Clockspring

hobhancock · October 12, 2004

If only I had read the posts before messing with the steering shaft. I learn the hardway. My sister called and said she had this problem(clunking in the steering) The dealer said they would replace the shaft but it would cost over $300 parts/labor. I had read somewhere on the net not to replace the shaft but to re-lube it. So we thought we would look to see what needed to be done and took the bolt out that connects the shaft to the link to the steering pump. Didn't think anything about my little nephew inside playing with the steering wheel. My sister and I laughed when I turned it from inside the engine compartment and it freaked him out. Now we are not laughing. I have since learned that we may have messed up the clockspring. Can anyone beat a price of $200 for a new one? She drives the 2003 Tahoe vin Z I just read a post from earlier this year and the words used were "you might have to reset the clockspring". Can that be done and not buy a new one or have we really messed up the wires and now there is no choice but to replace the thing? If so, has anyone taken the airbag off of a 2003 or does the procedure I read on another post from a 2001 apply to the 2003?

Taaaaaaahoe? · October 13, 2004

If only I had read the posts before messing with the steering shaft. I learn the hardway. My sister called and said she had this problem(clunking in the steering) The dealer said they would replace the shaft but it would cost over $300 parts/labor. I had read somewhere on the net not to replace the shaft but to re-lube it. So we thought we would look to see what needed to be done and took the bolt out that connects the shaft to the link to the steering pump. Didn't think anything about my little nephew inside playing with the steering wheel. My sister and I laughed when I turned it from inside the engine compartment and it freaked him out. Now we are not laughing. I have since learned that we may have messed up the clockspring. Can anyone beat a price of $200 for a new one? She drives the 2003 Tahoe vin Z I just read a post from earlier this year and the words used were "you might have to reset the clockspring". Can that be done and not buy a new one or have we really messed up the wires and now there is no choice but to replace the thing? If so, has anyone taken the airbag off of a 2003 or does the procedure I read on another post from a 2001 apply to the 2003?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I your airbag light on? I forgot to ask, and assumed it was.. If its NOT on its not too late, and you can reset the spring. If it is however on...dammage is done you have pulled the ribon cable right out of the end. It only has enough slack each way, and if the wheel was even rotated once, it would then shorten the cable for either a left turn or right depending on what waty the wheel was turned.

Mike

carguru · October 13, 2004

What position was the wheel in when you first removed the shaft? Did you turn the wheel after you were done and get a "crack" sound when you turned the wheel? Or run hard in to the spring hardstop? Are you getting some binding now when you turn the wheel? If you hit the hardstop hard, heard the dreaded noise or feel binding, the clockspring is toast.

If not, you might be able to reset the clockspring. To do this, drive the vehicle and set the tires as straight as possible (don't have to do this if the vehicle's wheels are already straight or hasn't been moved). After setting the tires straight, remove the bolt to the upper intermediate shaft and disconnect it from the steering wheel. Carefully and slowly rotate the steering wheel left until it gently runs into the hard stop. Now rotate the steering wheel in the opposite direction (right) while counting the revolutions to the other hard stop (the number should be 5). Divide this number by 2 and rotate the steering wheel in the opposite direction (left) by this number. The steering wheel should be in the center (or near center position). Without rotating either shafts very much, connect the upper shaft back to the steering wheel. This should reset your clockspring if you didn't break it in the first place.

The other way to center the SIR coil would be to remove the steering wheel and actually center the SIR coil and the steering shaft.

With the exception of the plug for the SRS being under the knee bolster instead of under the front seat to disable the airbag system, the airbag removal procedure is the same as the 2001. Just be extremely careful if you decide to do this.

Also another note of caution, it is not a good idea for kids to be playing around behind the wheel. In ACC mode, the '03 and up can be knocked out of park into neutral or one of the gears. With the vehicle on, the brake must be activated, but with the vehicle off, this is not the case. This can be a very dangerous.

As for the cost of the SIR coil, you could check with GMPartsdirect. They should be able to do better than list. Good luck.

Taaaaaaahoe? · October 13, 2004

Well said!

If you do it the 1st method turn that wheel SLOWLY, it does not take much to yank that cord out!

But I got a feeling you already tosted the clockspring......

Mike

Its not a difficuly fix, just take your time...I was Be sure to disco battery, pullevery abs link from fuses, to the 3 plugs (under dash, under driver seat, behind dash) and let it sit for another 20 min after the last power was hit to it. I am told (true or false, i dono, but im not going to be the tone to find out) that an airbag can deploy on its own stored energy (being totally removed for a car) even by static electricty. Now, to me....I dont buy it for these things would be going off left and right! None the less I removed it, and set it face up AWAY from the work area if it did blow it was not going to hurt me. But the airbag baically falls into your hands with a screwdriver, and the clock spring sits right on there (new one comes pre-centered) and basically plug it right in! If you felt comfortable doing the lube job to behin with, this is not much more difficult...Just take your time!

Mike

hobhancock · October 13, 2004

You guys are awesome. It has to be toast. I never felt the resistance in the first place nor heard any noise, that is why I feel my little nephew go it to that point. But it was spun many revolutions after that. I know we shouldn't have had him in the car to begin with. My sister sat him in there to so I could show her what we were doing. Bad mistake I know. Never again. Thanks for the information on removal of the air bag. Thats the only part that has me concerned. We took the column cover off just to see what we were dealing with since I really wasn't sure what the clockspring even was. When I couldn't see any wires coming down the column I knew it was the round piece just behind the wheel. While we had it apart I slowly turned the wheel in both directions and felt nothing. So Mike you are dead on - its toast. The only thing I ever run into is if I break something it is always the more expensive way to go than not.