Yes Matt it should return to a neutral, centered position.

Take care using it in the condition it is in. My story about a worn stalk tells what can happen. On mine the old stalk was a bit loose, I engaged the cruise a tick over 80 and tooled down the highway fat dumb and happy. When I got into heavy traffic I hit the brake to slow down, which shut down cruise and as soons as I took my foot off the brake the car accelerated back up toward 80. I couldn't shut the cruise down until I got below 25mph...very scary.

The cruise stalk is fitted to the combination switch and locked in position with a key. Not too difficult, but the wire routing can be tricky. Study your existing set up good and you'll do fine. Since you are comtemplating a new combo switch this would be a great time to kill two birds with one stone.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.