83 steering wheel question

[x_man586]

When I bought the car, it had some crappy aftermarket steering wheel on it and so I sourced a steering wheel from an 83 Thunderbird in really good shape. When I pulled the old aftermarket steering wheel off, I can see that two out of the three fingers are the same length and the one to the far right is shorter. Do all three of these need to be the same length to make a good connection? If so Where can I source a new set of fingers?

 

[General karthief]

Ok, need a pic of what you're asking about, not sure what 'fingers' a car has, yeah, I know, chickens don't have fingers either

 

[x_man586]

Well, I posted a picture with my original post and I don’t know what happened to it

 

[x_man586]

.

 

[General karthief]

Does the replacement wheel have cruise control?
Does the car have cruise control?

 

[x_man586]

My car came with cruise control. The Thunderbird wheel has cruise control. It’s got three rings on the backside. I remember from my 86 F150 that instead of a clock spring this is how it works. But on my F150, it only had two and they were both the same length.
On my Mustang two are the same length and the one on the outside is shorter. I don’t know if it is broken off or if that’s how it is supposed to work.

 

[General karthief]

It should be spring loa IIRC, take a pick and gently push down, you can try and pick it up with a needle nose grabber but don't force it, can't remember exactly but will see if I gots a column with those exposed.

 

[General karthief]

I just went upstairs and found one and they are spring loaded so yours is prolly all gooped up and can't move, I'd spray it with electronic cleaner and get it to spring up, you may have to push it around a little, apply a little dialectic grease on the plate where they ride. Look to see all three contact the plate.

 

[General karthief]

Also.....very important........the horn and the cruise buttoms may not be compatable, not worked with those year parts, most of my stuff is 87-93

 

[x_man586]

I know the backs of both of the wheels are the same. As for what the buttons do, I won’t be able to tell until I install the wheel and get my multimeter out and check for continuity. Thanks

 

[x_man586]

Well, that last little finger was indeed broken off and with the wheel tightened all the way down it was a millimeter away from making contact so a little washer behind the housing made up the difference

 

[General karthief]

Got any pics of where you put the washer?

 

[x_man586]

The black plastic piece that houses all three of the copper fingers is held in with a Phillips head screw. All I did was remove the screw. Lift up the housing and put a washer behind it and then tighten the screw.