Steering wheel upgrade for 96 Bronco

[buffaloroams]

Hey guys,
I need to do some shifter linkage and steering column work on my truck.
Since the factory leather wrapped steering wheel is a little thrashed I am wanting to upgrade to a newer nicer one"

I know the F150 wheel is basically the same but if I can I would like to get something nice like the FR500.

Does anyone know what other Ford factory steering wheels will fit on the 93-96 model Bronco's with airbag?

I'd like to change the wheel when I am doing all the other column work.
Any guidance here would be greatly appreciateda.
Thanks!

[miesk5]

yo B,

Navigator, 02 pic in a 95; "...Was tan with Lincoln symbol in airbag so I swapped in a black F150 airbag for the ford emblem, and then re wrapped the steering wheel with black leather.Has controls for the cruise control, the radio and the climate control, just need to finish installing the electric climate control in my truck..."
Source: by Strange at FSB http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=203592


or
Re-Wrap in a 95; "...cut the leather off my steering wheel a couple years ago and put on a Wheelskins cover: got the euro tone because it was the closest to the original look with the seams on the top and bottom halves. I ordered the black/black color scheme. I don't remember exactly what size I got but it's easy enough to measure..."
by 95F1504x4EB at
http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=179009

Steering Wheel with Air Bag Replacement in a 96
MIESK5 Note, check DISABLE PROCEDURE AND TIME (Always Check the Service Manual) WARNING; Read all Safety Info; Such as, remove a battery terminal (Remove both) then wait 30 minutes before attempting any work on the airbag circuits; I have found a few vehicles that had an aftermarket component in it that had a 12v DC or higher re-chargeable battery
CAUTION: Do not remove the steering column, steering wheel (3600), steering wheel pad horn switch (13A805) and air bag module as an assembly from the vehicle unless the column is locked to prevent rotation. Lower end of steering shaft should be wired to prevent the steering wheel from being rotated.

Removal

Center front wheels (1007) to the straight-ahead position.

WARNING: THE BACKUP POWER SUPPLY MUST BE DISCHARGED BEFORE ANY AIR BAG COMPONENT IS SERVICED.

Disconnect battery to starter relay cable (14300) for at least one minute to let the air bag backup power supply discharge. Refer to Section 14-00.

Remove four air bag module retaining nuts from air bag module on back side of steering wheel, and lift module away from steering wheel.

Disconnect air bag wire harness connector, and remove module from steering wheel.

Disconnect horn/speed control wire harness connector in steering wheel.
Remove steering wheel retaining bolt.
Install Differential Bearing Cone Remover/Replacer T77F-4220-B1 (2-jaw puller) and remove steering wheel. Route contact assembly wire harnesses through steering wheel as steering wheel is lifted off shaft.

Installation
Make sure the vehicle's front wheels are in the straight-ahead position.
Route air bag sliding contact wire harnesses through steering wheel opening at the 3 o'clock position. Position steering wheel on steering shaft so the alignment marks are aligned. Be sure air bag contact wire is not pinched.
CAUTION: Make sure wiring does not get trapped between steering wheel and air bag sliding contact (14A664).
Install new steering wheel retaining bolt and tighten to 23-33 lb-ft.
Connect horn/speed control wire harness to contact wire harness, and snap connector onto steering wheel clip.
Connect air bag wire harness from air bag sliding contact to air bag module and install module to steering wheel. Tighten module retaining nuts to 4-6 Nm (35-53 lb-in).

NOTE: When the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, some abnormal driving symptoms may occur while the powertrain control module (PCM) (12A650) (PCM) relearns its adaptive strategy. The vehicle may need to be driven 16 km (10 miles) or more for the powertrain control module to relearn the strategy.
Connect battery to starter relay cable. Verify air bag warning indicator
=========


SW Removal Video in a 94;
And, to pull the steering wheel in the late models, a 2-jaw puller is needed. There are no holes to thread in the usual bolts for a steering wheel puller, thnx to Dustball!; MIESK5 Note, Suggest Right Clicking this Hot Link & Open in New Window
by pfun41 at http://www.youtube.com/user/pfun41#p/u/22/jZ8AAXQL5HI

[JBfab]

Go after market. You dont need an airbag in your truck, you sit way to far from it to do anything. Heres what i picked up cheap-

[kemicalburns]

you would lose cruise control going that route.

[Diesel_Brad]

I have a very nice Factory leather wrapped wheel from a 97 F250. it will bolt in, you can retain cruise but No airbag feature

[JBfab]

Originally Posted by kemicalburns

you would lose cruise control going that route.

Theres a write up in the tech section with two ways to keep the cruise. One you make a simple bracket that mounts between the adapter and wheel. The other moves cruise to the dash.

[buffaloroams]

Originally Posted by JBfab

Go after market. You dont need an airbag in your truck, you sit way to far from it to do anything. Heres what i picked up cheap-

I've considered that but with the modifications required to keep cruise and get it mounted I would rather stay closer to something factory.

[buffaloroams]

Originally Posted by Diesel_Brad

I have a very nice Factory leather wrapped wheel from a 97 F250. it will bolt in, you can retain cruise but No airbag feature

That sounds like a wiener!
I like the idea of staying with a more factory look and factory parts.
Plus the steering wheels they have made in the last 15 years look pretty nice and are very comfortable.

Also be nice to keep the cruise.
Just FYI - why would you lose airbag, not that I'm opposed, frankly I would rather not have one, that is what seat belts are for.

Personally I think if airbags were more effective than seat belts than why wouldn't they be using them in race cars and trucks?

So, unless I misunderstood Steve, all steering wheels after a certain year truck will install as a factory wheel.
Does this also include the car line?
Just asking in case an FR 500 wheel were to just fall out of the sky.

Thanks for all the great input guys.

[reptillikus]

i swapped a wheel from a 92 lightning into my 96 F250 as the lightnings got pretty nice black leather wheels. You could go newer, but i needed a non-airbag wheel for my truck, hence the 92.

[JBfab]

Im trying to picture this fr 500 wheel. Is that the fancy focus wheel?

[Rednecks of LA]

What's so special about the fr500? Looks like a normal steering wheel to me

[bleedblue]

Originally Posted by Rednecks of LA

What's so special about the fr500? Looks like a normal steering wheel to me

its a cool mustang wheel................................ same as a stock leather wrapped wheel, except it has perforations leather on the sides.

[BRONCONUT]

Originally Posted by kemicalburns

you would lose cruise control going that route.

Why: I have seen people take the cruise buttons off and use it still.

[wdford]

We recommend disabling airbags in cars with stiff suspensions as they may go off inadvertently. As far as race cars go we use a 6 point harness with anti submarine belts. Additionally we are inside a full rollcage. I've seen some GNARLY crashes and there hasn't been a single issue of steering wheel to chest or upper body contact. It's a different thing altogether.. that said I prefer airbags in my street cars.

[Alvin in AZ]

Originally Posted by kemicalburns

you would lose cruise control going that route.

"so positive are you? hmmm...?" -Yoda
LOL :)


-upper button is "on".
-middle button is "set speed"
-lower button and the brake pedal is "off"

...and I've never seen anything where Ford called it "cruise control",
have always seen it as "speed control" in Ford books.
I got that wrong?

Alvin in AZ
ps- KB, at least you spelled "lose" right. ;)
pps- And what's up with Kemical's name being in black?

[wdford]

Originally Posted by Alvin in AZ

"so positive are you? hmmm...?" -Yoda
LOL :)


Alvin in AZ
ps- KB, at least you spelled "lose" right.
pps- And what's up with Kemical's name being in black?

Much doubt in you young padwan. Many questions cloud the path to the darkside...

[Diesel_Brad]

Originally Posted by buffaloroams

Just FYI - why would you lose airbag, not that I'm opposed, frankly I would rather not have one, that is what seat belts are for.

Thanks for all the great input guys.

In 94 the airbags came out, but only in F150 and bronco. The F250/F350 did not get air bags till 99

Originally Posted by reptillikus

i swapped a wheel from a 92 lightning into my 96 F250 as the lightnings got pretty nice black leather wheels. You could go newer, but i needed a non-airbag wheel for my truck, hence the 92.

You must have gotten a wheel from a 93 lightning as they did not make a 92

[buffaloroams]

Originally Posted by Rednecks of LA

What's so special about the fr500? Looks like a normal steering wheel to me

It's the upgraded Ford Racing wheel they put in the Terminator Cobras.
Very nice wheel, extra thickness and nice leather wrapping.
Very comfortable wheel with great looks.

I like the idea of a Lightning wheel though.
Will look into that but I havE my eye on a VGC leather wrapped F250 wheel that I can get for about $70 so I will probably do that for now.

Was mostly wondering if the automotive steering wheels worked with the columns and hubs the truck line has and whether anyone had tried them out before.
I am big on plagiarizing other peoples great ideas.
Nice to know what works before I go changing things.

Thanks for all the good ideas.

[offroadkarter]

Originally Posted by buffaloroams

It's the upgraded Ford Racing wheel they put in the Terminator Cobras.
Very nice wheel, extra thickness and nice leather wrapping.
Very comfortable wheel with great looks.

They did not come in terminators... Regular 03/04's had the normal wheel, 10th anniv's and the mystichrome had this wheel.

[buffaloroams]

Originally Posted by offroadkarter

They did not come in terminators... Regular 03/04's had the normal wheel, 10th anniv's and the mystichrome had this wheel.


]

Friend of mine had 03 Terminator with it, no reason to believe it wasn't factory installed. You sure they weren't at least an option for those years?

Would be even better if you knew if they would mount on the truck steering columns.