Clockspring - Removal

REMOVAL

WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury on vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) before attempting any steering wheel, steering column, airbag, seat belt tensioner, impact sensor or instrument panel component diagnosis or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative (ground) cable, then wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before performing further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure way to disable the SRS. Failure to take the proper precautions could result in accidental airbag deployment.

CAUTION: Always turn the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position. Then, prior to removing the clockspring from the steering column or disconnecting the steering column from the steering gear, lock the steering wheel to the steering column or securely fasten the clockspring rotor to the clockspring case. If clockspring centering has been compromised for ANY reason, the entire clockspring and Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) unit MUST be replaced with a new unit.





1. Place the front wheels in the straight ahead position.
2. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
3. Remove the driver airbag from the steering wheel. Driver Air Bag - Removal.
4. Disconnect the steering wheel wire harness connector from the upper clockspring connector receptacle (3).
5. Remove the steering wheel from the steering column. Removal.
6. If the removed clockspring (1) is to be reused, be certain to secure the clockspring rotor to the clockspring case to maintain clockspring centering until the steering wheel is reinstalled on the steering column. If clockspring centering is not maintained, the clockspring and Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) unit must be replaced with a new unit. Procedures.
7. Remove the upper and lower shrouds from the steering column. Steering Column Shroud - Removal.
8. Remove the screw (2) from the face of the clockspring that secures the clockspring to the steering column.





9. From above the steering column (3), fully loosen the two captive screws (1) that secure the back of the clockspring (2) to the steering column housing. These screws are captive and will remain with the clockspring after it is removed from the steering column.
10. Pull the clockspring rearward away from the top of the steering column far enough to access and disconnect the following instrument panel wire harness connectors and their wiring retainers from the clockspring, as the vehicle is equipped:
a. Multi-function switch connector
b. Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) connector
c. Two clockspring connectors
d. Adjustable pedal switch connector, if the vehicle is so equipped.
11. Remove the clockspring from the steering column. The clockspring cannot be repaired. It must be replaced if ineffective, damaged, centering has been compromised or the driver airbag has been deployed.
12. Remove the multi-function switch from the clockspring. Multifunction Switch - Removal.