Hi everyone. I will attempt to explain the ''clockspring'' which is installed in the top of your steering column just below the steering wheel. This item enables elecrical current to power your airbag and cruise and radio controls that are steering wheel mounted, and to be able to turn the wheel without breaking any wires. The clockspring consists of a 2-part plastic spool with a metal impregnated nylon tape wound up inside. The top and bottom 1/2's of the spool have harness leads attached thru the spool to the nylon tape or ribbon. The flat ribbon has copper lines moulded inside the ribbon. The spool bottom is fixed to the column and the spool top is attached to the steering column shaft. The ribbon is attached to each 1/2 spool at each end. It winds back and forth as the wheel turns, allowing current to pass to each harness. The old windup clock springs had a flat steel spring that wound up inside a metal spool or drum, hence the name ''clockspring''. This particular unit I changed out in an F-350 truck today. One of the yellow harness leads has the plugs cut off. I think the pictures will speak a thousand words....When your clockspring goes ''bad'', the nylon tape or ribbon has gotten brittle and cracked or broken, or the bag has been deployed in an accident and the clockspring tape has burned in two.

 

great explanation!! the idea here is that over the years there is enough turns of copper inside the clamshell that no one part of the copper is flexed anough to break.. however if you turn your wheels back and forth eventually one of the wires in it WILL break.....

-Christopher

 

Thank You. Since I got my 2009 I have been reading threads about clocksprings. Some people have explained it. I imagined it to be something like a tape measure.

Thanks for the pictures. They are worth a lot more than a thousand words.

 

Great Information! I always read about people having clock spring issues and had no idea - now I know.

thanks -

 

Thanks again for this explanation. I keep hearing people talk about bad clocksprings, and I am so stupid I thought they had some issues with their clock in the dash. That is another reason I love this forum as it educates us on what we drive.

 

Excellent post! One thing to add, if anyone has to take off their steering shaft for whatever reason, don't turn the steering wheel. The clockspring tape will be in the wrong spot and could break when you go out and make a turn if you put the shaft back on one revolution off. It happens.

 

very interesting, I too have only heard of this part second-hand do to other people having problems. Good info and visual to have for ref. Thanks!

 

This is why you need to strap down the steering wheel if you disconnect the steering intermediate shaft. Without it connected the steering wheel can keep spinning if someone turns it, winding the clock spring ribbon past its limits and breaking it.

 

Exactly right, however the average owner will never see one on their vehicle....