Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Topic: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted (Read 2752 times) previous topic - next topic

Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

December 03, 2004, 11:24:19 AM

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

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #1 – December 03, 2004, 12:34:37 PM

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.

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #2 – December 03, 2004, 08:34:52 PM

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.

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #3 – December 04, 2004, 03:53:41 PM

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

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #4 – December 04, 2004, 05:42:35 PM

Is this something that would be at all possible for one of us to start fabricating, if we can't find replacements?

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #5 – December 04, 2004, 05:47:27 PM

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...

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #6 – December 04, 2004, 05:49:50 PM

So in other words, we're screwed if no one else makes these? (and after the JY/spare parts supplies dry up)

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #7 – December 04, 2004, 08:54:58 PM

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.

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #8 – December 04, 2004, 10:56:29 PM

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?

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #9 – December 06, 2004, 09:21:43 AM

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.

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #10 – December 06, 2004, 09:37:07 AM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken

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...

Would it be more likely that they could be repaied, and not remade? :dunno:

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #11 – December 06, 2004, 10:22:28 AM

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.

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #12 – December 06, 2004, 11:32:42 AM

Hot glue, hey? I was thinking about apoxy but maybe hot glue will work better. I'll give it a try. Thanks!

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #13 – December 06, 2004, 12:37:18 PM

Anyone wanna call about this?

Re: Steering wheel horn contacts wanted

Reply #14 – December 07, 2004, 12:43:15 PM

I would call, but:

Quote

At this time, we do NOT ship Internationally. US & APO Customers only!

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.