i'm in the mddle of replacing my steering gear box and adding a DSS. the problem is that i had to unlock my steering wheel and rotate it to get to the pinch bolt holding the gear box to the steering shaft and now i can't remember which way i had turned the wheel to lock it. the book says not to turn the wheel w/o the gear box in place b/c it would damage the clockspring. so i don't know if i have the right position of the steering shaft (if centered, or turned 360 one way or the other) to the new gear box. can ayone help me out with this?

 

Would you have turned the wheel a whole 360 degrees to get the pinch bolt accessible?

Where is the clockspring?

 

I just replaced my steering box and after you have the steering sector shaft disconnected you should just be able to turn the wheel to the right and left to find center. It will stop on each side, just come back half way.

 

well,
if i remember right, i turned it about 180 to get to the pinch bolt, which left the steering wheel uside down, so when i turned it back, i either turned it back to center if i turned it the right way, or i turned it the wrong way and it now one full rotation either to the right or left. that's what i'm not sure of. i would just turn it all the way one way and then the other to find center, but may book says not to do that w/o the gear box on, although i really don't see what the difference is other than a bit more tension. the clockspring is an electronic device located inside the wheel and is involved in controlling the air bag. that's all i know about it.

 

All you can do is line it up, and hope for the best. FYI the clock spring inside is only a "tape" with flat wiring molded to it. It's wound up loosely to allow the wheel to turn.

 

The clockspring is indeed a flat ribbon coiled loosely in a plastic housing. If you are not sure the steering wheel is in the correct position DO NOT hope for the best. Take the wheel off (its really easy) and realign the c/spring. There are instuctions in the manual about how to do it.

I priced a new c/spring at the dealer (cause thats the only place to get them) $$$ 246.00 $$$ For a piece of plastic with wires.

If it breaks from mis alignment your cruise will stop working and the airbag light will come on, not to mention the horn quits too.

 

yes, yes and yes. How do I know? I hoped for the best and tried to center up the steering wheel when I replaced the gearbox. tore the ribbon, abs light on, no cruise and the horn started blowing randomly when I'd turn the wheel, pulled the fuse to the wheel for now, need to get in there and replace the clockspring ribbon. there's more than one way to learn something, I chose the hard way and recommend that you don't.