Nasty Steering Wheel

[hopefloata]

Whenever its gets a little humid outside my friggin steering wheel wrap gets all nasty and peels off on my hands. Its the stock steering wheel and my car is an 88 NA. I know this is common since all 3 MKIIIs Ive had have dine the same thing and I never got around to fixing it.

Anyone have any do it yourself projects/ideas that may help me fix it? Like rewrapping them or just taking the crap off? I really dont need to be told to buy a new steering wheel because if felt like spending extra money on that I would but for now my extra money is going to maintenance and tuning.

 

[BorHor]

You can recover it. But it will cost more then a aftermarket wheel.
Some people just take the stuff off and just leave the plastic.

 

[slidebabyslide]

The plastic thats under the steering wheel.... looks like ass. Don't do it. Go to pick and pull . Hella cheap like 20 bucks

 

[Supracentral]

I've used these before:

http://www.leatherseats.com/products2.asp?c=3&id=345

Beats the crap out of those cheap ass covers you can get in the store. Installed properly, it's hard to tell the wheel is wrapped at all.

Install is tedious, but not difficult.

 

[Poodles]

http://www.wheelskins.com

Better than a stock steering wheel...

 

[Jeff Lange]

I'd suggest restoring the leather using Leatherique products, or replacing the steering wheel (either with another stock one in better condition, or a new aftermarket one).

Just my opinion.

 

[Poodles]

depends on how bad it is...

but wheelskins FTW

 

[hopefloata]

Holy shit. Thanks guys. Way more info than I expected. I asked about window molding a little while back and got some lame cookie cutter no brainer responses that didnt help much and I totally expected even less here haha. Im going to look into all of your suggestions so far. I like the idea of re-wrapping it myself more than any of them though. And whenever I go to pick and pulls Im always on the lookout for a steering wheel for sure, just no luck as of yet and where I live now the pick n pull idea is lacking in convenience so I havent been to any around here yet. I really doubt the leather is recoverable in the state its in but I will for sure check that product out.

 

[jugodegolf]

Probably more money than you want to spend but less than from toyota.
I think its one of best replacements as you hands give you the feel of car, and nothing like nice leather.
http://www.american-stitches.com/

poodles looks pretty good, btw. I think his is thicker than stock though.

 

[Poodles]

yeah, it's thicker, but I like it...

Thin steering wheels aren't as comfy for some reason...

 

[NewWestSupras]

I recovered my '88 wheel myself. It takes some work, but at least you have the satisfaction of doing it yourself. I carefully cut the old leather off along the stitches and made a template out of cardboard. I went to an auto reupholstery shop and got some nice perforated black leather. After cutting it and stitching it I had about 7 hrs into it. I'll send you a pic if you like.

 

[jugodegolf]

any pics.

 

[NewWestSupras]

on their way... their we go. Pics not the best, but all I can do with camera phone.

 

[johnathan1]

on their way... their we go. Pics not the best, but all I can do with camera phone.

Looks good, but the wheel is a little thin...I think there is a layer of padding underneath the stock leather...it makes the wheel more cushiony, and thicker...I've been debating if I should find another steering wheel with the original leather still there (doesn't have to be in good shape) and putting the wheelskin over that...so that it isn't super skinny, with almost no cushion.

 

[jugodegolf]

pretty good NewWest. I still consider this replacement, or repair to be one of best things any supra owner can do. No matter how well your car runs or looks if you have to grip a nasty old steering wheel it would bother the hell out of me.

 

[Poodles]

same reason I bought a new shift knob (TRD), new e-brake assembly, e-brake boot and shifter boot...

my car is dented bad on the outside, but if I'm sitting in what feels like a shitbox it pisses me off. Clean interior is always #1 on my plate...

 

[NewWestSupras]

Jonathon1 is right, there is a layer of rubber underneath the stock wheel. I went with two layers of perforated leather on this. It has some cushion, not alot. It's nice in the summer, breathes good. I made a few of these, this one's a spare. I'll try the '90 project car's wheel next, while the motor's getting ripped.

 

[RazoE]

my damn 89 steering wheel is BROWN underneath...

thanks to this thread I finally found a few re-skins I actually like...