Modular clock spring arrangement

A steering wheel assembly comprising:

• a steering wheel armature to be gripped by an operator of a vehicle, a steering wheel hub fixed to said armature, an air bag assembly received on said hub, and a means to secure the armature, hub and air bag to a steering column after pre-assembly of said armature, hub and air bag;
• a clock spring having a rotating plate and a fixed housing, a rear cover sandwiching said clock spring between said rear cover and said hub;
• and
• said means to secure allowing the combination of said armature, said hub, said air bag, said rear cover and said clock spring to all be pre-assembled into a single unit and then attached to the steering column as a single unit.

A clock spring comprising:

• a rotating housing including electrical connections for connection to a steering wheel sub-assembly, said rotating housing being adapted to rotate with a steering wheel shaft;
• a fixed housing to be connected to a steering column housing, the steering column housing surrounding the steering wheel shaft, said fixed housing rotatably supporting a rotating plate;
• and
• structure on said fixed housing for providing radial alignment between said fixed housing and the steering column housing, but allowing relative axial movement between said fixed housing and the steering column housing, said structure including either a pin or a groove to cooperate with a mating groove or pin that is formed on the steering column housing.