Replace the clock spring in an 8th-9th generation F150 truck (1987-1996)These clock springs are the wiring harnesses that connect the steering wheel switches such as horn, cruise control and the airbag. When the clock spring breaks, all these items will cease to work.It's a relatively simple and easy job and you can save a lot of money by doing it yourself. These are the steps you will take to complete this job.
Steps
- Purchase a replacement part. You can find these in Amazon.com, eBay or your local auto parts store. No matter which way you go, you'll have to order it and wait for it as they generally do not keep them in stock. You can expect to spend $50 ~ $70 for this item.
- Do not touch or disturb the new clock spring until later in the installation process.
- You will also need:
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Torx drivers #15,20,25
- 5/8 and /or 15mm open/closed end wrench
- 10mm socket
- 5/8 and /or 15mm socket
- Ratchet and 6" extension to fit your sockets
- Torque wrench
- Once the part arrives, you need to go to your local auto parts store and borrow a steering wheel puller. Advance Auto Parts lends those tools in Atlanta. Check in your area with the various Auto parts store. If they have one be sure to ask them to reserve it for you so you don't drive just to find it gone. Expect to leave a deposit for it with your credit card or cash. It should be around $20 which you'll get back when you return the tool. Then, park your truck in a safe place where you can work and if you don't finish you will not block anyone (including yourself)
- Do not touch or disturb the new clock spring at this time
- Open the hood and remove the terminals from the battery. Start with the negative post (black, on left)
- This is a view of the steering wheel from below in the drivers side. Note the 2 holes in the back of the steering wheel where the nuts are that hold the airbag. Also note the tilt lever right below the turn signal, windshield wiper stalk.
- Remove the tilt lever by turning it counterclockwise. There is a little wrench flat area just under the knob. If you find a wrench that fits it, use that to help turn it, otherwise use pliers or a small adjustable wrench.
- Next remove the bottom cover which is held by 3 Phillips-head screws in the bottom and maybe a 4th screw in the right lower corner (as seen from the driver's seat).
- you'll need a Phillips-head screwdriver
- Using a 10 mm socket and ratchet, remove the 4 nuts that hold the airbag in place
- Pull the airbag gently and lay it down to expose the wires you need to disconnect.
- The black wire is the cruise control (upper left)
- The yellow wire is the airbag (lower center)
- After disconnecting the wires, loosen the center bolt which holds the steering wheel and back it out until there are only 2 or 3 threads engaged.
- Use 2 of the bolts supplied with the wheel puller that will fit the 2 diagonal threaded holes to the upper right and lower left of the center bolt to attach the puller block.
- Push the center bolt provided with the puller against the center bolt, but use a wrench to hold the center bolt so it does not turn.
- After a few turns of the puller center bolt, the steering wheel with pop loose from the spline
- Mark the position of the spline and the steering wheel so you will install it in the same place.
- Remove the center bolt that holds the steering wheel..
- Remove the steering wheel and remember how the wires were routed through the steering wheel. Now you see the clock spring exposed.
- Look at the wire that connects to the ignition switch and pay particular attention at it's location.
- Pull away the wire clip from the ignition switch.
- With a torx driver remove the 3 screws that hold the clock spring to the steering wheel column. Save these screws, you'll need them later
- Follow the yellow and black wires to the connections to the harness under the dashboard.
- You can pull the connectors out of the metal bracket to make it easier to disconnect the plugs. You'll get new connectors that will snap back into the holes in the sheet metal bracket.
- Notice the routing of these wires so you can route the new wires in the same way.
- Take the new clock spring and locate it on the steering wheel column and attach it loosely with the torx head screws. Do not remove the 3 pronged white center piece yet!!
- Route the wires back to the connections under the dashboard
- Re-connect them as they were and fix them in the sheet metal bracket, be sure to route them as they were before.
- Replace the clip and connector onto the ignition switch. This could be a bit of a problem. You might want to try reinstalling the old one back in to give you an idea of how it goes in, before forcing or breaking the new one.
- Tighten the torx head screws that hold the clock spring in place
- Remove the 3 pronged white plastic center part but take care not to rotate, move or spin it in any way.
- replace the steering wheel on the spline routing the wires from the clock spring the same way they were before.
- Replace the center bolt that holds the steering wheel and tighten it until it's seated. Torque the bolt to the correct tension using the torque wrench. Do a search for the correct torque value for the size of the screw (the size of the body, not the head).
- Connect the cruise control wires to the steering wheel.
- Bring the airbag and position it in the correct relative position to the steering wheel so you can re-connect the yellow wire to the airbag.
- Replace the airbag onto the steering wheel and fasten it using the same 10mm nuts that you removed from it.
- Replace the bottom plastic cover under the steering wheel using the Phillip-head screws you removed earlier.
- Replace the tilt lever by turning it clockwise into its bracket. You might need a wrench or pliers to tighten it.
- Re connect the battery terminals under the hood and test the horn button and see that the airbag light is no longer blinking. You are done.
Tips
- Get all your tools before starting the job. It's good to have a complete set of metric and inch sockets and wrenches (open and closed end). Also it's good to have a good torque wrench and adapters/extensions to fit your sockets.
- Be sure to park the truck in a manner that won't block anyone while you are working and that you are safe while you work (remember that it might take you longer than you think to finish the job)
- Remember to disconnect the battery terminals before you start working with the airbag.
Warnings
- This is only a guide to how to replace the clock spring. It's assumed that you have some knowledge of tools and skill to use them. It is possible that the parts might be damaged or lost during this process. It is possible that these directions are not complete or correct. You proceed to do the job and follow these guide at your own risk.
- The airbag is an explosive. It could cause injury or death if it deploys accidentally. Use extreme care while handling it and make sure that no electric wires are live and connected to it until the job is finished.
- The airbag is a very important safety feature of your vehicle. If not properly installed it could fail to work as intended during an accident. This could result in serious injury or death. You are responsible for the proper removal and installation of the airbag.
- The steering wheel is a very important part of the car and if not properly installed it could result in serious injury or death if it comes loose. Be sure all fasteners are properly torqued down to the appropriate values
