OEM 2000 Dodge Ram 3500 Clock Spring

2000 Dodge Ram 3500 Clock Spring Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Replace a Faulty Clock Spring on 2000 Dodge Ram 3500?

  A: The Clock Spring should be changed if there is an issue, if it's damaged or if the driver side air bag has been used, as it cannot be fixed. Always disconnect and separate the battery negative cable and wait for two minutes before working on the air bag system. Check that both front wheels are in the center of your vision before starting. Uninstall the driver air bag, unplug any wire connectors on the speed control, radio switches if equipped and loosen the securing nut on the steering wheel armature. To take the steering wheel off the upper shaft spline, use a puller (Special Tool C-3428-B) and then remove the cover at the instrument panel's steering column opening. If your car has a lever on the tilt steering column adjuster, remove it with a screwdriver. Open both of the steering column shrouds, next remove the instrument panel wire harness connector from the lower Clock Spring and then disconnect the lower Clock Spring wire harness from the instrument panel wire harness. Gently take the plastic latches out of the steering column lock housing and remove the whole Clock Spring. Be sure the Clock Spring is centered in the center wheel before installation; if the replacement is precentered, do not remove the covering from the tabs until after fitting. With the Clock Spring centered on the steering column upper shaft, push it until the latches latch onto the housing, then work on the lower Clock Spring's wire harness and clip it back to the instrument panel harness and make sure every locator clip is securely in place. Place the bottom of the instrument panel wire harness onto the lower Clock Spring connector, fit the steering column shrouds in place so that the lower Clock Spring harness is protected and then fit the steering column cover onto the opening. One end of the steering wheel should match the correct grooves on the hub and you can then thread the upper Clock Spring harnesses through the holes between the trim and the armature cover. Set the steering wheel mounting nut to 61 Nm (45 ft. lbs.), making certain not to press on any wire harnesses, attach the upper Clock Spring wire harness connectors to the vehicle speed control or remote radio, fit the tilt steering column lever if available and then install the driver side air bag module atop the steering wheel.