- First Name
- AA
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- Nov 16, 2022
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- Location
- California
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- 2022 Bronco® The Sasquatch™ 2-door
- Your Bronco Model
- Outer Banks
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- #1
I'd been contemplating this idea for a couple of years, but the steep price of the Braptor steering wheel and the uncertainty about parts interchangeability were holding me back. I was following the thread about the Braptor steering wheel swap, and the info posted there led me to a conclusion that the modification I was pondering over was doable.
I didn't like the option of simply swapping out the standard steering wheel for the Braptor's one for several reasons: non-functional buttons would bother my OCD, so would do the Raptor logo and the red stitching. My main goal was to preserve the stock look of the Bronco interior and add the functionality it was lacking. I like to use engine breaking when rolling downhill and also prefer to shift gears myself when I go off-roading, so the "+/-" button on the transmission shifter was used regularly. Even though I got used to it, I never liked either its location nor the tactile feedback of this button.
The Braptor and the standard Bronco steering wheels share the cast armature. Besides the stitching, better leather quality, and the redundant buttons, the main difference lies in the shape of the molded foam and the four extra holes for the screws that hold the paddle shifters in place.
I used the Braptor steering wheel for reference while cutting off the foam on the standard steering wheel in order to free up space for the paddle shifters. Once done with carving, I drilled 4 holes in the alloy core for the paddle shifter screws. In addition to that, a small amount of metal had to be shaved off around those holes to make the paddle shifters seat tight. I used the Dremel tool for that task.
When I was assembling the steering wheel, it turned out that the two prongs on plastic back cover from the Braptor steering wheel were placed slightly different compared to the standard back cover, so I had to drill out two holes in the foam to accommodate them.
The rest of the installation was plug-and-play – no programming was needed. The paddle shifters and all the buttons work perfectly. I'm super happy with the result. Now I can select gears without removing the right hand from the steering wheel.
I didn't like the option of simply swapping out the standard steering wheel for the Braptor's one for several reasons: non-functional buttons would bother my OCD, so would do the Raptor logo and the red stitching. My main goal was to preserve the stock look of the Bronco interior and add the functionality it was lacking. I like to use engine breaking when rolling downhill and also prefer to shift gears myself when I go off-roading, so the "+/-" button on the transmission shifter was used regularly. Even though I got used to it, I never liked either its location nor the tactile feedback of this button.
The Braptor and the standard Bronco steering wheels share the cast armature. Besides the stitching, better leather quality, and the redundant buttons, the main difference lies in the shape of the molded foam and the four extra holes for the screws that hold the paddle shifters in place.
I used the Braptor steering wheel for reference while cutting off the foam on the standard steering wheel in order to free up space for the paddle shifters. Once done with carving, I drilled 4 holes in the alloy core for the paddle shifter screws. In addition to that, a small amount of metal had to be shaved off around those holes to make the paddle shifters seat tight. I used the Dremel tool for that task.
When I was assembling the steering wheel, it turned out that the two prongs on plastic back cover from the Braptor steering wheel were placed slightly different compared to the standard back cover, so I had to drill out two holes in the foam to accommodate them.
The rest of the installation was plug-and-play – no programming was needed. The paddle shifters and all the buttons work perfectly. I'm super happy with the result. Now I can select gears without removing the right hand from the steering wheel.
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