Can I install a garage door strut myself?

Bolting a bar to a door section looks simple, but the strut has to be the right part in the right place, and the extra weight changes how the door behaves. That is why we recommend having a technician confirm the reinforcement design before anything goes on the door, and test the door once it is installed.

What can go wrong

• A strut that does not match the door's profile or mounting pattern may not stiffen the section and can stress the fasteners.
• Fastening at the wrong points can damage the section skin or the hinge attachments.
• The added weight can leave the springs undersized, so the door drifts, drops or strains the opener.
• A strut bolted over a bowed section can hide the damage, a loose opener arm connection or a balance problem that caused the bowing.

What gets checked afterward

Once a strut is in place, the door should be balance tested and the opener's photo-eye and contact-reversal functions tested. If the balance is off, the springs need adjustment, and that is work for a technician because the springs and cables are under high tension.

What a homeowner can do

From the floor, you can look for a top section that bows, a strut that has come loose, rust, or missing screws, and note the door brand and model from a label if you can find one. That information helps us bring the right part. We size and install struts during repair or tune-up visits, which carry a $45 diagnostic trip fee, with a written price you approve before work starts. Also see why struts are not universal.

Read more

• Garage door strut guide
• Garage door repair

Related questions

• How many struts does a garage door need?
• When do I need to replace my garage door trolley?
• Are garage door struts universal?
• What types of garage door trolleys are there?
• Do you replace the whole garage door track?

Have a different question? Call (916) 838-8182 or browse all garage door questions.