How to replace the Clock Spring
 

Cruise control not working?
Airbag light and chime driving you crazy?

You most likely have a worn / broken clock spring!

Step 1
Buy a new CS from Amazon, Ebay or wherever. I got mine from Amazon for fraction of Jeep AU price.

Step 2
Straighten the steering wheel.
Disconnect the battery, I did because I absolutely did not want to accidentally set off the airbag - didnt fancy a screwdriver in my forehead, some may say it would be an improvement LoL
The only tools you will need are
a long T20 torx driver,
philips head screw driver
bend yourself a special flat blade screw driver
Socket, ext and driver - to loosen the nut behind the wheel - Not the Jeep enthusiast LoL

Step 3
Remove the plastic panels around the steering column by removing the 3x T20 screws (underneath the wheel, 1 is silver and visible and 2 black ones are hidden)

Step 4

Remove the Horn button / Drivers airbag
by using the bent screwdriver to gently pry / lever off the cast steering wheel hub 3x U shaped spring clips (they remain attached to the Airbag / Horn - when you spring the 3rd one be ready to catch the Airbag / horn and unplug it.

Step 5
Disconnect the white plug at TDC and remove the centre bolt that holds the steering wheel. Pull the wheel off - I didnt use a puller (some say I have expert pulling skills) just a big grunt LoL

Step 6
Remove the blinker stalk by removing 1x Philips head screw (on the left side) and unplug it.

Step 7
Remove the Headlight stalk, 1 x Philips screw (on the right side) and unplug.

Step 8
Remove all the plugs from the old CS.

Step 9
Remove the 2 silver torx behind the old CS and 1 silver torx screw near the IGnition Key Hole and gently pull off the old Clock Spring.

Step 10
Replace CS with new one - leave the yellow CS lock in place until you have put the steering wheel back on and tightened the centre bolt.

I hope you guys find this useful and it saves you some cash
cheers Hunty


http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/v...0.jpg~original

inside the clock spring
 

The clock spring is a stupid name for a device who's sole job is to connect the buttons and controls on the steering wheel that rotate around during normal steering wheel operation, the horn, stereo, blinkers , lights airbag etc all need to be connected and working whilst you saw on the steering wheel, the device itself looks a bit light a spring you might find in an old clock.

In a JK it has one more significant function i.e
It continually measures the angle of the steering wheel and feeds this info to the ERM and ESP computer - in the case of ERM, the computer knows what ratio the front wheels should be turning at based on how much you turn the wheel and if this even varies a small amount you get the brakes on esp light on and throttle cut

You can see the awesome attention to detail Jeep has gone to - they are using a light breaking beam detector on a perforated ring and a potentiometer to give them maximum knowledge of where the wheel is and how fast it is being turned.

hope you enjoy the pix cheers Hunty

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/v...7.jpg~original
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/v...f.jpg~original
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/v...b.jpg~originalar

hope you enjoy the pix cheers Hunty

Nude shaft
 

Nice write up. Mines already been replaced under warranty once. I guess I better study up.

CLock spring x3
 

My Jeep has also had 1 under warranty and 1 I just replaced one so MY 07 JK is on its third D'0h.
cheers Hunty

I noticed the recall is for the "Right Hand" drive models. Anyone report the left to be affected? Must be a big issue as it's reported on 2 different dates on the NHTSB site.