, while a counter-clockwise finish points to a right-wound spring.
But there’s an easier way to decipher this code – colour indicators. The hues of the winding cones usually indicate the wind direction. A red mark is the telltale sign of a right-wound spring, and a black mark identifies a left-wound spring. This simple yet effective colour-coding can save time and ensure the correct identification of your garage door spring type.
| 2nd Step: Garage Door Spring Wire Size
When it comes to replacing a garage door spring, precision is paramount. The essential step is measuring the length of ten or twenty coils of the spring in inches. The right measurement directs you to the correct wire size, ensuring your door’s mechanics align perfectly with its needs.
In this chart, we will provide the measurements (10 and 20 coils) and colours we commonly use to label the spring for residential spring grade:
| 10 coils (in inches) | 20 coils (in inches) | Wire gauge | Spring colour |
| 2 1/16 | 4 1/8 | .207 | Yellow |
| 2 3/16 | 4 3/8 | .218 | White |
| 2 1/4 | 4 1/2 | .225 | Red |
| 2 5/16 | 4 5/8 | .234 | Brown |
| 2 7/16 | 4 7/8 | .243 | Green |
| 2 1/2 | 5 | .250 | Gold |
| 2 5/8 | 5 1/4 | .262 | Blue |
| 2 3/4 | 5 1/2 | .273 | Orange |
| 2 13/16 | 5 5/8 | .283 | LT Blue |
For custom sizes, it is recommended to contact a professional to make sure that the new spring will be suitable for your garage door.
| 3rd Step: Measure the overall length of the garage door torsion spring
Measure the overall length of the spring to the nearest quarter inch.
| 4th Step: Measure the inside diameter
For garage door residential springs, the usual inner diameter is 1 3/4” or 2”, but it is recommended to check before ordering the garage door parts.
If you have any questions about your spring you can contact Motion Garage Doors for more information.
