Garage Door Spring Repair Across Australia
Torsion & Extension Spring Replacement — Same Day
Quick summary
A broken garage door spring is the most common garage door failure we see. We replace torsion and extension springs on all major AU brands — B&D, Gliderol, Steel-Line, Merlin. Most jobs take under 90 minutes. Typical cost: $280–$450 for a standard single door (pair of torsion springs). Same-day service available most days across Australia.
Last updated: May 2026 · By the Able Garage Doors team
What a garage door spring does
The spring does the heavy work. A standard double garage door weighs 80–120 kg — the spring counterbalances that weight so the opener motor only has to manage the movement, not lift the whole door. Without it, the door is essentially immovable without serious effort. Torsion springs sit on a metal shaft above the door. Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on either side. B&D Panelift and Gliderol sectional doors almost always use torsion springs; older tilt-doors often use extension springs.
Signs your spring needs replacing
- Loud bang from the garage — that's the spring snapping
- Door won't open, or lifts a few centimetres and stops
- Door feels extremely heavy when you try to lift it manually
- Visible gap in the coils of the spring above the door
- Door closes too fast, or slams shut
- Uneven movement — one side rises faster than the other
- Springs more than 8–10 years old, or showing rust
Coastal properties in particular — Northern Beaches, Fremantle, Glenelg — often see springs fail earlier than the 7–10 year average. Salt air works into the metal and causes corrosion from the inside out. If you're within a few kilometres of the coast, it's worth annual lubrication and inspection.
What we do
- Inspect both springs, cables, and drums — we check the whole system, not just what's obviously broken
- Measure the door weight and existing spring specs to source the correct replacement
- Remove the broken spring(s) and replace both — always in pairs
- Inspect and lubricate cables and rollers while we're there
- Re-tension and test: the door should lift and lower smoothly, balance when stopped mid-travel
- Walk you through the repair and let you know if anything else needs attention
What it costs
Standard torsion spring replacement (pair) on a single door: $280–$380. Double door or heavy sectional: $350–$450. High-cycle spring upgrade (25,000+ cycles): add $80–120 — worth it if you use the door more than 6–8 times a day. If the cables also need replacing, that's an extra $80–150 depending on condition.
Factors that affect price: door size and weight, type of spring system (torsion vs extension), brand of door, and whether the cables and drums need attention at the same time.
A recent job
Chris in Hornsby rang at 7:15am on a Tuesday — loud bang from the garage, door wouldn't budge, and he had a 45-minute commute to get to. It was a B&D Panelift, about 11 years old, one torsion spring had snapped clean. We had a tech on-site by 9:30am. Both springs were the original factory fit and the cables were showing early fraying, so we replaced the lot — springs, cables, and drum bearings. Door was running quietly and balanced by 10:45am. Chris made his afternoon meetings.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my garage door spring is broken?
The most obvious sign is a loud bang from the garage — that's the spring snapping under tension. After that, the door won't open, or it opens a few centimetres and stops. If you try manually, it'll feel extremely heavy. You may also see a gap in the coils of the torsion spring above the door.
Can I open my garage door manually with a broken spring?
Technically yes, but the door will be extremely heavy — a standard double door weighs 80–120 kg without spring assistance. Don't attempt it alone. If you need to get your car out urgently, call us first — we can walk you through safely using the emergency release and supporting the door.
How long does spring replacement take?
Most spring replacements take 60–90 minutes on-site. If we find the cables are also worn (common when the spring has been failing for a while), add 20–30 minutes. We'll tell you within 10 minutes of arrival what we're looking at.
Do you always replace both springs at the same time?
Yes. If one torsion spring has broken, the other is typically the same age and under the same wear. Replacing just one means the remaining spring fails within weeks or months — you'd pay two call-out fees instead of one. We always replace in pairs.
How long do garage door springs last?
Standard springs are rated for 10,000 cycles — roughly 7–10 years at typical use. High-cycle springs (25,000–50,000 cycles) last significantly longer and are worth the upgrade on heavily-used doors. Coastal properties — Northern Beaches, Fremantle, Glenelg — often see shorter spring life due to salt air corrosion.
Is it safe to use my garage door with a worn spring?
No. A spring that's losing tension puts uneven load on the opener motor, cables, and tracks. It can fail suddenly — usually at the worst time. If your door is slow, noisy, or struggles to open, get it inspected before it becomes an emergency.