clocking spring replacement

hey guys im looking into a 98 xj that i may pick up as a cheap daily driver and the main thing that needs to be fixed is the airbag clocking spring according to the owner (yes he says the horn doesnt work).

whats the best way to go about this? i did a search, but couldnt find a write up or any replacement advice that pertains to the 97+ models. any advice you can give to someone whos never torn into a steering wheel/steering assembly?

I pulled the clock spring from a JY heep for a cruise control upgrade I am doing, but haven't installed it yet, so not sure if this is 100% correct, but...

Center your steering wheel.

unplug the battery for at least 5 or 10 min to discharge the airbag. FSM says to disconnect and isolate the ground from the battery for at least 2 min - I would do that first, then disconnect the positive to the battery, then wait like 10 min, to be sure. Don't want an air bag going off in your face.

on back of the steering wheel there are I think 4 bolts - 2 torx and 2 regular (if I remember correctly) - remove those. might not need to remove the outer ones if you have cruise control. Remove the horn/air bag piece

disconnect any wires that are there.

remove the big nut holding the steering wheel in place.

use steering wheel puller to pull off steering wheel.

Remove the key lock cylinder - there is a hole in the bottom of the column shroud - put a thin screwdriver up there and push up, then you can remove the tumbler. Need the key in to do this

remove the shrouds around the steering column.

clock spring is right there. its held in place with 2 tabs in the back. I think I removed some of the steering column covering to get at those. Put some tape between the rotating part and stationary part of the clock spring to keep it from rotating. You want to keep it in the same place when you put it back on.

put everything back.

If you get a new clockspring, it might come centered, not sure. if not, rotate it all the way clockwise, then go back 2 1/2 turns and it should be centered.

The whole process isnt too hard, just be careful pulling air bag and the clockspring - I broke off one of the tabs when I pulled the one for the cruise control. Hope this helps - chime in if I'm way off base here.

This has been posted before and is available by searching.

SYSTEM OPERATION
The clockspring is mounted on the steering column behind the steering wheel. This assembly consists of a plastic housing which contains a flat, ribbon-like, electrically conductive tape that winds and unwinds with the steering wheel rotation.

The clockspring is used to maintain a continuous electrical circuit between the instrument panel wire harness and the driver side airbag module, the horn switch, and the vehicle speed control switches on vehicles that are so equipped.

The clockspring must be properly centered when it is installed on the steering column following any service removal, or it will be damaged. See the Clockspring Centering procedure for more information.

The clockspring cannot be repaired. If the clockspring is faulty, damaged, or if the airbag has been deployed, the clockspring must be replaced.

WARNING: THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE, COMPLEX ELECTROMECHANICAL UNIT. BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE OR SERVICE ANY AIR-BAG SYSTEM OR RELATED STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENTS YOU MUST FIRST DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE. THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE FURTHER SYSTEM SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE TO DO THIS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIR-BAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY .


Turn the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position before starting the procedure.

Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. If the airbag has not been deployed, wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before further service.
Remove the driver side airbag module from the steering wheel.
If the vehicle is equipped with the optional vehicle speed control, unplug the speed control switch wire harness connector in the steering wheel.
Remove the nut that secures the steering wheel to the steering column upper shaft.
Remove the steering wheel with a steering wheel puller (Special Tool C-3428-B).
Remove the steering column, opening cover from the instrument panel.
If the vehicle is so equipped, move the tilt steering column to the fully raised position.
Insert the key in the ignition lock cylinder and turn the ignition switch to the On position.

Insert a small screwdriver or pin punch through the access hole in the lower steering column shroud and depress the ignition lock cylinder retaining tumbler.
While holding the retaining tumbler depressed, pull the ignition lock cylinder and key out of the ignition lock housing.
Remove the three screws that secure the lower steering column shroud to the upper shroud.
If the vehicle is equipped with a standard non-tilt steering column, loosen the two upper steering column mounting nuts. If the vehicle is equipped with the optional tilt steering column, move the tilt steering column to the fully lowered position.
Remove both the upper and lower shrouds from the steering column.

Clockspring Remove/Install

Unplug the two wire harness connectors from the instrument panel side of the clockspring.
To remove the clockspring, carefully lift the locating fingers of the clockspring assembly from the steering column as necessary. If the clockspring locating fingers are broken, be certain to remove the broken pieces from the upper steering column housing. The clockspring cannot be repaired. It must be replaced if faulty or damaged, or if the airbag has been deployed.
When installing the clockspring, snap the clockspring onto the steering column. If the clockspring is not positioned properly in relation to the steering wheel, see Clockspring Centering before installing the steering wheel.
Plug the two clockspring wire harness connectors into the instrument panel side of the clockspring. Be certain that the wire harness connector latches are fully engaged.
Reinstall the steering column shrouds and ignition lock cylinder. Tighten the shroud mounting screws to 2 N.m (18 in. lbs.) .
Reinstall the steering column opening cover to the instrument panel.
The front wheels should still be in the straight-ahead position. Install the steering wheel being certain to index the flats on the hub of the steering wheel with the formations on the inside of the clockspring. Pull the wire harness, through the lower hole in the steering wheel hut. Tighten the steering wheel nut to 61 N.m (45 ft. lbs.) . Be certain not to pinch the wiring between the steering wheel and the nut.
Install the driver side airbag module onto the steering wheel.

This is what ive done to correct this clockspring issue:

1. pull the instrument cluster and rempve the airbag bulb
2. Buy a GT grant steering wheel (looks wayyyy better)
3. Install a Semi horn

this is what i did with my 99 and im MUCH happier with it. Just be sure to leave the original clockspring in place, otherwise, your turn sigs wont cancel. Good Luck!

ok thanks for the input guys

dammit, the clocksprings are no good if the Airbag goes?

just found this:
http://www.links4jeeps.com/writeups/clockspring/

i was dumb and over spun my wheel when i had the steering box out... my predicament is that i don't think the spring is broken because my directionals turn off. i do remember distinctly hearing 3 clicks as i spun it, so i'm hoping it's just that i need to reconnect the wires behind the airbag...