Hi all,

A few weeks ago I reported a grating sound behind the steering wheel of the car, I sent it the shop and they lubricated the clock spring and that made the noise go away. However today it has been warm and the noise has returned. I assume that it is just the lubrication drying out and its scraping again.

My questions is if I am getting the sound from the clock spring is that an indication of a faulty/warn clock spring that needs replacing? so do I need to replace the clock spring or if I keep lubricating it will it be ok?

Also is the noise just an annoyance and not that there is anything actually wrong with the car, the turn signals cancel fine and now I have had the alignment set straight the car tracks straight and true the only thing to my knowledge is the noise from the column. Can anyone tell me what the clock spring does and how it would affect the performance of the car if it were faulty (note: my car is not equipt with ESP)

I gather from some research that the clock spring contains a wheel positioning sensor and I assume that if I were to have to clock spring replaced then the sensor will be replaced along with it and therefore need recalibrating.

I have been having some issues with pulling I sent the car to the steelership today and got it aligned properly and they adjusted the clocking on the wheel do you think they could have damaged the clock spring when they adjusted the clocking on the wheel. I know that they did not have to take the steering column apart or take the steering wheel off to adjust the clocking, I was not in the shop long enough and they never asked me to do anything there than a 4 wheel alignment.

Thanks for the advice
James