Having leather covering your steering wheel can help create an excellent driving experience, as those smooth leather can keep your hands comfortable. They don’t just make you feel comfy while driving, but they also improve your car’s aesthetics. Thus, the wearing out of this leather can be quite disturbing. Is the leather on your steering wearing out? Well, a suitable leather steering wheel repair would be quite helpful.
It’s quite normal for those supple leather on your steering wheel to wear out after a while. With constant contact with dirt and moisture, this might occur faster. Fixing it is possible, except in extreme cases if you had let on the damage for too long. However, working on a restoration process can help revert that worn-out leather to look new. So, get your steering wheel repair kit, and follow this guide for easy steps to get your leather steering wheel fixed.
How to Repair Leather Steering Wheel: Step By Step Guide
One of the most typical questions amongst car owners is how to fix a peeling leather steering wheel. As the leather covering of your steering wheel starts peeling off, it would be quite helpful to start repairing them before they become irreparable. If they get torn, you can either contact the leather steering wheel restoration service near you or do it yourself. Here are some significant steps on how to repair a ripped leather steering wheel.
Step One: Cover the Surrounding Area
Before you get started fixing your ripped or worn out leather covering your steering wheel, it would be best if you cover the surrounding areas. Employ a suitable fabric to cover the car dashboard, seat, and floor. This action would help prevent those areas from getting stained from the chemicals you would use.
Step Two: Mask the Steering Labels
For steering wheel labels that do not come made of leather, you should try to mask them using tape. This practice would help prevent them from getting damaged, as the chemicals used for this leather restoration can damage them.
Step Three: Apply a Cleaner and Scrub
Use a leather cleaner or carefully rub alcohol on the full leather covering and scrub thoroughly using a wipe. Do this until the swabs on the leather steering wheel start coming off. You can also use a mixture of alcohol, ammonia, and acetone, mixing 2 ounces of each solution.
Step Four: Brush the Leather
Using sandpaper (400-grit would be fine), gently scrub the leather to remove those flaky substances. Keep scrubbing till you start seeing some cracks. Please note that those cracks would help in the proper absorption of the painting constituents on your steering wheel’s leather.
Step Five: Apply some Linseed Oil
Get some linseed oil, apply them on the leather to help smoothen the surface, and leave it for about 10 minutes. With this, the leather can fully absorb the linseed oil.
Step Six: Get Some Leather Fillers
Push some leather fillers into the cracks between the leather; you can use your fingertips to get it done. Ensure that all creases or gaps get filled and pound them properly to ensure they come out clean. You can also use a suitable steering wheel repair epoxy for the fillings on the leather. Then, smoothen the surface using sandpaper as you scrub gently.
Step Seven: Swipe Clean
Wipe the leather with a clean rag to remove all the scrapped residue, to make the whole repair process smooth. The presence of sand and leather crumbs may disrupt the leather refurbishment; thus, it would help if you remove them all.
Step Eight: Cover the Leather with a Promotor
For transparent adhesion, cover the leather steering wheel in a promoter to help the dye stay at ease. However, it would help if you get some water sealer and apply some beforehand. Once the water sealer gets dried, you can add the adhesion promoter for a brighter look. You can find these adhesives in various leather repair kits.
Step Nine: Apply some Dye
Get a suitable automotive spray dye suitable for the leather for proper coating, as you spray in circular motions. You can apply a double coat of paint for a perfect look, and then let it dry.
Tips on Fixing a Scratch on your Leather Steering Wheel
Do you have an unsightly scratch on your leather steering wheel? Well, here are some tips to get you through the leather steering wheel scratch repair.
- Employ vinegar in rubbing the leather steering wheel’s surface to help make the scratches almost indistinguishable. You can apply it evenly, using a rag or foam soaked in vinegar and leaving it for a while.
- Take a look at the leather for any visible scratch; if there are any, fill them using leather fillers. Pushing them in using a Popsicle stick and let it dry, leaving it for about 1 hour. You can also use soft gel leather glue in place of fillers.
- Work on the filled surface using sandpaper, and ensure that the filler level is even with the steering wheel’s leather surface.
- Remove all crumbs on the leather surface and apply a suitable leather dye on the scratched area. The dye would make the scratches and fillers invisible, making an even leather steering wheel.
- Allow the dye to dry and buff the surface using colorless shoe polish and blend properly. Using a suitable leather conditioner can help protect the leather from moisture, oil, and scratch.
Note: For more practical results, do not use the car for 24 hours to allow the dye absorption to take place on the leather steering wheel.
FAQs
Can you replace the leather on the steering wheel?
Yes. Replacing the leather on your steering wheel is one of the best options if you notice that they are wearing out. With a replacement, your steering wheel can look brand new, improving your car aesthetics. Interestingly, you can get it done yourself, as this requires a new leather.
Then, you successfully remove the old one and trace out an excellent template or get some online. If you find it challenging to do this, then get a professional repairer to help you with the job. You can search online for a ‘leather steering wheel repairer near me’ for some excellent options.
How do you stop your steering wheel from peeling?
Peeling on the leather steering wheel often starts as little cracks, and when left for a while, they start spreading across the surface. Thus, it would be helpful to fix them sooner. You can contact a leather steering wheel repairer to do so or get it done yourself.
All you have to do is get a steering wheel repair kit, fill those cracks with some leather fillers and make them even again. Then, apply a suitable dye to blend the overall look, making your steering wheel look immensely better. Then, apply a leather conditioner for further protection.
Can you use shoe polish on the steering wheel?
Not really. Some persons employ shoe polish on their leather steering wheel in place of dyes to save cost. However, it doesn’t work, as some may tend to dry out the leather and make cracks still visible.
It may also come out as a sticky mess since shoe leather’s tanning process is quite different from those on your steering wheel. Thus, a suitable leather dye is advisable; there are a lot of options available in stores. Get one and apply it on your leather steering wheel, and you can later buff the surface with shoe polish (optional).
Can you dye a leather steering wheel?
Yes. You can dye a leather after fixing the peels on the steering, making the color look even to showcase a brighter look. However, you can choose to do so using a different color on a steering wheel without faults. All you have to do is get a suitable leather dye for application.
To apply, you must first protect the areas surrounding the steering and ensure the surface is clean. You can use a suitable leather cleaner or alcohol to remove accumulated dirt and grease off the surface. Then, use a promoter and apply them properly around the leather steering wheel.
How do you paint an old steering wheel?
You can get a total leather steering wheel refurbishment by painting the leather. It would be best if you use a leather paint of good quality that suits the leather, to make sure it comes out nice. Painting it yourself, you would need sandpaper to make the surface smooth and an adhesion promoter for excellent paint absorption.
Then, remove the leather steering wheel, clean it with a suitable leather cleaner, and scrub with sandpaper to smooth the surface. For cracks, fill with an epoxy foam or leather fillers. Then, apply the promoter and leave it to get dried before moving on with the painting.
Conclusion
As you use your car steering wheel, the leather covering may start wearing out with time. With constant contact with water, grease, and dirt, these wear out might occur faster on the leather. It can be quite unpleasant, as the leather starts peeling off or having scratches. A leather steering wheel repair might be all you need to make your steering wheel look good again. You can check out this guide for details on how to fix scratches, peels, and tears on your leather steering wheel.