Summary: Repairing steering wheel clockspring
Difficulty: 5 out of 10 for detailed electronic work
Estimated Time: 3-5 hours
Part Numbers: varies by number of steering wheel features (mine was 26086702, other reports mention 26090357)
Cost: Zero
I hope NOBODY needs to do this EVER, but I was both curious and cheap, so I spent five hours fixing a broken clockspring to save $180. Pretty good hourly rate. But I was a dumb butt for breaking it in the first place by accidentally spinning my steering wheel while it was disconnected from the rack. After three rotations, the flex cable assemblies shear off and the airbag and steering wheel buttons are dead.
Some folks might find the pics useful for doing other things inside the steering column, though.
Taking out the airbag. Two holes to press a pin punch into. Disconnect battery FIRST!!!!!
Airbag down:
Removing locking plastic clips from airbag connectors.
Pinch connectors and remove
Turn horn wiring spring post 90 degrees and remove
Remove 21 mm nut
Pull on wheel and wiggle. It might come off with no need for a puller.
Clockspring
Circlip holding it on
Snap ring pliers in use
Shaft without clockspring assy.
Removing clockspring cover
Busted guts
Broken off end of flex cable
Vehicle end connectors. 6 pin one for airbag, 8 pin for steering wheel buttons
Sheared off connector end
Flex cable under retention clip, showing cold ultrasonic weld connection
More detail
Closeup of weld
Cut off damaged part - new flex cable end
Besides the two flex cables, there is a flat nylon ribbon for cable guidance and slipperiness in the spool. It has its own slot to fit in.
Cables and ribbon arranged in the spool, ready to be reconnected.
End of cables prepared by using Dremel with sandpaper flapwheel to remove plastic coating but leave the copper conductors.
Conductors tinned and connectors prepared and arranged nearby. Flex cable substrate is extremely sensitive to heat - have to solder quickly and get off .
Jump wires added. Whew. This was the crappy part. Needed my magnifying binocular hood.
Full CCW test
Full CW test
Full CCW to CW is six 360 degree rotations. Three each way from centered. Rack and pinion steering gear required only TWO rotations each way from centered.
Difficulty: 5 out of 10 for detailed electronic work
Estimated Time: 3-5 hours
Part Numbers: varies by number of steering wheel features (mine was 26086702, other reports mention 26090357)
Cost: Zero
I hope NOBODY needs to do this EVER, but I was both curious and cheap, so I spent five hours fixing a broken clockspring to save $180. Pretty good hourly rate. But I was a dumb butt for breaking it in the first place by accidentally spinning my steering wheel while it was disconnected from the rack. After three rotations, the flex cable assemblies shear off and the airbag and steering wheel buttons are dead.
Some folks might find the pics useful for doing other things inside the steering column, though.
Taking out the airbag. Two holes to press a pin punch into. Disconnect battery FIRST!!!!!
Airbag down:
Removing locking plastic clips from airbag connectors.
Pinch connectors and remove
Turn horn wiring spring post 90 degrees and remove
Remove 21 mm nut
Pull on wheel and wiggle. It might come off with no need for a puller.
Clockspring
Circlip holding it on
Snap ring pliers in use
Shaft without clockspring assy.
Removing clockspring cover
Busted guts
Broken off end of flex cable
Vehicle end connectors. 6 pin one for airbag, 8 pin for steering wheel buttons
Sheared off connector end
Flex cable under retention clip, showing cold ultrasonic weld connection
More detail
Closeup of weld
Cut off damaged part - new flex cable end
Besides the two flex cables, there is a flat nylon ribbon for cable guidance and slipperiness in the spool. It has its own slot to fit in.
Cables and ribbon arranged in the spool, ready to be reconnected.
End of cables prepared by using Dremel with sandpaper flapwheel to remove plastic coating but leave the copper conductors.
Conductors tinned and connectors prepared and arranged nearby. Flex cable substrate is extremely sensitive to heat - have to solder quickly and get off .
Jump wires added. Whew. This was the crappy part. Needed my magnifying binocular hood.
Full CCW test
Full CW test
Full CCW to CW is six 360 degree rotations. Three each way from centered. Rack and pinion steering gear required only TWO rotations each way from centered.
