OK, I took my steering wheel off today and discovered that the horn ring contacts have literally exploded. The plastic separating the individual brass rings must have become hard and brittle, and it came completely apart. Since it came apart I could not take a picture to show what I need, so I did an ebay search and found a pic of a Ford wheel showing what I need. This is a Mustang wheel, but the T-Bird one looks the same. I only need the contact piece, not the whole wheel. Who'll help a fellow T-Birder out? It'd have to be shipped to Canada, so keep that in mind when you calculate shipping costs
I'll take 2 of those.
BTW I have a mustang wheel like the one above, it too is broken, but it does look like it will fit the t-bird/cougar.
I've got the original wheel from my '88 XR7 (leather-wrapped) and I think the rings are in good shape.
I won't be able to tell for another three weeks, in case nobody else can help.
Zach: if the wheel itself is in good shape I'll take the whole thing (I do miss the leather wheel in my Sport), but if not I defiitely want the slip rings
Is this something that would be at all possible for one of us to start fabricating, if we can't find replacements?
It's actually a rather complicated piece of plastic. There are three brass rings that are irregularly shaped, then the plastic is injection mouded around them. I can't see anynone being able to make them...
So in other words, we're screwed if no one else makes these? (and after the JY/spare parts supplies dry up)
Pretty much, though I think you may be able to get them if you can figure out what other cars use the same part. I think most pre-airbag Fords use the same horn contact, but I'm not sure. I think my dealership was just too lazy to look up other models - when I asked if he could get one for a Mustang he immediately replied "nope", without even checking.
I will have access to the wheel in exactly two weeks.
You don't want the wheel because the leather is shot, but I remember the rings being in good shape. I have a lot of stuff laying around, which I can't use because the '88 is gone.
Does anybody want a ready-for-paint TC hood?
I asked at the dealer about the 88 mustang horn contacts (wheel like the one above) and was told that it was discontinued. I have three extra steering wheels; 86 t-bird, 88 cougar, and 88 mustang. The horn contact all look like they will interchange but all three are broken. If you're keeping count that's 5 wheels and not a good horn contact among them.
Would it be more likely that they could be repaied, and not remade? :dunno:
When I checked with a dealer about 2 years ago, I was told I'd have to buy a whole new wheel, but they could do that for me. It was pretty pricy though. I ended up grabbing one from a junkyard that was almost perfect and reinforcing it with hot glue. SO far it's held up great. The good thing is that donor cars don't even need to have cruise, since all the centers are the same. It would be great if we could verify other cars for donors.
Hot glue, hey? I was thinking about apoxy but maybe hot glue will work better. I'll give it a try. Thanks!
Anyone wanna call about this? (http://"https://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getLocator&siteid=213914&chapter=DE2JC85&appSectionid=2575&groupid=51862&subgroupid=10266&componentid=0&make=10&model=Mustang&year=1988&graphicID=JC5320 &callout=6&catalogid=2")
I would call, but:
God, US sellers piss me off sometimes! Ebay is really bad for this too...
Cougarman: Some may be repairable but mine certainly isn't! It literally exploded into a bunch of parts! My first clue that there was a problem was the xtra grinding sound when turning the wheel, then the horn started going off by itself.
doh! I never saw that. You think one of our friends south of the border could check it out for us? :)
EDIT: or they could let us use their address and they could forward it on to us. :dunno:
I might be willing to volunteer for that.
I'd do it too.
Thanks guys :)
Will these offers still be good after Xmas?
I will be visiting my parents until early January, but it would be fine after that.
OK, after twon months I gave up and bought an aftermarket wheel with an adapter, meaning I'll have to move the cruise buttons. Shortly after doing so I find this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7949642874&category=33704
Just for archive's sake, the part number is E7SZ-13A808A
D'oh. I have the fox kit with a very nice "challenger" style Grant steering wheel... which also means I have no use for them anymore.
lol, kinda like when I was searching for a B-cam for a few weeks, then the VERY NEXT DAY after I bought a NIB one for $140, at least 4 ads go up with people selling them :mad:
I found several other Ford/Mercury models used the same ring - some had improved pieces from what I could see. Unfortunately I wasn't paying attention which models and most of these older cars have since been crushed :|
Oh man, I forgot about this thread. If any Canadians/foreigners want to order one from the site posted aways up and use my address and then have me forward it, PM me.