Garage Door Spring Replacement in Chicago and Suburbs

Garage door springs are under constant tension and carry nearly the full weight of the door every time it opens and closes. When a spring breaks, the door typically stops working immediately. Most homeowners hear a loud bang from the garage -- often mistaken for something falling -- followed by a door that the opener cannot lift, or one that feels extremely heavy when tested manually.

Preferred Garage Door Repair Company replaces broken torsion springs and extension springs for residential and light commercial garage doors throughout Chicago, the North Shore, northwest suburbs, and western suburbs.

Torsion Springs

Torsion springs mount on a steel shaft directly above the door opening. They store energy by twisting as the door closes and release that energy to assist the opener when the door rises. Most modern residential doors use one or two torsion springs depending on the door width and weight. When a torsion spring breaks, there is usually a visible gap in the coil or the spring appears separated from the center bearing plate.

Extension Springs

Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on each side of the door. They stretch when the door closes and contract when it opens. Extension spring systems include safety cables that run through the center of each spring to contain the spring if it snaps. Older doors, lower-headroom installations, and one-car garage doors are more likely to use extension springs.

What We Do

We inspect both springs, the cables, the drums, and the center and end bearing plates before replacing the spring. If the cable shows fraying or the drums are worn, we address those at the same visit to prevent a follow-up failure. We replace both springs at the same time even when only one has broken, because the second spring has completed the same number of cycles and is at the same wear point. Replacing one and leaving the other is a short-term fix that leads to a second service call within months.

Standard torsion springs are rated for approximately 10,000 cycles. High-cycle springs rated at 25,000 or 50,000 cycles are available for homeowners who want significantly longer service life. We can advise on which option makes sense based on your door weight, usage, and budget.

Spring Replacement Is Not a DIY Job

Torsion springs are under several hundred pounds of torque when wound. Releasing or winding a spring without the correct winding bars and experience is one of the more dangerous home repair tasks there is. We do not recommend attempting spring replacement without professional training and proper tools.

For answers to common spring replacement questions including cost, safety, and DIY risks, see our Garage Door Repair Q&A.

Same-Day Service Available

We carry standard spring sizes on the truck and can complete most spring replacements in a single visit. Call 847-861-0121 for same-day spring replacement across our Chicago-area service territory.