Notices
C5 General General C5 Corvette and C5 Z06 Discussion not covered in Tech

Question pertaining to the clock spring

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 15, 2019 | 01:40 AM
  #1  
ROCKnROLL's Avatar
ROCKnROLL
Thread Starter
Veteran
Supporting Lifetime
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 1
From: Louisville KY
Default Question pertaining to the clock spring

I'm replacing the clock spring on my 98.
I have found 5 part numbers for 97 thru 04.
There are two listed for 97 98. Three listed for 99 thru 04.
I purchased one off ebay. When I got the one off my car the numbers don't match.
Does the numbers have to match? What's the difference between the numbers?
Thanks.
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2019 | 02:38 AM
  #2  
WICKEDFRC's Avatar
WICKEDFRC
Race Director
10 Year Member
Veteran: Army
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 16,253
Likes: 1,657
From: Arizona
Default

I had a 2000 C5 FRC and never heard of a clock spring.

What is it?
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2019 | 03:12 AM
  #3  
Vette97sc's Avatar
Vette97sc
Racer
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 257
Likes: 45
From: Finland
Default

Clock spring is airbag part in steering wheel. I change clock spring to my -97. I buy 97-98 clock spring from ebay. It look just same in pics but when i get clock spring i see connector was abit different. I take connector from old clock spring, put it to new one and then airbag light shut down.
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2019 | 06:38 AM
  #4  
cvm's Avatar
cvm
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 698
Likes: 20
From: Md
Default

Originally Posted by WICKEDFRC
I had a 2000 C5 FRC and never heard of a clock spring.

What is it?
clock spring is what the import crowd calls a 'steering wheel position sensor'
signals to ABS/TCS/Active handling modules not SRS.
I never heard of it either till I went to wrench at a Honda dealership.
OP do not use wrong part even if connector is same, or at least I would not personally.
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2019 | 07:39 AM
  #5  
Vette97sc's Avatar
Vette97sc
Racer
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 257
Likes: 45
From: Finland
Default

Originally Posted by cvm
clock spring is what the import crowd calls a 'steering wheel position sensor'
signals to ABS/TCS/Active handling modules not SRS.
I never heard of it either till I went to wrench at a Honda dealership.
OP do not use wrong part even if connector is same, or at least I would not personally.
Steering wheel position sensor and clock spring is not same thing. Swps locate in steering column near firewall and clock spring end off steering column.
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2019 | 09:27 AM
  #6  
VFR RC46's Avatar
VFR RC46
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 153
Likes: 16
Default

The Clock spring contains a wound up wire that plugs into the air bag and allows the steering wheel to turn freely. They are notoriously week in c5s.





Reply
Old Feb 15, 2019 | 09:37 AM
  #7  
Sydwayz's Avatar
Sydwayz
Drifting
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 388
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '18
Default

Originally Posted by vette97sc
steering wheel position sensor and clock spring is not same thing. Swps locate in steering column near firewall and clock spring end off steering column.
truth.
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2019 | 10:41 AM
  #8  
Vetteman Jack's Avatar
Vetteman Jack
Administrator
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Veteran: Reserves
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,656
Likes: 24,661
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Default

I had heard of the clock spring but never seen one. Thanks for the pics.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Feb 15, 2019 | 11:32 AM
  #9  
Josephu's Avatar
Josephu
Pro
 
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 675
Likes: 195
From: Green Oak Township, Michigan
Default

What he said!!
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2019 | 12:23 PM
  #10  
Gordy M's Avatar
Gordy M
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,797
Likes: 356
From: Northville, MI
Default

With a used clock spring make sure it is properly centered before you install it, most reputable resellers will center it before they sell it but many on the market were as the wheels were pointing when they took it off. There is a separate method of centering them on google that you can use.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Question pertaining to the clock spring





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:37 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE