Steering Wheel Refurbish Ideas
#1
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Steering Wheel Refurbish Ideas
Looking for ideas on the steering wheel. Don't do the bulky covers. I thought of attempting a leather, tape-backed wrap spiral bound around the wheel. Haven't seen much online for products or about that route, though. Anybody know about degree of difficulty for a replacement leather wrap and sow project?
#2
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Chrisfix did a really good video on redoing a steering wheel. I'll link it for you here. Personally, I would probably look for a replacement wheel before trying to cover it myself. I don't think mine would look that good. But his turned out pretty great.
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
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Chrisfix did a really good video on redoing a steering wheel. I'll link it for you here. Personally, I would probably look for a replacement wheel before trying to cover it myself. I don't think mine would look that good. But his turned out pretty great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sStxk4mv_DY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sStxk4mv_DY
#4
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Perfect video. Thank you. I'm likely to do that. Any special airbag considerations I'm unaware of as a new XJ owner? Anyone know the torque setting for the steering wheel bolt?
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http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/w...-97-xj-906542/
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/gr...l-swap-224995/
Last edited by Ralph77; 01-04-2018 at 02:54 AM.
#6
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Awesome info; thanks a lot.
I've decided to stick with the original wheel. Re-wrap it and attempt to add cruise control. Need start a search for the donor. I can't seem to envision adding switches like was done in the Jeepforum post. Anybody know more about that?
I've decided to stick with the original wheel. Re-wrap it and attempt to add cruise control. Need start a search for the donor. I can't seem to envision adding switches like was done in the Jeepforum post. Anybody know more about that?
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Year: 2000
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Engine: 4.0 L6
Is the leather worn completely through in spots? If not, you can sand the leather smooth in the worn areas, apply die to bring it back to the correct color, then apply several coats of acrylic resolene to it for a finish coat that matches the "shiny" non-worn parts of the wheel.
The wear on mine was minor compared to yours, so I didn't bother to do the die treatment. It was rough at 10-2 o'clock on the back (dash) side. I sanded and applied several coats of acrylic resolene and it's smooth and feels basically like new.
The wear on mine was minor compared to yours, so I didn't bother to do the die treatment. It was rough at 10-2 o'clock on the back (dash) side. I sanded and applied several coats of acrylic resolene and it's smooth and feels basically like new.
#9
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Is the leather worn completely through in spots? If not, you can sand the leather smooth in the worn areas, apply die to bring it back to the correct color, then apply several coats of acrylic resolene to it for a finish coat that matches the "shiny" non-worn parts of the wheel.
The wear on mine was minor compared to yours, so I didn't bother to do the die treatment. It was rough at 10-2 o'clock on the back (dash) side. I sanded and applied several coats of acrylic resolene and it's smooth and feels basically like new.
The wear on mine was minor compared to yours, so I didn't bother to do the die treatment. It was rough at 10-2 o'clock on the back (dash) side. I sanded and applied several coats of acrylic resolene and it's smooth and feels basically like new.
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I think I used 600 grit sandpaper. I don't have pics, but I'll take some pics as it is and you will be able to see where it was wearing through the original finish since I didn't use the dye before applying the resolene. I didn't bother since you can't see it from the driver's seat.
I put on about 6-8 thin coats of the resolene, and I don't recommend doing that many. It's a tough finish, but it took a couple of weeks to fully cure in the middle of summer. It was annoyingly sticky during that time, but it probably will cure more quickly in your drier climate. If I were to do it again, I would do maybe 4 coats and let each coat fully cure before coating again. Mine feels slightly plasticy (?) but never slick--it has really good grip to it.
I put on about 6-8 thin coats of the resolene, and I don't recommend doing that many. It's a tough finish, but it took a couple of weeks to fully cure in the middle of summer. It was annoyingly sticky during that time, but it probably will cure more quickly in your drier climate. If I were to do it again, I would do maybe 4 coats and let each coat fully cure before coating again. Mine feels slightly plasticy (?) but never slick--it has really good grip to it.
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Year: 2000
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The first couple of shots show the black section at the top of the wheel that had worn through the finish of the leather. It was really rough here before I sanded and applied the acrylic resolene. The last two pics show how the finish on the worn smooth side now matches the finish on the side of the wheel that still shows grain. I only applied the resolene to the worn side. If you dye the worn areas, you can match the color rather than show black like mine.
#12
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Mine was wearing (not as much as yours) and I got Wheelskins leather cover. You put it over the wheel and lace it on the inside. I've put them on 2 other older vehicles and it's like having a new leather wheel. Look them up on the interweb. Fairly easy to put on and really nice result. Will post pics ASAP.
Last edited by Black & Tan; 01-22-2018 at 07:34 PM.
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