I just noticed on one side the spring is stretched a bit in one spot. My 9’ door was installed 16 years ago and I know both sides will probably need to be replaced to keep even tension. The question is, how long do you think will it take this spring to fail? I open the door 3 times a day on average. I’m pretty handy, and I know I can do the job when I have to. If it will last another few years, that would ok with me.
Garage door down
Garage door up
Probably a good thing to ere on the side of caution and go ahead and replace it. 16yrs is a good run for a spring used that often. At least it’s not one of those coil springs that you have to wind up when installing!
I hear ya. I just don’t know what springs to get. Home Depot installed the door and opener. I’ll find the receipt and go there tomorrow. Hopefully they will know what springs I need to get. I have no idea if they are standard issue or not. I’ve never thought about it before.
Edit: As far as a safety issue, I don’t think that’s an issue because there is a cable that runs inside the spring. Should it snap, it wont hit me or my car because it’s contained. The issue would be opening the door to get my car out.
When I saw that pic I was relieved to see the cable running through the spring. I know the wind-up springs are a pain, but not near as dangerous. We had those stretch type springs at my parents house when I was a kid and the first time one broke it wizzed past my dad’s face only inches away. He swore he’d be dead if it would have hit him. It’s amazing how much energy is stored in one of those springs. Like you said, you find out how much energy they have once one breaks and you try to open the door by hand. He ended up running cables through them all after that first incident. I do recall one breaking once after and you would have thought a gun went off in garage.
I don’t keep up on the latest garage door tech, but I thought they did away with those types of springs. Was your door set up for those types of springs already, or did they install them like that?
It looks like you may have this type of spring.
I can’t remember the original setup. If you saw my garage when I bought my house you would have said “knock it down and build a new one. My brother in law and I re-did everything except the front door. Home Depot installed it. I wish I took pictures before and after. I never really thought about the mechanics of a garage door before up until I notice this problem.
This is my garage as it stands today. Didn’t change the layout, my brother in law and I just replaced all the rotted wood, changed the side door, re-sided and re roofed it to match the house which was done by a contractor.
The one on the left looks like the type I have… Thanks! I have to measure the length of mine just to make sure. I’ll call them if Home Depot can’t help me. Thanks again buddy!
I am not an expert but I’ve had the pleasure of replacing several sets of these “extension” springs.
The kink in your spring means it’s time to replace both springs. I believe most manufacturers rate springs for 10 years of service with average daily use.
That paint on the end of the spring indicates what weight of door the spring is rated for. Check the box for the color codes.
Home Depot should have what you need. Springs are usually sold in pairs, so replace both.
I would advise replacing the drive cables and safety cables as well. They’re cheap insurance against injury or damage to items in the garage!
Nice garage!
Home Depot has replacement springs, in various weights-of-pull.
I’ve removed & reinstalled garage door springs years ago, as a part of re-rigging broken cables… IIRC it isn’t that hard, with the door down.
EDIT: Sorry, I meant “UP” — i.e. with the spring as slack as it will go. :zipper_mouth_face: 
My opener is a Genie Excelerator worm drive. I’ve been lubing the worm over the years and it’s in excellent shape. Unfortunately, I’ve been blind when it comes to the springs until now. BTW, thanks for your input! 
Thanks my friend. The garage isn’t big and fancy, but it does what I need it to do. As I said before, I’m a handy guy and I’m sure it’s not a hard job to do. It’s just getting off my ass and doing it. I’ve been retired for the last two years and I hate to admit it, I’ve become a bit lazy. I didn’t notice a color code on the spring. When I get home, I’ll check it out. Hopefully there is one.
Be careful fooling with those springs—make sure door is open and wedged so it will stay open—when you take one spring loose lots of times the weight of the door will make it slam shut—BE CAREFUL
Replace it with a slinky it will bring hours of joy 
Already thought about that. I will clamp it on both sides in the up position. before I remove and replace one side at a time. Thanks for your input
Oh BTW, in the second picture, I just noticed the spring end is spray painted yellow. I’ll still measure the relaxed length of the good spring, also the diameter of coil and the thickness of the metal itself.
Were you standing on you head with the original comment? lol! just busting on you my friend. Don’t feel bad, I screw up all the time. Ever notice how many time I edit my posts? It’s embarrassing!
It’s a piece of cake
Garage doors are heavy, better to put a brace at each end to the ground rather than a clamped block to hold it open. Door springs are based on the dead weight of the door parts. While you’re at it, check the guide wheels and lift cables and their attachments to the doors as some of these might also need repair or replacement.
The way that cable end is installed is incorrect and quite dangerous, really bad. So bad that if the spring does break, you now have shrapnel and a steel whip to deal with. I'm glad you now have video evidence of the piss poor installation.
I’ll put 2 x 4’s under each end then…Thanks
Some of the bolts and screws needed to be tightened. The rollers are all in good shape. Other than the springs and lack of cable clamps, everything else looks fine
I’ll buy cable clamps tomorrow as well. Thanks
