[Mad-Max]

So....I've been building on my 02 Dak for over three years now and I've had my steering column disconnected from the gearbox the whole time. In that time my 3-yr-old has played with the steering wheel a few times and I'm sure the clock spring has been wound around a few times - very definitely not 'centered', and before I go to bolt everything back together I'd like to try to return the clock spring back to 'middle'.

I've searched for help on how to resolve this specific issue but have come up dry. Anyone know how to tell how far 'off-center' a clock spring is...and/or how to get it back to center?

I think I need to remove it, and manually 'feel' it out to see if it's been snapped internally...and if I 'feel' resistance then it's likely not broken, and then go back/forth counting revs, divide by 2, counter spin that many times, and 'center'...ja?

Thanks,
- Sam

 

[Mad-Max]

cool - got it off, spun it lightly by hand, and although the column has not been connected to anything up front in years and the wheel has been 'played with' several times it does not appear to be broken - 'resistance' happens at the end of both directions and all 10 pins 'conduct' from one side to the other..

- Sam

 

[radioactive]

I'd count the number of rotations stop to stop, then divide by two, so centering the travel, and assemble it that way.

 

[Mad-Max]

yup roger - that's what I did. I'm just hoping my primitive conductivity test proved indeed that it wasn't broken - I'll find out soon enough.

 

[liny2sd]

I’d like to see photos of you got ‘em, of the 02 Dakota.

 

[Mad-Max]

well...the build thread has all the pics of the truck - that'd be the best way to 'see' it - towards the bottom of the page at reply #448 is the truck in its current state. In the meantime here is a good one of it as it is now (next to it's big brother) -

02 Dakota 4x4 Quad Cab 'Crawlorado Cruiser'

here it is 🍻 - :) So the alternator crapped out, and when I went to swap it out I discovered a bit of a design 'flaw' in the CVF serpentine setup - turns out the alternator cannot be removed without pulling the power steering pump - the ps pump pulley slightly 'covers' the lower bolt for the...

www.dakota-durango.com

- Sam

 

[liny2sd]

well...the build thread has all the pics of the truck - that'd be the best way to 'see' it - towards the bottom of the page at reply #448 is the truck in its current state. In the meantime here is a good one of it as it is now (next to it's big brother) -

View attachment 111649

02 Dakota 4x4 Quad Cab 'Crawlorado Cruiser'

here it is 🍻 - :) So the alternator crapped out, and when I went to swap it out I discovered a bit of a design 'flaw' in the CVF serpentine setup - turns out the alternator cannot be removed without pulling the power steering pump - the ps pump pulley slightly 'covers' the lower bolt for the...

www.dakota-durango.com

- Sam

That looks awesome! I like how you’ve got the big & little brothers. I’ve been saying that’s part of why I got the Durango instead of say, the Ram, is because we’re both little brothers, lol.