Torsion springs sit on a shaft above the door opening and twist to turn cable drums that lift the door. Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks and stretch. Most doors built since the 1990s use torsion springs, which run smoother and stay on the shaft when they break. Extension springs are common on older and lighter doors, cost a little less, and need a safety cable through each spring.
Key takeaways
- Springs on a bar above the opening are torsion springs. Springs running beside the ceiling tracks are extension springs.
- A plain metal tube across the header with no spring in sight is likely a Wayne Dalton TorqueMaster system.
- Extension springs need a safety cable running through each spring.
- Torsion springs tend to last longer and lift more evenly. Extension springs usually cost a little less to replace.
- Converting from extension to torsion is possible on many sectional doors if the header has room and solid framing.
- Whichever you have, springs are replaced in pairs and only by a technician.
Every sectional garage door is counterbalanced by springs, so the opener only has to guide it. There are two common ways to do that: torsion springs above the opening, or extension springs along the tracks. Which one you have changes how the door rides, how it fails and what a repair involves.
A safety note before you go look. You can identify your springs from the floor. Never unwind, adjust or remove a spring, a lift cable, a cable drum or a bottom bracket, and never run the opener with a broken spring or a snapped cable.
How does a torsion spring system work?
A torsion system has one or two springs slid over a steel torsion tube, or shaft, that runs across the header above the door. A center bearing plate holds the stationary end of each spring. The other end has a winding cone that is wound and locked to the shaft. If those names are new, the garage door parts glossary shows where each part sits.
When the door closes, the cables pull on the cable drums at each end of the shaft and the springs twist tighter. When the door opens, the springs unwind, turn the shaft, and the drums wind the lift cables up, lifting the door from the bottom brackets. Light doors may run on one spring. Heavier and wider doors use two.
How does an extension spring system work?
Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on each side, parallel to the ceiling. One end is anchored near the back of the track. The other end connects to a pulley. A lift cable runs from the bottom bracket, over the pulleys, to an anchor point.
When the door closes, the springs stretch and store energy. When it opens, they contract and pull the cables, lifting the door. They always work in pairs, one per side.
One-piece tilt-up doors, common on older San Diego homes, also use extension springs, mounted on pivot hardware at the sides of the opening. Our one-piece tilt-up page covers those.
How to tell which springs you have
Stand inside the garage with the door closed and look up.
- Springs on a bar directly above the opening, with a bracket plate in the middle: torsion.
- Long springs alongside the ceiling tracks, with pulleys and cables: extension.
- A smooth metal tube across the header with no visible spring and drums at each end: most likely a Wayne Dalton TorqueMaster.
- Big springs on brackets at the sides of a door that swings out as one piece: a one-piece tilt-up.
You may see paint on the spring ends. DASMA, the door industry association, publishes official color codes: on torsion springs the color identifies the wire size, and on extension springs it identifies the door weight the spring is made for. DASMA also cautions that color alone is not enough, so we confirm by measuring.
Torsion vs extension at a glance
| Point of comparison | Torsion springs | Extension springs |
|---|---|---|
| Where they sit | On a shaft above the opening | Along the horizontal tracks |
| Typical doors | Most doors built since the 1990s, heavier and wider doors | Older and lighter doors, one-piece tilt-ups |
| Lifespan | Commonly rated around 10,000 cycles, high-cycle options available | Often rated a little lower than torsion |
| When one breaks | Stays on the shaft, the door stops | Can whip unless a safety cable runs through it |
| How the door rides | Even, controlled lift | Can feel less even as the springs stretch |
| Wall-mount opener | Compatible | Needs a torsion conversion first |
| Replacement cost | A little higher | A little lower |
National cost guides put torsion springs at roughly 10,000 to 20,000 cycles and extension springs at roughly 8,000 to 15,000. Your actual life depends on how many times a day the door runs, and our guide to how long garage door springs last turns those cycles into years.
Safety cables on extension springs
A safety cable runs through the center of each extension spring and is anchored at both ends. If the spring snaps, the cable holds the pieces in place. Without it, a broken extension spring can fly across the garage.
Many older installations never had safety cables, and some lost them during an earlier repair. If yours are missing, fitting them is part of any extension spring replacement we do.
Should you convert extension to torsion?
On many sectional doors you can. The conversion needs room above the door for the shaft, solid framing on the header to mount the center and end bearing plates, and new springs, drums and cables sized to the door. National cost guides put it around $400 to $800.
It is worth considering when you want a wall-mount opener, when the door is heavy or has been upgraded, or when the extension springs keep breaking. It is rarely worth it on a light door that runs well. One-piece tilt-up doors are built around their pivot hardware and extension springs, so the conversion question applies to sectional doors.
The Wayne Dalton TorqueMaster
Wayne Dalton makes the TorqueMaster system, which hides the torsion springs inside the tube. From the ground it looks like a bare tube with drums at the ends. It works on the same principle as an exposed torsion spring, but it takes its own replacement springs and its own tools, so tell us if you think you have one. Our Wayne Dalton page shows how to identify it.
What each means for repair
Torsion. When one breaks, both are replaced. We let down the remaining spring, match the new pair by wire size, inside diameter and length, wind them to the weight of the door and balance it. The signs are on our broken spring page, and the first steps are in what to do when a spring breaks.
Extension. Both springs are replaced, the pulleys and lift cables are checked, and a safety cable goes through each spring. Worn pulleys and frayed cables are common on older extension setups and are cheapest to replace at the same visit.
Typical San Diego prices for both systems are in our spring replacement cost guide.
Across San Diego
In older neighborhoods like Clairemont and El Cajon, you still find extension springs and the occasional one-piece tilt-up. In newer tracts like Carmel Valley, steel sectional doors on torsion springs are the norm. Either way, the first job is to identify what is on the door before anyone quotes it.
Next step
Take a photo of the springs from the floor, with the door closed, and book spring replacement. We will tell you which system you have, whether anything is missing, and what the pair should cost before we come out.
Rather have a technician look at it?
We repair garage doors across San Diego County, same day in most cases, with the price agreed before we come out.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, torsion or extension garage door springs?
For most sectional doors, torsion springs. They lift more evenly, tend to carry higher cycle ratings, stay on the shaft when they break, and work with wall-mount openers. Extension springs cost a little less and suit older, lighter doors and one-piece tilt-ups. Either system works well when it is matched to the door, balanced and fitted with the right safety hardware.
How do I know if I have torsion or extension springs?
Stand inside the garage with the door closed and look up. One or two springs on a metal bar directly above the opening are torsion springs. Long springs running alongside the horizontal ceiling tracks, usually with pulleys and cables, are extension springs. A smooth metal tube across the header with no visible spring is probably a Wayne Dalton TorqueMaster system.
Can extension springs be converted to torsion springs?
On many sectional doors, yes. The conversion needs enough room above the door for the shaft, solid framing on the header to mount the bearing plates, and new drums, cables and springs sized to the door. National cost guides put it around $400 to $800. One-piece tilt-up doors are built around extension springs and pivot hardware, so the question applies to sectional doors.
Do garage door extension springs need safety cables?
Yes. A safety cable runs through the middle of each extension spring and is anchored at both ends. If the spring breaks, the cable holds the pieces so they cannot whip across the garage. Many older installations never had them. If yours do not, have safety cables fitted when the springs are next serviced or replaced.
Do torsion springs last longer than extension springs?
Usually, yes. HomeAdvisor's national cost guide puts torsion springs at roughly 10,000 to 20,000 cycles and extension springs at roughly 8,000 to 15,000, where one cycle is one open and one close. Actual life depends on how many times a day the door runs, the rating of the spring and rust. High-cycle torsion springs are rated for more, and on a two-spring door both are replaced together.
Sources
- Technical Data Sheet 171, Official Color Codes for Torsion and Extension Springs, Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA)
- Safety Tips, Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA)
- How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Garage Door Spring?, HomeAdvisor