The invention provides a spiral spring surface treatment production line multi-stage driving system and a driving method. The spiral spring surface treatment production line multi-stage driving system comprises a supporting frame and a conveying chain. The conveying chain is fixedly arranged on the supporting frame and is of a closed loop structure. The spiral spring surface treatment production line multi-stage driving system further comprises a plurality of drivers and a plurality of frequency converters. Each driver is electrically connected with the corresponding frequency converter. A U-shaped counterweight mechanism is arranged behind each driver. Each U-shaped counterweight mechanism comprises a U-shaped telescopic frame and a fixed conveying frame. Each U-shaped telescopic frame is telescopically connected with the corresponding fixed conveying frame, and a displacement sensor used for detecting the relative displacement of each U-shaped telescopic frame and the corresponding fixed conveying frame is arranged between the U-shaped telescopic frame and the fixed conveying frame. A counterweight is connected to the top end of the arc-shaped part of each U-shaped telescopic frame through a steel wire rope. A PLC detects displacement signals of the displacement sensors and controls the operating speed of the conveying chain driven by the drivers through the frequency converters according to the detected displacement signals.