This post is a continuation of the salvage yard post. I ended up going to Brandywine trucks in Brandywine, VA. Again, not a great yard, but better than most in the area. I heard there was a good one in Dumfries. They pretty much strip all the good stuff to sell off and leave the crap behind. I asked if they had the column I needed and they looked at me like I was crazy. He said that they are very hard to come by. I asked if I could check anyway, and sure enough I found a column in good shape in the 2nd Bronco/F-series I looked in. The lock cylinder is destroyed, and the wires were just snipped so I got it as-is for $30!!!.

So here is what I am thinking. I kept all my electrical in tact, just took it off the column when I took mine out. If the column was from the truck I found it in it is a 95, with an air bag, and I think it did not have the 4x4 shifter on the ground. My 92 did not have an air bag , so I am just going to disable this. I also have the floor shifter, but I dont think this will be an issue either. But can I do a straight swap of the other electrical components? I was reading my Haynes and the cruise and horn at least seem the same. The wire cxn housings are not the same but the colors all look similar and I can test the circuits so I am not worried. But is all the ignition stuff going to transfer the same?

Rather than swap out the housings I was thinking of just ditching the lock cylinder and using a toggle type switch, but that is covered in other posts I believe... Anything else I should know before the bronco gods start shining on me again?

 

Column components from many Ford models are the same & are often interchangeable. That said, you should be able to swap your replacement in with no problems. HOWEVER: Please remember that the airbag in the newer unit could deploy if not properly handled. Just be sure that it has been disconnected from any electrical source for an hour or two before working with it. And, when you install the column, secure the bag module into the steering wheel WITHOUT reconnecting the wires to the bag. In fact, tape off the connector to minimize the chance of static electricity accidentally deploying it.

The airbag equipped columns utilize a "clockspring" connection; while the non-airbag units employed the older contact button/ring arrangement.

dn.