I have a question about aligning the clock spring when you remove the steering wheel. I have replaced the leather wrapped steering wheel with a base model steering wheel and am questioning why it is necessary to turn the clock spring 2.5 revolutions to align it?

I pulled the steering wheel off, and didn’t see anything that was misaligned. The arrows were both pointing to each other from the clock spring. So, I just reattached the OEM steering wheel.


I heard, you could damage the ribbon cable, get a SRS airbag light, and lose function of the cruise control and horn?


I have not drove the car yet but, have I followed the correct procedure? The steering wheel was straight when I pulled the steering wheel off. Is the clock spring wound up somehow when I release the wheel from the clock spring that it unwinds the load?


I really don’t see the need to realign the clock spring when you remove the steering wheel when it is just a pop off, pop on procedure.

 

Better safe than sorry I suppose.

 

If it's wound to tight with the steering centered, turns ng the steering wheel further will pull it to tight and break it.

Sent from my XT1060 using Maxima

 

If you are sure the clockspring didn't move while the wheel was off, I don't see why you would need to calibrate it. The clockspring doesn't turn much farther than the wheel in either direction before it runs out of spin. If it would spin one turn while the wheel was off, the cable inside might snap if the wheel is turned all the way to lock.