Steering wheel stiching repair
11-16-2002, 12:03 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Steering wheel stiching repair
This is a fix I did on my 80SC's steering wheel that I thought I would pass along.
The leather rap stiching was failing and letting the leather lift.
The leather was in good shape so I thought I might just re-stich it.
Then I saw a product at a fabric and craft store called INSTANT VINYL that said it would bond leather butted together and was fexible. It also said you would be delighted at it performance?.
Well I removed all the stiching except for on the spokes as they were still in good shape.I just tucked a little thread under where the wheel meets the spoke. The leather was already lifting on most of the wheel, But where it wasn't, I lifted it a bit so I could get the Instant Vinyl underneath.
I then applied the Instant Vinyl under the leather and on the edges.
To hold it in place I used fresh masking tape. I rapped the wheel TIGHT while pulling the leather together and let it dry.
As I recall when I removed the tape a little color from the wheel lifted too but was no big deal. The glue is flexible so I just pulled off any excess.
Well two years later and a bunch of miles it still looks great. It's even hard to tell it isn't stiched as they leave their mark when removed.
This is probably the cheapest fix you will ever have so enjoy it.
Cost: A tube of glue and some masking tape, $5?
A coat of black leather die would be the finishing touch, tested in an obscure area first.
Cheers Bob, and I am delighted
<img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />
The leather rap stiching was failing and letting the leather lift.
The leather was in good shape so I thought I might just re-stich it.
Then I saw a product at a fabric and craft store called INSTANT VINYL that said it would bond leather butted together and was fexible. It also said you would be delighted at it performance?.
Well I removed all the stiching except for on the spokes as they were still in good shape.I just tucked a little thread under where the wheel meets the spoke. The leather was already lifting on most of the wheel, But where it wasn't, I lifted it a bit so I could get the Instant Vinyl underneath.
I then applied the Instant Vinyl under the leather and on the edges.
To hold it in place I used fresh masking tape. I rapped the wheel TIGHT while pulling the leather together and let it dry.
As I recall when I removed the tape a little color from the wheel lifted too but was no big deal. The glue is flexible so I just pulled off any excess.
Well two years later and a bunch of miles it still looks great. It's even hard to tell it isn't stiched as they leave their mark when removed.
This is probably the cheapest fix you will ever have so enjoy it.
Cost: A tube of glue and some masking tape, $5?
A coat of black leather die would be the finishing touch, tested in an obscure area first.
Cheers Bob, and I am delighted
<img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />
