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Ok, I've been browsing this forum for info but need a little clarification... I have an '85 F250 XLT 6.9L. The steering wheel horn and cruise control pad have deteriorated and come apart. I can't buy them from the dealer anymore and can't find it in the junk yards. Am I correct that you can use any steering wheel and horn/cruise pad for and F-series model years '81-'91? If that's the case, I should be able to replace the whole steering wheel assembly with one from a '91 and everything work great, right? Are they direct replacements, or is there some modification required?
Thanks
I just replaced my 78 steering wheel with one from a 88. I had to make one modification. The 88 has the same splines except there is a flat spot so it will only fit one way. I used a die grinder to remove it so it bolts on and all electrical conections work. The salvage yard told me the steering column changed to square in 89 and that area of the wheel to match. The 89-later would still fit but wouldn't look right.
they were selling one with cruise control and some other bottons but my truck does not have cruise control. would it still fit and be able to use the bottons for something else like volume with little modification needed?
The wheel would still fit but I don't think you could use the buttons for something else without modifications. Cruise control uses the same wiring as horn.
Will
I'm using an unmodified '88 steering wheel on an '83 column and I love it.
herman
You'd have to design & build a logic circuit (which is what's in the cruise module) to remove the horn signal from the low-current cruise button signals. You can use any '80-91 wheel, but you have to use the corresponding horn pad that has the same function as your original. If you don't have cruise, you need a non-cruise horn pad. The Haynes manual has the circuit.