Goodbye to peeling tortioseshell steering wheel

[jeffp]

The tortoiseshell laminate got scratched a few years back and started to peel and delaminate. Trying to repair it was a cosmetic disaster. It was either replace the steering wheel (a - didn't want to spend that much, b- the center bolt was too tight to remove without stripping the hex socket in the bolt) or cover it. I used a Wheelskin and was pleased with the result. I doubled the number of lacing holes to get a closer visual match to the factory cover and double stitch around the spokes. It came out better than I expected. Is a nice match to the 22elite console cover.
If you're starting to get the faux finish peeling, it's certainly an option to consider.

[HEMMISSEY]

fit's like a glove!! Nice

[Rapid/Transit]

I had one omy 2001 9C1 Impala, looks factory.

Ed

[MagNite]

Yup, I have one also, got mine off Ebay

[rander]

looks like new! congrats.

[ChargerFever]

Good thinking! Look great!

[Ryster]

The steering wheel in my '06 Impala started to discolor, and I went the Wheelskins route also. It is a great product!

[Nuclearjack]

How do you stich it in place?

[Ryster]

How do you stich it in place?

It comes as a kit with the leather cover, a needle, and a spool of waxed nylon thread.

The cover stretches in place over the wheel, and then you just start feeding the thread through the holes that are pre-punched and reinforced along the inside of the cover. Pull the thread tight as you go, and then when you get all the way around you tie the thread off and tuck-in the knot.

It takes a little over an hour to do and the hardest part is dealing with the cover in the area of the steering wheel spokes.

[lowriderman3]

Looks great!

[IES99]

Mine is peeling. Thanks for this post! I was going to try to refinish it, but this is the way to go. Yours looks great.

[06rthemi]

Looks great, where did you get it from

[STAGE 3 R/T]

mine is doing that too, guess I know what I can do to fix it! Thanks for the great idea.

[Ryster]

Looks great, where did you get it from

I bought mine direct
http://www.wheelskins.com/

They are also available from various online sites and such (but many indicate a 2-3 week lead time for some reason). I ordered mine direct on a Friday morning, and the company had it at my door Monday cross-country. They shipped priorty mail.

If you do one of these, be sure to wear gloves. I didn't and had sore fingers and deep cuts for a week after the install.