DIY cruise control switches?

The steering wheel mounted cruise buttons in my Explorer are crumbling. It's a common problem in the third gens due to age. The rubber covers disintegrate. Now the plastic housings on mine have broken. You can still use the cruise but setting it is a two-handed affair in guesswork. Good used units are exceedingly rare and the new set costs $120 at Rock auto. As typical for Ford, there are on and off switches on one side, and coast/set/resume on the other.

I'm wondering if I could build my own using simple radioshack momentary buttons? I could make aluminum pieces that mount in place of the housings on the side of the steering wheel to hold the buttons. It would look vaguely F1 ish.

Anybody try this? Think the momentaries will work? Should I just drop the dough on new ones?

Here's a representative image. Mine are MUCH, MUCH worse. Most of the translucent rubber under the black coating is gone and the plastic housings are broken:

Seriously guys, you got nuthin? Nobody's ever made their own cruise control switches? You mean I've found the one auto-related, cheap-ass project that is so inane and remote that NO ONE on GRM has attempted or even considered it? No one's even going to say "Miata"?

I think I may have won something...

It shouldn't be that difficult. Figure out the circuit, then wire momentary switches in.

Bonus points if you add an arduino to make it a normal 2-button affair like every normal car.

Your idea will work fine, it just might not look nice.

You did it in the wrong order. You should have done the button switcheroo then did the thread to show off your work.

Tom Suddard wrote: Bonus points if you add an arduino to make it a normal 2-button affair like every normal car.

and then use the other 3 steering wheel switches for cool stuff like tire spikes and oil slicks and ejector seats.

Or more seriously you could use them for a slick bluetooth radio install, or engine stop start if you are a hypermiler, or up-shift/down-shift if you are a drag racer, or flashing hidden red and blue lights and a siren if you like to have fun and don't mind the risk of getting thrown in jail.

Since you mentioned Miata.....

I modified the cruse control for my Miata with some switches and stuff. Basically the mod was so the cruse control could be operated from the passenger seat.

I dont own a Ford Exploder, but I reckon you could do the same.

fujioko wrote: so the cruse control could be operated from the passenger seat.

Why?

In reply to ultraclyde:

I'll admit I've considered it. My plan for my Volvo 1800ES is to install a T-9 5 speed in place of the existing 4spd + electric o/d. Then I'd like to repurpose the column mounted o/d switch for cruise control using bit from an E30 (which has a stalk mounted CC controller). However, other than doing some day-dream designing, that's about as far as I've gotten. I also assumed using momentary switches.