Add paddle shifters - theory

[Will2]

So far, people have been adding paddle shifters by buying a whole Dark Horse/GT wheel, either hoping to match your trim/features (+/- adaptive cruise), or switching over the buttons if mismatched.

However, I wonder it's possible to buy just the paddle shifter assemblies themselves + the backplate, to attach to the back of your existing wheel:

The paddles are:
PR3Z-3F884-AA (Right)
PR3Z-3F885-AA (Left)

#5 and 6 in the image below:

Only ~$55 each, much cheaper than getting a whole wheel (~$400), especially if you don't want to mess with switching over buttons, mis-match to the Dark Horse dark trim, etc.

Anybody who's added paddles and could chime in whether this might be possible? I believe the paddle assemblies themselves have the harness to plug into your existing wheel and function.

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[Alan Applegate]

I've researched this to some degree, but take my answers with some trepidation.

If you buy the correct steering wheel, it will not have any buttons, but it will have levers. Obviously, you reuse the OEM buttons and AirBag. The conversion does require the use of ForScan to change several parameters, and those have been listed here. A quick search should bring those up. Overall, it isn't difficult, but seemingly everyone has issues making it work the first time around.

My Ranger has shifter buttons on the gear selector and I have actually looked to see if one could adapt it to a Mustang. Short answer is nada!

After a lot of thought; About 3,500 on the OD of my 2024 EC; Learning how to keep the transmission in any given gear (you can but is takes a lot of dexterity); I've decided it isn't worth the effort or monies. Some of the reasons are simply I don't race it, I don't do the stoplight derby, Sports mode satisfies my needs nicely albeit I don't like the lag in shifting to a higher gear because it is too long (as long as a mile and/or 30 seconds). I could go on but I think you get the drift.

Completely off the topic of this thread... There is one more mod I've long since abandoned, and that is replacing the hood with a GT one. The idea or thought was, that it would help in cooling and perhaps reduce some heat soak in the intercooler. The Ford Performance guys have mixed answers about this. Apparently it does help the engine cooling. The trade off is slightly reduced airflow through the intercooler. If you can picture the airflow with and without the vent (we're speaking EC here, not a GT), it isn't difficult to figure out why the aforementioned is the case.

 

[jbrnigan]

If you buy the correct steering wheel, it will not have any buttons, but it will have levers. Obviously, you reuse the OEM buttons and AirBag. The conversion does require the use of ForScan to change several parameters, and those have been listed here. A quick search should bring those up. Overall, it isn't difficult, but seemingly everyone has issues making it work the first time around.

I bought the DH wheel from Ford performance and it came complete with all the buttons. I made all of the Forscan changes necessary to enable the paddles with ZERO issues ..... In fact, changing to the Billet Workz shifter and the paddle shifters is THE mod the EB needed ....FWIW

I explored just changing / adding the paddle switches, but could not find any info on the doing the change. So ... I bought the DH wheel from Ford perrformance - on sale (20% off), used my leftover ford pass points, the wheel cost me 271.00 - sold my original heated (premium) steering wheel on e-bay for 150.00 so my out of pocket ended up being about 125.00.

For 4 decades I always had a "manual" transmission in the "toy" bay of the garage for all the reasons that "auto" haters give for buying manuals. But, over the last 10 years I have "transitioned" to automatics. Every single one except this Mustang, has had a provsion for "gear selection". Even my Lexus, which has a CVT, has paddle shifters allowing the selection of a "lower gear". My F-250 has a manual mode. I'm an "old" guy and 80% of my driving is "put it in drive and go". But I do USE the manual shift mode and the paddle shifters. When I use the "sport" mode (not often), the paddles just seem to "enhance" the experience by allowing manual selection or override of the programmed gear selection. When I coast downhill, I use them to downshift. When I see a stoplight change from a block away, I downshift in lieu of braking ....etc etc. I guess I just haven't been able to totally "wean" myself from the shifting process.

 

[Alan Applegate]

You can save a bunch of cash by looking over eBay for a compatible steering wheel with paddles.

I've driven a few paddled 10R80s including a few down the strip. Try as you might, using drag mode and letting the trans shift itself, always delivered the fastest times.

I suspect most paddle-equipped Mustangs are used as 'look at me' accessories, similar to running the active exhaust in the loudest setting no matter what!

 

[SergioDiego]

I added paddle shifters to a non-paddle steering wheel. I also made the wiring myself, without replacing the original harness inside the steering wheel. For the rear plastic trim, I cut the necessary holes to fit the new paddle shifters.

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