How do I know which spring to choose for my garage door?

Is your spring broken or worn out? Here's how to recognise your type of spring, which measurements to take, and which photos to send us to get the right reference.

The spring(s) are the part that counterbalances the weight of your door: they're what lets you lift it without effort. Worn out or broken, the door becomes heavy, jams, or no longer holds its position. To guide you, only one thing matters: correctly identifying the spring you have.

Torsion or extension? The first question

There are two main families, easy to recognise by eye:

• Torsion spring — installed horizontally, on a shaft above the door or at the inner end of the rails. They twist on themselves.

The force is transmitted to the door by cables that wind onto the cable drums.

• Extension spring — single or in a cluster, installed along the sides of the rails, most often vertically, sometimes horizontally. They stretch as the door closes. The lifting force is transmitted by pulleys.

If the make of your door is Novoferm, Hormann, Tubauto or Normstahl => you need the manufacturer's original springs. To help us identify them, please send us the identification plate. For Hormann or Tubauto springs, you simply need to give us the wire length and diameter — we take care of the rest.

The measurements to take for springs we make to measure for you

• For a made-to-measure torsion spring: wire diameter, inside diameter, spring length without the winding cones, and the winding direction (left or right — the springs must all be changed together for the door to keep a good balance).

Taking the measurements of a torsion spring for a sectional door: https://www.aidegar.fr/content/9-comment-mesurer-ressort-torsion-pour-porte-sectionnelle
Video: https://youtu.be/NvmtZxY4L-o?si=PoJ7Mb5Z9fn-EU8S

• For a single made-to-measure extension spring: relaxed spring length without the loops, outer diameter of the spring, wire diameter. For a spring cluster, note the number shown on the hook.

Choosing the right extension spring and fitting it correctly: https://www.aidegar.fr/content/14-tutoriel-mesurer-ressort-traction-porte-de-garage
Video: https://youtu.be/MabwFcEpmhk?si=wGMssvnTVhPFuDg6

The photos to send us: an overall view of the door from inside, a close-up of the springs and, if possible, the door's label.

And then? Send us the spring type, the measurements and photos via our online chat or by e-mail: we'll give you the exact reference, ready to order. Not sure? 03 62 02 10 33."

Updated on: 08/07/2026