Cautionary Warning - Cheap Clock Springs

[LeighP]

So, I bought a KK off my son when he moved overseas, it had developed an intermittent airbag warning light when you turn a corner or a roundabout....so, I’m thinking clock spring.
I bought a cheap eBay clock spring.....Chinese copy, I suppose...unbranded. The turn angle sensor circuit boards had to be moved over onto the new clock spring....mechanic, who is very experienced, could not get the turn sensor arrangement working.....although the airbag light went out.
Short story, I decided we’d toss the cheap copy and I ordered a genuine MOPAR clock spring from a supplier in Melbourne.
So, while I’m waiting for it to arrive, I take the KK down to fill it with petrol, as I pull out of the petrol station, airbag light and chime come on again....so I’m thinking, great, that lasted a whole three days.....next turn at the roundabout, the airbag deployed. Now that got my attention....so now I have to replace both airbag and the clock spring......what a gem. My only good luck was my wife wasn’t driving the car, or no doubt I’d have to sell it.
So, stay away from cheap arse clock springs and only buy MOPAR factory parts.

[Classic Boy]

Originally Posted by LeighP

..next turn at the roundabout, the airbag deployed. Now that got my attention....
So, stay away from cheap arse clock springs and only buy MOPAR factory parts.

Now that would almost be a brown underwear moment!

[Gojeep]

Wow, that is no good at all. Thank you for passing on the warning.

[Alexski]

I had to replace Clock spring about 18mths ago, searched online for genuine Mopar and got one from US for around $100 shipped. There are multiple part numbers for these which is confusing but they are shared across a few different jeep models from same year. I seem to remember mine was advertised as wrangler Part.
Anyway fits and works flawlessly.
Genuine Jeep parts are not expensive in the U.S and are easy to get. Rockauto and summit racing are good suppliers.
Makes no sense to buy cheap chinese crap.

[Gojeep]

I couldn't find any that had the steering angle sensor that was Mopar unless you paid hundreds of dollars. Which sites are you using?

[Wiz.au]

My radio control buttons haven't worked reliably since I've owned the car for the last 3 years. But this week I'm also getting the intermittent air bag warning that goes away depending on the position of the steering wheel.

My first question is:
1) Just how hard is it to change a clock spring unit in a 2010 KK Cherokee Limited, given I do all my own oil / fuel / air filter services, and have worked on motorbikes and other small engines for over 40 years plus a 25 year veteran hardware IT & robot technician? Is there a quick guide or video showing how to do it on a RHD vehicle? (Does it matter, same process for LHD?)

2) Where should I get one? Rock Auto from the US? A non-dealer Jeep/Mopar shop in Aust? Suggestions?

I'll start researching myself now but if anyone could offer some advice in this thread for the next person as well after me, I'm sure they would appreciate it.

Thx.

[Wiz.au]

Answer to Question 1 - Not real hard:




JK Wrangler pretty much the same: