Clock Spring replacement??????

[87ttopstang]

Hey guys, I am looking at buying another mustang to drive everyday. I have an opportunity to buy a very nice 1990 LX notch for $3800.

Silver with black interior, 110,000 miles on it, car seems like it is in very nice condition and looked after. It needs a clock spring to pass safety. No idea how to replace it or how hard it is to do.

Is this an expensive part? I think I can get the car for a nice price, but want to know what is involved before I buy it.

Thanks.

 

[87ttopstang]

Anyone know how hard it is to replace?

 

[trbkrb]

It is the part under the airbag that connects the steering wheel to the column in airbag cars. Basically, you just remove the airbag and it is right there. SHouldn't be too hard, I've had a couple of friends that ahve repalced them. As far as cost, I think a new one is less than $50 or so. See for more info: http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/airBag/airBag90-91.html

 

[mustangjoe87]

I'm pretty sure that a new clock spring is way more the 50 bucks. Maybe used for 50, but new should be around 150 ish.

 

[trbkrb]

Yes, it is probably more. I was going by Joe's website above and he is usually pretty good. My friends put in used ones, so they were cheap. Just ask Ford about the part. I know some are made for the parts stores that are less than $50, but who knows what quality they are.

 

[spyne]

I'm pretty sure that a new clock spring is way more the 50 bucks. Maybe used for 50, but new should be around 150 ish.

I paid to have mine replaced a year or so ago and the parts cost was $62. Of course I got raped on the labor charges, so the total bill was about $300. Reading through a service manual it appears all you have to do to replace it is disconnect the battery for 10 minutes, remove the airbag (screws are on the back of the steering wheel) and remove/replace the clock spring assembly. Sounds pretty simple and if the need ever arises again I'm going to do it myself.

 

[stang&2Birds]

Part prices go up. Today, I would say that a NEW clock spring (do NOT get a used one) goes for ~$75 -> $100.

PLEASE, PLEASE take some pics and we can do a tech article. You'll get credit as the author!

 

[Autobodypro_1]

Clockspring

First off, are you sure the clockspring is bad? they only need replacing if the airbag deploys or some knucklehead turns the steering wheel with the steering shaft disconnected. I believe the only one from Ford is a superceded version and need some minor modifications to work on '90-91 models. Changing one out is simple otherwise, just make sure to: 1. disconnect battery 2. make sure wheels are pointed straight 3.unbolt airbag and unhook yellow wire(all airbag wires are yellow) 4. use a wheel puller to remove steering wheel 5. remove trim around steering column 6. disconnect yellow c/s connector on lower steering column(may need to unbolt lower dash access panel) 7. follow the tech bulletin's instructions that come with a/bag 8.install in reverse order making sure NOT to pull out the indexing clip until the c/s is bolted up, otherwise you will have to make sure the c/s is centered... ..that's it! just remember this: an airbag can kill you if it hits you in the right spot, so be careful!

 

[90lxcoupe]

make sure the battery is disconnected for at least 10 minutes also cause the airbag can still go off if you just dissconnect it and go right to work

 

[mustangjoe87]

Here are some other air bag tips, Wear a ground strap around your wrist to prevent static electricity, when the air bag is removed never place the side that deploys down, after reconecting everything crawl in from the passenger side and turn the key just in case somthing was hooked up wrong.

 

[Jaswir]

i was quoted a new clockspring for about 150 bucks! so i never replaced mine... and yes you have to pull your steering wheel to replace it... very easy to do! about as easy as changing your MAF out.... just lil more time comsuming!

 

[stang&2Birds]

First off, are you sure the clockspring is bad? they only need replacing if the airbag deploys or some knucklehead turns the steering wheel with the steering shaft disconnected.

??? Where did you get that PURE AND TOTAL BS from???
Obviously, from someone that doesn't know even the MOST BASIC things about clock Springs!


1) You do NOT have to replace the clockspring if the air bag deploys. ASK AN ASCE or Ford Mechanic. From a electrical and mechanical view, it's ridiculous to even think that!

2) You can turn the wheel as much as your dumb *ss wants. You can NOT hurt a clockspring from turning the wheel too much. Sorry, that one is pulled right of someone's rear-end.

3) Do you get the idea of what CLOCK SPRING means? Do you KNOW what a CLOCK SPRING IS (in a clock). Obviously NOT! Gee, they give a new car part a good name, and people are still clueless. SIGH!

A CLOCK SPRING is a **FLEXIBLE* piece of metal. Hmm, FLEXIBLE, hmm. THINK ABOUT THAT!!

So, every time you turn the steering wheel, the clockspring FLEXs. Okay, BASIC physics and Mechanical Engineering here -- Metal that FLEXs WILL fatigue and BREAK after "some amount". For COST reasons, the Ford air bag clockspring is designed to last for "X" years and "X" FLEXs. Considering that they even after FIFTEEN+ years, there's a VERY LOW failure rate, I'd say that the engineers at Ford did a "Good job" in the cost/lifetime trade-off.

 

[stang&2Birds]

just remember this: an airbag can kill you if it hits you in the right spot, so be careful!

That is a good point and an IMPORTANT point.

However, It's VERY HARD for an airbag to go off as long as it's handled with even MINIMAL CARE by someone that THINKS a little. An air bag will go off ONLY of it gets an electrical charge.

So, if it's during the winter, you keep an unconnected air bag in your house, you walk on the carpet, you often get static zaps, you pick up an air bag, then Darwin wins! In a shop/home/junk-yard situation, it's VERY hard to build up a static charge and have the first thing you touch be the air bag (even before the car, table, door, etc).

Still, it is a good idea to make sure that you have discharged ANY static build up by first touching the car or something else. Wearing a static strap will help in a car. But, again, inside the car is NOT a "big hazard". It's when the air bag is picked up from the table or other location that is the most at risk. So, you make sure you don't have any static build up by touching the table or something else near by.