2004 Ford Freestar cruise control

Are you referring to the nut that holds the steering wheel on? Takes a puller to get the wheel off the end of the column. Or are you trying to remove the air bag from the steering wheel?

[quote:b75190632b="2CarPro Jack"]Are you referring to the nut that holds the steering wheel on? Takes a puller to get the wheel off the end of the column. Or are you trying to remove the air bag from the steering wheel?[/quote:b75190632b] no, i am not, i am referring to the bolt that is underneath the top of the steering wheel, this is what holds the cruise control unit in place. this loosens the unit, but it willl not come out. i am a little dissapointed in this response. if i am not clear, please ask for more information. jay

All due respet, I did ask what you were trying to do. Im looking at the cruise system and I dont see a "cruise control unit", are you referring to the Speed Control Switch? Do you have the airbag out of th evehicle? Im trying to understand where you are

i am replying again on this issue to try to be more specific. i am referring to the speed control unit which is on the left side of the steering wheel, the unit will not lock on the speed control. there are three buttons on the unit, one is the on off, the next is the "set,accel, and coast button", the third is the "resume" button. this is all one unit, and it is bolted to the steering wheel with a bolt that is underneath the flap at the top of the steering wheel. when i remove the bolt, the unit becomes loose, but will not come out. can you tell me how to get the unit out so i can replace it?

The switchs have 2 screws that hold them in. One top and one on the bottom.. Sounds like the lower one is still in.

Ford has the brake disconnect on the bottom of the master cylinder and when it stops working the cruise doesn't turn on/engage.

Try disconnecting the switch on the bottom of the master cylinder and then either check it with a meter to see if it reads closed or while driving the vehicle see if the cruise will engage (be very careful doing this as hitting the brakes will NOT turn off the cruise control as it normally would).

If the cruise works, you need a new switch and it runs about $35, be careful not to cross thread the switch when you put a new one in or you'll have to replace the master cylinder as well.

This is for the benefit of new readers. Jack42 is dead wrong in his first post. Getting the wheel off in a 2004 and higher Freestar does NOT require a steering wheel puller. Look at the bottom of the steering wheel. That small plastic flap opens with a screwdriver. Turn your wheel 90 degrees to the right and the flap will be on your left. Look inside and you will see a single 'set screw type' bolt. Take a 7mm socket on a drill and turn the bolt at least 150 turns counter clockwise. You can not over turn the bolt. You will notice the wheel getting loose. When you've turned the bolt sufficiently, the wheel will lift off. BEFORE YOU LIFT IT OFF, TURN YOUR WHEEL BACK SO THAT THE FLAP IS ON THE BOTTOM AND YOUR WHEEL IS R & L LEVEL. After you're done doing whatever it is that you need to do, your front wheels being straight will not be an issue.