chrisu7582
TYF Newbie
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2012
- Posts
- 7
- Reaction score
- 1
So I got a clock spring for my 2004 Tahoe LT in the mail today and decided to install it, , here are the steps to doing it if interested:
1) Park your vehicle with the wheels and steering wheel straight.
2) Remove negative battery cable and let sit for 20 minutes.
3) Get a small allen wrench or just anything small enough to fit in the holes at 9 and 3 oclock on the side of the steering column just behind the steering wheel.
4) Grab the airbag and just barely pull pressure on it on each side asyou push the allen wrench in the slots, the airbag will come out very easy.
5) Unplug the airbag cables and accessory control plug.
6) Get a 11/16 socket with a long extension and unscrew steering wheel nut.
7) If you have a steering wheel puller, great!! I didnt, so I just got a towell and wrapped it around steering wheel and hit the back of it. Just tap it all the way around for about 30 seconds or so. Grab the steering wheel at 12 and 6 and wiggle while pulling. Grab it at 9 and 3 and do the same thing. Keep going back and forth and soon enough it will come off.
8) You have to unplug the horn connection before the wheel will come off. It is a bit aggravating but I finally got pissed and just pulled and twisted and it came out. lol
9)After that you have made it to the clock spring. Here is where I encountered the most aggrating part of the whole thing. (Well almost)
There is a little snap ring that snugs the Clock Spring to the steering column and OMG that thing is a pain in the butt. I highly, highly recommend Snap Ring Pliers for this. Would have saved me 45 minutes.
10)If you have not done it yet, now is the time to take apart the steering column cover, the dash under the steering wheel column and I snapped the whole instrument panel cover off. (much easier access) When Taking bottom of steering wheel column, the steering wheel tilt will get in the way. Just grab the tilt knob and pull straight out. You might have to wiggle it but it will slid right out of there. You also might have to insert and turn the key to the on position and pull the the gearshift all the way down to take the instrument panel off.
11) I'll go ahead and say this to get it out of the way. There will be times when it will be much easier to pull the gearshift down to get it out of the way, and also tilt the steering wheel up or down for easier access. Althought the tilt knob is took off, you can still grab the base and pull it to you to tilt. Be careful though, without the streering wheel, that thing is like a sling shot
12) After removing bottom of dash, there will be a metal plate that sis mounted under the steering cloumn. Go ahead and take that off. You will need a 5/16 deep socket and a extension.
13) After that just unplug and plug. Some of the clips are a little aggravating and in some tight places, but you should be fine.
14) MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT TURN THE CLOCK SPRING OR STEERING WHEEL DURING INSTALLATION. THERE IS A REASON IT IS WIRETIED IN THE BOX. JUST DONT DO IT.
I will share something that might save you a bit of time and frustration. There is a big box at the bottom, under the dash, that you have to hook up. It has a handle that locks it in place. Just push the handle all the way to the right and get a knife and just slide it in the right side of the box and the top right and bottom right. Pull all the wires while your doing this and it should pull out. If the handle hits the steering shaft like mine did, just force it on around. It will be ok.
If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message and if your having a lot of trouble, I will give you my number. I'm not a pro mechanic at this or anything, but after spending 5 hours on this today, I'm pretty sure I can do this with my eyes closed.
If I forgot anything that might be helpful, please feel free to comment and I will add it to it. Thanks
1) Park your vehicle with the wheels and steering wheel straight.
2) Remove negative battery cable and let sit for 20 minutes.
3) Get a small allen wrench or just anything small enough to fit in the holes at 9 and 3 oclock on the side of the steering column just behind the steering wheel.
4) Grab the airbag and just barely pull pressure on it on each side asyou push the allen wrench in the slots, the airbag will come out very easy.
5) Unplug the airbag cables and accessory control plug.
6) Get a 11/16 socket with a long extension and unscrew steering wheel nut.
7) If you have a steering wheel puller, great!! I didnt, so I just got a towell and wrapped it around steering wheel and hit the back of it. Just tap it all the way around for about 30 seconds or so. Grab the steering wheel at 12 and 6 and wiggle while pulling. Grab it at 9 and 3 and do the same thing. Keep going back and forth and soon enough it will come off.
8) You have to unplug the horn connection before the wheel will come off. It is a bit aggravating but I finally got pissed and just pulled and twisted and it came out. lol
9)After that you have made it to the clock spring. Here is where I encountered the most aggrating part of the whole thing. (Well almost)
There is a little snap ring that snugs the Clock Spring to the steering column and OMG that thing is a pain in the butt. I highly, highly recommend Snap Ring Pliers for this. Would have saved me 45 minutes.
10)If you have not done it yet, now is the time to take apart the steering column cover, the dash under the steering wheel column and I snapped the whole instrument panel cover off. (much easier access) When Taking bottom of steering wheel column, the steering wheel tilt will get in the way. Just grab the tilt knob and pull straight out. You might have to wiggle it but it will slid right out of there. You also might have to insert and turn the key to the on position and pull the the gearshift all the way down to take the instrument panel off.
11) I'll go ahead and say this to get it out of the way. There will be times when it will be much easier to pull the gearshift down to get it out of the way, and also tilt the steering wheel up or down for easier access. Althought the tilt knob is took off, you can still grab the base and pull it to you to tilt. Be careful though, without the streering wheel, that thing is like a sling shot
12) After removing bottom of dash, there will be a metal plate that sis mounted under the steering cloumn. Go ahead and take that off. You will need a 5/16 deep socket and a extension.
13) After that just unplug and plug. Some of the clips are a little aggravating and in some tight places, but you should be fine.
14) MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT TURN THE CLOCK SPRING OR STEERING WHEEL DURING INSTALLATION. THERE IS A REASON IT IS WIRETIED IN THE BOX. JUST DONT DO IT.
I will share something that might save you a bit of time and frustration. There is a big box at the bottom, under the dash, that you have to hook up. It has a handle that locks it in place. Just push the handle all the way to the right and get a knife and just slide it in the right side of the box and the top right and bottom right. Pull all the wires while your doing this and it should pull out. If the handle hits the steering shaft like mine did, just force it on around. It will be ok.
If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message and if your having a lot of trouble, I will give you my number. I'm not a pro mechanic at this or anything, but after spending 5 hours on this today, I'm pretty sure I can do this with my eyes closed.
If I forgot anything that might be helpful, please feel free to comment and I will add it to it. Thanks
