C4 steering wheel refurb.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 193
Likes: 19
From: Stevenston, Scotland, GB
C4 steering wheel refurb.
I kinda like the stock wheel on my '87, but it was looking a bit ratty, so I acquired some leather refurb stuff like filler, dye and top coat and went to work..
First was to sand down the old leather and smooth out the cracks all over...
First was to sand down the old leather and smooth out the cracks all over...
Last edited by exitwound; Apr 14, 2016 at 07:55 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 193
Likes: 19
From: Stevenston, Scotland, GB
This here's the wheel now with several coats of gloss top coat. (I might do my shoes too so that I never have to polish them ever again! ..haha!!)
For the wheel, I prefer the shiny finish over the usual matt that you get these days on aftermarket wheels. Easy to wipe clean of skin oil that tends to affect soft leather especially on suede effect leather.
..btw, by way of contrast, the top of the dash is covered in a faux suede material as the sun shines off the original finish and reflects into the windscreen (windshield) which is very annoying, ..and yes we do get hot sunny days here in Scotland!
For the wheel, I prefer the shiny finish over the usual matt that you get these days on aftermarket wheels. Easy to wipe clean of skin oil that tends to affect soft leather especially on suede effect leather.
..btw, by way of contrast, the top of the dash is covered in a faux suede material as the sun shines off the original finish and reflects into the windscreen (windshield) which is very annoying, ..and yes we do get hot sunny days here in Scotland!
Last edited by exitwound; Apr 14, 2016 at 08:02 AM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 656
Likes: 79
From: Jackson Wisconsin
Nice. The wheel on my 95 looked like alligator hide when I got it. I applied leather preserver ( alot of it) sanded it and dyed it with leather dye. Looks great. I may consider the leather filler route as its still a bit crackly but its good to know its repairable. Thanks for the pix.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 451
Likes: 14
From: Okehampton Devon
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,029
Likes: 63
That came out looking like a new wheel! 
I took mine to an upholsterer and he took the old leather off, made the wheel a bit thicker and recovered it with leather. Very happy with it.
I took mine to an upholsterer and he took the old leather off, made the wheel a bit thicker and recovered it with leather. Very happy with it.
Last edited by ToniH; Apr 15, 2016 at 02:46 PM.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 193
Likes: 19
From: Stevenston, Scotland, GB
I just sourced filler, dye and top coat from a supplier on eBay with an eBay shop for all products. I'll check later when I get PC access, which one.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 311
Likes: 23
From: Austin, TX
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,029
Likes: 63
Cannot say, I had every interior panel upholstered with leather at the same time + lots of other stuff.
There is few pics of it installed here, the gallery at the bottom of the page: click
Its an old site, doesn't work very well with IOS-gear like iPads, sorry.
Originally Posted by 1993C4LT1
And can you post a pic or two of it installed?
Its an old site, doesn't work very well with IOS-gear like iPads, sorry.
Last edited by ToniH; Apr 16, 2016 at 01:32 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 56
Likes: 2
I just used neatsfoot oil and Griffin paste shoe polish. Rub the wheel down with the neatsfoot oil. Let it soak in for a few minutes to "feed" the leather. Apply a coat of shoe polish, let dry, and buff with a soft towel. Total cost...about $5. I have been doing this about twice a year for the last 11 years. Works great.
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,377
Likes: 2,737
exit wound, I hope you don't mind me digging up your old thread, but I was wondering if you could give us all a report of how your steering wheel refurbish has held up for a year? Also if possible could you PM me the supplier for the components used in your referral. That is of course if it has held up!