I'm looking to get a hold of a used/broken clockspring for a first gen LS. The clockspring must have failed due to age (material breakdown) and not by any other means. I've read that the ribbon inside tends to wear down causing material breakdown. At my workplace, I may be able to revive old clocksprings providing that all other components of the clockspring functions as intended. To begin my research, I need one/some used and broken clocksprings that meet the criteria. Anyone willing to donate one? I'll pay flat rate shipping. Thanks. If all goes as planned, maybe we can save a few bucks on the already expensive wear parts this car has.
WTB: used/broken clockspring GEN 1 for research
- Thread starter fudge12
- Start date
hite337
Hite Performance
Looks like Trrrex92 may have 2
tireman
Dedicated LVC Member
I've checked this out a few years ago. Its the ribbon cable. Some type of material breakdown in the ribbon. The end of the ribbon is factory molded so repair/replacement is impossible for the DIY. But good luck. You'll notice that this is not your common ribbon cable either.
G-RELL
FULLY DIPPED LS
I can send you one if you want to cover shipping... or I can take pics..your call.
I'll send you a pm.
UPDATE: Ive found a good ribbon replacement ribbon for the clockspring on these cars. Question Is now, I need to know how many lines does the ribbon on these clocksprings have. I can have them custom ordered and molded and I can solder them in. As far as how long will these replacement ribbons last, I have no clue. If things go as planned, I may need some volunteers to test them. I'll keep you all updated as soon as I get a few donated clocksprings to mess around with.
G-RELL
FULLY DIPPED LS
Hey man... CS will be in the mail tomorrow.
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
Do be aware that there is liability in what you are proposing. These clocksprings also power the ignitor in the airbag in the steering wheel. I'm not as concerned about it not going off when it should. You would have a warning light before hand for that anyway. My concern would be it going off when it isn't supposed to. One of the design considerations for the clockspring is that it can't ever fail in a way that would trigger the airbag. Will you be able to test and verify that your solution could never short power to the airbag ignitor from one of the several other circuits that run in that ribbon, no matter how it might fail?
G-RELL
FULLY DIPPED LS
hmmm that is true
Good point, I may be getting ahead of myself here on this post. But hear me out.
After reading your post since earlier this morning, I have two possible solutions. I could add reinforcement/strain relief to the ribbon or reroute the circuits on the ribbon so that the airbag circuits run on one side (if it hasn't been run that way already). Personally, I think the reroute is the best way to go; it'll be virtually impossible for it to short to any of the other circuits. All it would require are two custom made bridges. I've made these reroute bridges many times at work before and it held up quite fine.
HOWEVER, I don't think any of these two solutions will be necessary since the cable I'm using is a single multi circuit flex cable that's been engineered for constant flexing.
I will test the rebuilt clockspring for several months, maybe years before I even think about bringing this out to the public if I decide to sell. But being that you've bought up this excellent point, I might just turn this into a DIY thread. I will not assume any responsibility (not even the slightest bit) for anyone who does this by themselves. At least it'll save everyone quite a bit of money to fix other things that the LS needs.
Is it really going to be that much less expensive than the factory unit?
Flex cable costs roughly around $15-30.
Plus the labor. Maybe I missed something...... Are you talking about repairing an existing clockspring?
Yes. As I said, I may not be bringing this out as a piece I could resell and make a profit. Mainly due to liability and time. I am well aware of the fact that labor is indeed intensive. But it is my hobby and job to repair electronics of any and all kinds.