Working paddle shifter in my FX4 EcoBoost...
11-28-2014, 10:24 PM
#41
Senior Member
PFBZ, any update on your latest version of the paddle switches?
11-29-2014, 01:02 AM
#42
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The switches are actually really nice, but finding a good mounting point has been a bit of a challenge... It actually looks like they could mount up on the back side of the steering stock wheel nicely, but I probably should pull off the steering wheel just to make sure they get positioned perfectly and it would be nice to get an extra OEM wheel so I could play with it without having my truck down.
Then there's the clock-spring issue. I could either 'repurpose' some of the existing lines that go through the steering wheel or just do it race-car style with a coiled cord. But the steering is much slower on the F-150, I think about 1.5 turns in each direction from center to full-lock, more than most race cars with coil cords wrap. I don't think I really need the super-robust mil-spec connector shown below, it's only three lines (really two if I find a good ground inside the wheel), a heavy duty coiled phone cord would probably work great.
Ultimately, the biggest issue is my simple toggle switch prototype works so well (it gets used all the time) it doesn't give me all that much motivation for a more elegant solution.
Then there's the clock-spring issue. I could either 'repurpose' some of the existing lines that go through the steering wheel or just do it race-car style with a coiled cord. But the steering is much slower on the F-150, I think about 1.5 turns in each direction from center to full-lock, more than most race cars with coil cords wrap. I don't think I really need the super-robust mil-spec connector shown below, it's only three lines (really two if I find a good ground inside the wheel), a heavy duty coiled phone cord would probably work great.
Ultimately, the biggest issue is my simple toggle switch prototype works so well (it gets used all the time) it doesn't give me all that much motivation for a more elegant solution.
Last edited by pfbz; 11-29-2014 at 01:05 AM.
08-13-2015, 10:35 PM
#43
Thought I would bump this thread to see if there is any update on V 2.0. Really love this idea and considering doing it myslef. I love the original idea but having paddles on either side is really a big plus for me.
08-13-2015, 11:03 PM
#44
King Hater
It's not attractive IMO, but It's a great start. It'd be nice if there were buttons on the back of the steering wheel for shifting, kinda like Audi's concept, but not sporty looking like paddle shifters but the same idea. Now if they would've done that for the Focus DSG 
08-13-2015, 11:17 PM
#45
Senior Member
I followed this when I first got on here. I too am wanting an update as to where the truck is now.
08-16-2015, 12:21 AM
#46
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Alas I have been distracted by other shiny new objects and haven't done the V2 paddle implementation. The simple prototype continues to work perfectly and is used daily.
I did find another paddle source that I like even better than the "toy" paddles, Mercedes parts that they use on their AMG cars. If you google "AMG Paddle Shift" you'll see tons of threads on the installation on of these paddles in other cars, and I think it would be relatively easy to physically modify the F150 steering wheel to integrate these paddles. (Mercedes part 171 267 00 46, about $100)
The challenge continues to be the wiring... It's not just a matter of 'another wire on the clockspring'... Most modern vehicles, F150 included, don't use discrete wires through the clockspring, but use multiplexed, encoded signals to allow many different channels to talk over the same bus. There are some encoder/decoder designs that would allow you to inject another signal (shift up, shift down) on the existing wires and decode it on the other side of the clockspring, but to me it sounds both like a bit too much work and too much hassle. A simpler solution would be to use some tiny, cheap, wireless switches available on ebay and bury them in the steering wheel with the matching switch in the truck body and then wired to the actual shift up/down wires like I did in my prototytpe.
Using AMG paddles and an ebay RF transmitter would give a solution similar to the absurdly overpriced SDHQ $1,200 paddle shifter for about $120 and a few hours of work.
Paddles
I did find another paddle source that I like even better than the "toy" paddles, Mercedes parts that they use on their AMG cars. If you google "AMG Paddle Shift" you'll see tons of threads on the installation on of these paddles in other cars, and I think it would be relatively easy to physically modify the F150 steering wheel to integrate these paddles. (Mercedes part 171 267 00 46, about $100)
The challenge continues to be the wiring... It's not just a matter of 'another wire on the clockspring'... Most modern vehicles, F150 included, don't use discrete wires through the clockspring, but use multiplexed, encoded signals to allow many different channels to talk over the same bus. There are some encoder/decoder designs that would allow you to inject another signal (shift up, shift down) on the existing wires and decode it on the other side of the clockspring, but to me it sounds both like a bit too much work and too much hassle. A simpler solution would be to use some tiny, cheap, wireless switches available on ebay and bury them in the steering wheel with the matching switch in the truck body and then wired to the actual shift up/down wires like I did in my prototytpe.
Using AMG paddles and an ebay RF transmitter would give a solution similar to the absurdly overpriced SDHQ $1,200 paddle shifter for about $120 and a few hours of work.
Paddles
Last edited by pfbz; 08-16-2015 at 12:24 AM.
12-10-2017, 10:52 AM
#48
Nice mod. Looks ripe for someone to do an aftermarket kit.
I would really like to have that mod on my 2011 XLT with the small switch, inconveniently on the column shifter behind the steering wheel
I would really like to have that mod on my 2011 XLT with the small switch, inconveniently on the column shifter behind the steering wheel
12-10-2017, 08:19 PM
#49
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
SDHQ used to make a setup that cost over $1200. I don’t think it is available anymore. I also saw where another member on here did some paddle shifters with Benz paddles and wiring through the clock spring. I never got details when I asked though.
07-09-2020, 05:37 PM
#50
Junior Member
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Absolutely brilliant - simple and effective. I may well be doing this myself, soon.
With regard to the more robust metal switch having a round stalk, rather than flat, there is always the option of attacking it with a file to make it flat before attaching the extension lever.
With regard to the more robust metal switch having a round stalk, rather than flat, there is always the option of attacking it with a file to make it flat before attaching the extension lever.