Originally Posted by rwenzing

When/if you pull the clockspring assembly, be careful of a few of things:

It is best if you can pull the clockspring off with the wheels pointing straight ahead. This will correctly "time" the clockspring for installation on another truck with the wheels so positioned.

There are small snap tabs (3 or 4?) holding the clockspring to the column. Take your time and they will come off without breaking.

One more: the harness attached to the clockspring is routed down the PS of the steering column. It has all of the wires that feed the steering wheel components plus one more - the wire to the ignition switch for key sense. There is a delicate plastic piece (light blue on my truck) that holds a wiper for the ign switch. You can remove it but you MUST pull the ignition switch out first. This is easy as long as you have the key. Turn the switch to the on position and use a small punch or screwdriver to depress the plunger in the release hole in the bottom of the column. The ignition switch will come right out and allow access to the blue clip. That small black module under the switch had to come off, too, in order to get the harness off. Just a screw or two for that. There may be a bit more to it but it will be obvious when you're looking at it. I don't remember exactly because I had it apart about a year and a half ago.



This first pic shows the PS of the column with the blue wiper already removed and hanging on the wire.




Here is the column casting with the ignition switch removed: