DDM Garage Doors

Using Torsion Springs with Different Lifts

Customers have asked if it is OK to use a 100 pound lift spring with an 80 pound lift springs to lift a 180 pound garage door.

The answer is yes. Probably more manufacturers than not have been doing this from the beginning. The priority in manufacturing is balancing the garage door with a minimum of inventory.

Service companies also do this to minimize inventory and to reduce errors made by service techs who don’t know how to convert unmatched springs.

If you are ordering replacement garage door springs, however, we recommend using springs that are matched.

The main reason is to maximize cycle life. Unmatched springs will usually have one with a shorter cycle life that will break first. If both springs are replaced at the same time, the remaining cycles in the unbroken spring will go unused.

A second reason not to use unmatched springs is that the larger wire will often cause the spring to pull the shaft to one side, causing cable drums to scrape and the cables to peel off the drums. It also causes the flag bracket to come loose at times.

Our customers have found it easy to use our Find My Spring Database Program to match their own springs.

You do not need to understand engineering jargon: inch pounds per turn (IPPT), moment arm, active coils, and constants just to replace your springs. We have already done that work for you.

Many professional garage door service companies, spring suppliers and manufacturers use this program as well, not only to match springs, but also to determine lifts and longer life torsion spring options for garage doors.