Clockspring Assembly / Spiral Cable: Description and Operation

CLOCK SPRING




1. The clock spring (coil spring) consists of two current carrying coils. It is attached between the steering column and the steering wheel. It allows rotation of the steering wheel while maintaining continuous contact of the deployment loop through the inflator module.
The steering wheel must be fitted correctly to the steering column with the clock spring at the neutral position, otherwise cable disconnection and other troubles may result.




2. The system includes ring gear (90 teeth) located at upper case, transparent cover installed at rotor with screw, and gear (80 teeth) interlocked with ring gear and driven by prominent part of the cover. Upper case is installed on the steering column at fixed position. Rotor is connected with steering column and always rotate with steering wheel. Gear is always interlocked with ring gear by prominent part of the cover. Rotor and prominent part of the cover will rotate together.
Therefore, gear will rotate in reverse direction to rotor by 10 teeth difference with the ring gear. On the gear, R2, R1 NEUTRAL, L1 and L2 marks are embedded on every tenth teeth. Matching marks are on the upper case. Clock spring mark should match with gear's NEUTRAL mark when the vehicle is in straight forward position. Gear's R mark indicates rotor rotation clockwise and L counterclockwise. In order to center again, turn the steering wheel clockwise to the end, and thereafter turn counterclockwise about 3 revolution to match the mark.