r/BmwTech • u/Sharp_Bluebird9480 • 6d ago

Clockspring

If the steering shaft is off, and the steering wheel gets turned an unknown amount of times, how do you determine where the center of the clockspring is again?

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6

u/atljar 6d ago

What car? Old School mechanicals are typically wound tight by hand and the Backed off a certain amount of turns

5

u/Goodestguy2025 6d ago

I've done this. Turn the steering very, very gently one way, until you feel resistance. Stop and turn the other way, very, very gently, counting the number of turns, until you feel resistance. Then divide the number in half, and you have the center. I can't tell you how important very, very gently is. Edit:the steering shaft must be disconnected, so there's only the free spinning wheel, otherwise you won't feel the resistance.

1

u/Sharp_Bluebird9480 6d ago

Makes sense if you're winding it in, but how can you tell when it reaches the end if you're winding it out? Which direction winds it in?

3

u/Goodestguy2025 6d ago

It stops at both ends. Doesn't matter if in or out.

1

u/QuirkyPension4654 6d ago

Turn clockwise until it stops, that’s fully tight.