Steering Wheel

[Don Jordan]

Usually I wait until after I've done something stupid before asking - this time I thought I'd ask first before doing something stupid.

I've spent a lot of money on my car to the point that now I'm being overly critical. I found a guy near me that restores steering wheels for $250. Mine has some cracks in the usual places and the black has lost its shine. I know it's a silly thing - it won't make the car go any faster... it's just a nice touch.

[BobT-47P15]

Then, I'd say go for it.

The steering wheel is something you see and use all the time.

A nice wheel will only add to the classy look of your car.

Price sounds ok.

[RobertKB]

Hey, it's never stupid to spend money on the one you love!

[John Mulders]

Don,

not sure about the price.

I don't know the state of the steering wheel of course.

I repaired the cracks myself (using a 2 component filler).

Then had someone spraypainted it black (matte).

I think the painting costed me 100$

I agree that it is a very obvious part as people look into the car and see it immediately.

John

[Young Ed]

Don I repaired my own cracks with 2part epoxy and then painted with epoxy primer and I believe urethane after that. FYI the wheel is actually supposed to be a dark brown I believe. I painted mine the same brown as the middle section of the dash.

[jimainnj]

Don I repaired mine (see it on post chrysler at carlisle) I used the same method as others. Do search "steering wheel repair" I had the wheel off for horn repair at the time.

[claybill]

jim..(and others)...STEERING WHEELS ARE VERY IMPOrTANT..THE FIRST THING YOU SEE AND THE LAST..! oops!

but they are easy to repair yourself....tho the price sounds ok.

there is a 2-part epoxy called P-C7, comes in 2 small cans, a thick paste type, doesnt run, pliable, and sticks to the rubber type material of steering wheels! available most hardware stores for $8.

grind cracks with a dremel..fill, file and sand, primer, paint. I used rustoleum spraycan paint and then covered with rustoleum clear enamel. easy job..takes time, slick.

and only $20 bucks.! it's fun when you can do it yourself..

P-C 7 is a great epoxy..comes in black for regular and white for underwater apps.

bill

[adam_knox]

Does anyone know how the repaired wheel feels? Mine seems to be made from a solid colored rubber. Does painting it give it a different feel? Is it prone to cracking in the sun?

Mines in pretty good shape, I always try to cover it if parked in the sun for an extended period of time. Is there a moisturizing anti-aging cream offered by Mary Kay or Avon to prevent our wheels from showing stress cracks?

As for the $250, sounds about what the refurbished wheels go for on ebay. I figure spending $250 on something you see isn't that big of a deal, considering how much we spend on things you don't ever see!

[Young Ed]

My car sat out in the sun quite a bit last year and a little this year and so far its ok. Mine had no coating left on it so I can't really say if it gave it a different feel. Mine would leave my hands black from the rubber coming off. I think if you paint it with a high quality paint over a properly primered and crack repaired surface it should last a long long time. Everytime I drive my car I love the feel of the nice steering wheel in my hand. One of the best repairs ever. I can't calculate how much it cost because I bought the epoxy primer by the gallon to use on other parts of the car and the brown paint I bought I also used on the dash. But whatever it was it was worth it!

[BobT-47P15]

Adam....painting the steering wheel will probably change it's feel as

compared to a wheel with most of the paint worn off. The new paint

will make it smooth and a little "slicker" -- whereas the old wheel is

is a bit "tackier" feeling.

And, if there are any major cracks in the rim of the wheel where you

place your hands, there will be a definite improvement.

I sanded and painted my wheel several years ago with Duplicolor

Ford truck color rattle can paint......to match the dash. Did not put

on a clear coat over it......probably should have. I have some chips

and scratches after 10 or 12 years of use. So, I don't figure that's

too bad.

Yes, new P15 wheels were a dark-ish brown to match the steering

column and shift lever. I think those are the only items in the car that

color.

The wheel on the brown coupe has a few places it's cracked clear thru,

or mostly so. Needs repairs like those mentioned above.

Maroon wheel is on the convert.

Last pic is the Canadian Dodge wheel I purchased recently......it's the same as our

P15 (right Robert K-B?). Just need to swap the horn center. And, in

this case, the horn ring also.

Edited July 8, 2009 by BobT-47P15

[Plymouthy Adams]

for repair of rubber items that is also sandable there is a two part mix availabe for just that...this stuff is easy to use and does sand nice..for the repair of rubber nose pieces and bumper covers etc that is found on today's modern car..mix parts A and B...let cure...sand..wipe with a developer that slickens the patch to a smooth gloss..prime and paint as normal...get it at your local paint jobber. I repaired the nose piece of a Choo Choo El-Camino for a friend of mine, made a believer out of me..

[claybill]

P-C 7 epoxy....i had one section almost 1/2 missing. a chunk. and several other places 1/4 in..and chunks out of the back too...that epoxy worked..!!

regular fillers might fill a crack but wont fill a GAP. or allow to mold in a missing section.

my first one i used rattle-rustoleum tan...very nice.. but my second wheel i used rustoleum antique white with a clear final coat...oooooohH!

the problem is the rubber....it can flex as the weather changes, rarely cracks unless left in dessert dry heat, and most fillers wont do that over the years.

bil

[aero3113]

I sanded mine down filled the cracks with some good epoxy and sanded some more. Primed and painted with Krylon. Turned out great for under $20

[RobertKB]

PC-7 worked great for me on the steering wheel of my '38 Chrysler. It was worse than it looks in the before picture and had cracks everywhere. I ground each crack down to the metal with a dremel and filled each with PC-7. That stuff is great as you can carve, file, and sandpaper it. Primered and painted. Five years later it still looks good.

Before

Now

Edited July 8, 2009 by RobertKB
Grammar

[PatS....]

Tom Fonte of Simi Valley Ca did mine for me a few yrs ago. There were no cracks to fill because there was NO plastic at all, just the wire inner core.

He did a great job. He also does woodgraining.

biker99usa@yahoo.com

He's a member here "biker99", but hasn't posted on the new forum but once.

Before

After