The spiral cable air bag squib ring is the electrical contact assembly that maintains the continuous electrical connection between the steering wheel's air bag system and the vehicle's main wiring harness as the wheel rotates. It allows the horn pad and air bag circuits to function properly without the wires tangling or breaking, and houses the squib contact points that trigger the air bag deployment in a collision.
The spiral cable assembly is located inside the steering column, sitting beneath the steering wheel and horn pad, wrapped around the column's rotational axis where it bridges the fixed vehicle electronics to the rotating steering wheel.
Worn or corroded squib ring contacts prevent proper electrical signals reaching the air bag system, often showing up as intermittent or complete air bag warning light activation on the dashboard even when no crash has occurred. Hair-line cracks in the plastic housing or damaged contact brushes can also cause the horn to fail intermittently or the air bag to not deploy in an actual emergency.
A mechanic diagnoses a faulty squib ring using the vehicle's diagnostic scanner to read air bag system fault codes, combined with a visual inspection of the component for obvious damage or corrosion. The fix requires removing the steering wheel and horn pad, then replacing the entire spiral cable assembly with a new or reconditioned unit—individual squib rings are not typically serviced separately.
Spiral cable squib rings can sometimes be reconditioned if the damage is purely cosmetic or caused by light corrosion, though many suppliers prefer not to recondition them because the electrical reliability of air bag components carries serious safety implications. A reconditioned unit should only be purchased from a reputable supplier who has tested it with proper air bag diagnostic equipment.
A used genuine spiral cable squib ring is a reasonable replacement option if sourced from a reliable supplier and the component has been tested for electrical continuity and contact integrity. However, given the critical safety function of triggering air bag deployment, many technicians recommend fitting new rather than used units if budget allows, and always avoid parts from unknown sources or accident-damaged vehicles.
This part is also called a spiral cable, clockspring, air bag clock spring, squib ring, spiral wound cable, and rotary contact assembly—different manufacturers and technicians use these terms interchangeably.
Before handling any air bag component, always disconnect the vehicle's battery and wait at least 15 minutes to ensure the system is fully de-energized, as the squib mechanism can theoretically deploy and cause serious injury if triggered electrically. Never hammer or apply sudden force during removal, work carefully around the steering column, and if you are not confident in this work, have it performed by a qualified technician familiar with air bag systems—improper installation or damage can render the air bag inoperative in a real emergency.
Toyota Land Cruiser LC5 GRJ120 Spiral Cable Air Bag Squib Ring 4.0 i 3955 cc Petrol 1GR-FE / 1GRFE 5 Speed Automatic 5 Door Estate
Part Number(s): 84306-60080 - click a part number above to view and buy this exact part.
THIS IS GENERAL LEVEL INFORMATION FOR THE PART, INFORMATION IMPLEMENTATION MAY VARY FROM CAR MAKE MODEL, REGION
