Why hell yes. I'm a little slow via E-mail, if you really get stuck before 6 PM eastern time, gimme a ring at (706)322-5575.

 

Sweet, I'm actually going to put this off a week though. I've got to try and focus on fixing these rock chips.

 

Quintin,

So, if I add a Lariat wheel to my XLT, would I gain control of my audio system? Or is there some other wiring that would have to be done other than plugging in the new wheel? Thanks for the time.

 

Travis, I dunno. I think someone here just recently added steering wheel controls to an FX4. I've never tried to see what it'd take first hand.

 

So, at the risk of being labeled a "poser," could I just install the Lariat wheel as is, and then worry about the radio stuff later? Specifically, will the cruise functions work, even though the audio/climate controls wouldn't?

 

I imagine the cruise control would work. Cruise control is cruise control is cruise control, whether the truck is equipped with auxillary controls for audio/climate control.

 

Well I installed my new steering wheel, and I learned something in the process. I purchased a Lariat leather wrapped wheel, with the steering wheel mounted audio controls. I got mine off (a not-too-difficult process), and transferred my non audio controls to the new wheel. This is where I made mistake number one. I didn't transfer my original steering wheel back to the new leather one. I went on a drive to recalibrate the PCM, and the darned cruise didn't work. So, I got back home, had to take the wheel back off and put my original back back on the new wheel. Problem solved.

Problem #2. Coming home to TN tonight, I noticed that when I had the wheel in a "straight" position, the truck went right. I should say I didn't have this problem until after the new wheel went on. So, to that end, I ask:

Quintin,

Can this wheel be installed wrong? I thought I put it back on in the same manner as I took off my old one. Could I be a few splines off to the left, thus making my wheel, when "straight", make the truck go right? I feel like an idiot for screwing up something that so many others have done without problem.

 

Shouldn't be able to. The steering shaft has master splines on it, it'll only go on straight up or 180 out. Sorry for the lousy description, but with the wheel pointing straight ahead, you should see something like this on the steering shaft:

__
(__) The two flats being the master splines.

How far right is it going? Like a slight drift, or throw-you-into-the-ditch right?

 

Quintin,

Right enough to make me notice, and think that I screwed up the install of the new steering wheel.

 

Without looking at it, I couldn't tell you whether you got it wrong or not, but I can't see how you could without it being really, really, really far off. I'd stick the old wheel back on it just to see for certain.

 

I actually tried to put a wheel on one spline over. Can't do it.
I've swapped my wheel on my STX three times, and done several on other folks trucks.

I have noticed that several of these trucks I have driven have the wheel just slightly off. Enough to notice, not enough to get the dealer to fix.
Chris

 

And I have one of your steering wheels on my truck now CRUISING around Louisiana. Thanks, Chris

 

I reinstalled mine this morning, and it's still a tick off. It tracks down the road fine, so I really don't care now. I think the part on the wheel that has the actual splines on it is off just ever-so-slightly. But can't really fix that!

 

I also thought that some of the wheels might be off, so when I had four of them on the bench I set up a straight edge and checked them. Nope. They were all exactly the same. Not even a millimeter off. So I do know what you mean about it being off slightly, but it really does seem to be in the design of the front.

Setting the wheel straight is part of an alignment, you do it from the 'other end'.
On the other hand my truck the wheel tips ever so slightly to one side. And it did from new, and with three different wheels. But it steers like a dream.
Chris

 

Just thought I'd update on my wood steering wheel. The leather matched perfectly and quality was top notch! HOWEVER, the wood was different, it was lighter and had more of a burlwood look rather than out zebra rosewood type wood grain. I'm in contact with woodcorp and they have been trying to send me samples. However, it keeps getting losed in the mail as it's yet to arrive. If the wood matches, I'll order the wheel through them, along with the wood to go around the door controls. Not quite sure I want to do wood around the shifter.

Duke