Steering Column Repair: Clock spring, jeep cherokee sport, steering gearbox

Question
QUESTION: The power steering box of my 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport was replaced by the local Jeep agency. After the job the air bag light was on and the hooter did not work. The agency informed me that the clock spring must be replaced - question : could the clock spring be damaged in the process of replacing the power steering box ? The agency maintains that it could not happen and that the clock spring reached the end of its life while the vehicle was in their care.

ANSWER: Hi Jan:

You are correct in your assessment of the situation.  They broke it during the installation of the steering gearbox.  The clockspring needed to be centered BEFORE they connected the column to the new box.  If they did not do that properly, then the clockspring would have broken the 1st time they turned the wheels to one extreme or another.
Here is a link to a page our company published to give you a full understanding of what you are talking about.
Good luck and I hope they stand up to their responsibilities

http://www.airbagsolutions.com/Clk.aspx

Doug

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: When fitting a new power steering box, do you have to remove the clockspring ? I have to know that, because if it not necessary to remove it, it would not be necessary to centre the clockspring. Thanx

Answer
Hi Jan:
It is not necessary to remove anything in the upper end of the column, but if the new gearbox is put in, in a different position from the old one coming out, or if the steering wheel moves more than 1/2 rotation during the replacement, then the clockspring needs to be re-centered.  Most often, the gearbox going in happens to be in a different position (not perfectly centered) and when it is assembled, now you are off at least one rotation in a one direction or the other.  That's what damages the clockspring.  It then breaks when the new gearbox is rotated fully from one side to another.

Doug