So i drove aound for a couple years with this really annoying ringing noise in my steering wheel every time i went over a bump. I finally got around to fixing it. I imagine most of you can figure it out on your own, but here's a little motivation for those that are a bit more timid about doing their own maintenance.

First you need to take off the little side and bottom covers from the steering wheel. Then you have to remove the airbag. Warning!!! Please disconnect your battery a few hours before you plan to remove the steering wheel airbag. This will give the airbag capacitor time to discharge before unplugging it and avoiding the possibility of it accidentally going off.

Here are three pictures of the covers taken off. You will need a large torx bit (T50 i think...possibly T55, i got a whole set at Oreilleys for $10) to remove the two screws(one on each side) that hold the airbag in. Once you have removed the screws and unplugged the airbag on the bottom it will slide out toward you.





Here you can see the airbag taken out.



The black "L" shaped metal peice in the upper left part of the steering wheel is the problem. If you look close you can see the double stick tape i put between that and the center steering wheel nut so it wouldn't hit it and make the ringing noise anymore. I'm not sure what that peice is for, so i decided not to just take it out. Anyone know what its for? Possibly a weight for the steering wheel to help with steering feel? In other words i have no idea what it is or why its there, i just don't make a habit of removing things unless i know what they are.

 

i have noticed this is only present in 95-96 model steering wheels, never heard this sound in all the 97-99 i have had or worked on

 

It is a harmonic dampener. It is supposed to help keep the steering wheel from vibrating. You can remove it and the car will work fine. Several org members have removed this and other than no noise, it made no difference.

The dampener is used in all years of the 5th gen, don't know about the 4th gen.

 

I did the exact same write-up for this a few years ago.

 

so where is the clock spring located? i hear this annoying rattle all the time, i was told it was the clock spring. same thing?

 

And all this time I thought that rattly bastard was there to drive me crazy......er.

I thought maybe I needed to replace my steering wheel and contemplated swapping for a 2010 alty wheel, still might.

 

what does it sound like? I am not sure if I remember this sound. It is probably there if you guys all have it.

 

Sounds like a metallic rattle coming from the steering wheel.

 

Its not the clock spring as it is located under this harmonic damper.