I've searched high and low for a replacement clock spring, no one carries it. I found a few NOS replacements for 56007626, but they still want $230 for it. That's a third of what I paid for the truck. I noticed it doesn't always come on, but if it turn cruise control on it will, and there is no cruise control light that comes on. Cruise control works, so does the horn.

Is there a way to bypass/disable the airbag? I'd love to do it the right way and fix it, but if there are no parts being made any more or a new superseded number, I don't really have a choice but to get rid of it.

 

Junkyard....that clock spring used on dakotas and some imperials, new yorkers and daytonas.

 

Removing one intact from the junkyard would be an option, but most there have either been deployed or have just as much wear and tear. Sounds like I need to look into bypassing the system and removing the airbag. I imagine with it being so old it would do more damage than good in a wreck anyway.

 

I don't know if they have this one but I did buy a clock spring for an 06 caravan from Napa not long ago, maybe they will have one for your truck. My last 2 Dakotas were a 92 and a 93 which had no airbag. Which didn't bother me a bit. (Still have the 92, it was my replacement for the 93 that I wrecked beyond hope, almost a year ago and still have not heard the end of it.)

 

Napa, advance, oreilly, autozone, rockauto, jegs, summit, no one I've found has it. I have found a few on Ebay for sale, but they are 1/3-1/2 the price of the truck itself. I'm definitely leaning toward deleting the airbag, I will likely take it apart and remove the airbag, reinstall and remove the light from the dash. It's hard to pass inspection with the light on, but I'm not willing to spend a fortune on a clock spring for an airbag that likely won't work anymore even in the event of a crash haha

 

I'm lost. Are you talking about a clock spring? -> as in CLOCK that one tells time by, or something else? And you mention airbags a number of times.... What do they have too do with a clock spring? (serious questions... I AM lost)... FredT

 

The clock spring is the name for the module that sits under the steering wheel and controls the connection to the steering wheel controls (cruise, horn and airbags). It allows the connection to those controls to maintain connection when the wheel is being turned, but eventually the contacts or the cable in it wear/break.

It's a pretty important piece, but apparently they were discontinued, and I've not found another alternative. I'm starting to wonder if I can make a full size Ram clock spring work, or something from another vehicle they still reproduce the part for. Here is what it looks like:

 

I hope you can excuse my ignorance. I actually come from a time when there WERE mechanical clocks in cars. Although they were NOT electrical clocks per se(no motor), they DID use electricity to wind them. There was a pair of contacts inside the clock & every time the clock "wound down" those contacts would "make" and the spring would jump back to its starting position (about every 2 1/2 minutes if I remember right). It was something to see... you shoulda been there (or not depending on how old you wish you were). Anyway, I think you can see the reason for my confusion. Thanks for the explanation. And they want HOW MUCH for that thing?!!

 

I've had a few, I'm a youngin, but I believe the Dakota is car 31 or 32. I still have my 1974 Scamp that I'm restoring piece by piece. But like they say, I was born too late for the first frontier, and too late for the final haha

What I'm really on the lookout for next, is an Olds Rocket 88 coupe! The Dakota is the parts getter for all my projects, we have 7 right now.