What Type of Garage Door Spring Do I Have?

Looking up at your garage door and wondering what type of springs you're dealing with? Good news – figuring out what type of garage door spring you have is actually pretty simple once you know what to look for.

For residential garage doors, there are three main types of spring systems, and each one has clear visual clues that make identification easy.

The Three Types of Garage Door Springs

Let me walk you through each type and the telltale signs that will help you identify yours at a glance.

Torque Master Springs: Hidden Inside the Tube

What to look for: A metal tube or bar above your garage door with NO visible springs on the outside of it.

If you see a smooth metal tube running across the top of your door opening without any springs wrapped around it, you've got a Torque Master system. These springs are completely enclosed inside that steel tube, which is why you can't see them from the outside.

Torsion Springs: Wrapped Around the Bar

What to look for: A metal tube or bar above your garage door WITH a large coiled spring (or springs) wrapped around it.

This is the most common setup on newer residential doors. You'll see one or two heavy-duty springs coiled around a steel shaft. These springs are clearly visible and usually pretty substantial looking.

Extension Springs: Stretched Along the Tracks

What to look for: Long springs that run parallel to your garage door tracks, usually with cables and pulleys.

Extension springs stretch along the horizontal tracks on either side of your door. You'll typically see cables running from the springs up to pulleys, and the whole setup is suspended above your door tracks rather than mounted on a central bar.

Which System Is "Best"?

Here's the thing – all three types of garage door springs last roughly the same amount of time and are about equally reliable. They're also roughly the same level of difficulty to install, so don't worry that you got stuck with the "hard" type.

The Torque Master system is slightly more complicated because it has more moving parts, but there's a safety trade-off: all the spring energy is contained inside that steel tube, which makes it a bit safer to work with.

Safety Considerations for DIY Work

None of these spring systems are going to kill you, but they all need to be approached with respect and caution. Garage door springs are under significant tension, and that energy needs to be handled properly.

If you're reasonably handy and confident working with tools, any of these systems can be DIY projects with the right tools and step-by-step instructions. There are tons of YouTube videos (including ours) that walk through the process for each type.

However, if you're not comfortable with hands-on mechanical work, the torsion and extension spring systems are probably better left to professionals. The Torque Master system tends to be a bit more DIY-friendly due to its enclosed design.

The Bottom Line: Just Look Up

Identifying your spring type really is as simple as taking a quick look at your garage door setup:

• Smooth tube with no visible springs = Torque Master
• Tube with springs wrapped around it = Torsion
• Springs running along the tracks = Extension

Once you know what type you have, finding the right replacement parts becomes much easier.

Getting the Right Replacement Springs

Most garage doors are different, even if they look similar from the outside. Door weight, size, and hardware all factor into what specific springs you'll need.

We carry all three types of spring systems and have selection tools designed to help you identify exactly what your door needs. Whether you're dealing with a Torque Master, torsion, or extension setup, we can help you get the right springs for your specific door.

Can't figure out exactly what you need from the visual guides? That's exactly the kind of stuff we love helping people figure out.

👉 Shop all garage door springs here: Browse All Spring Types

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