TOPIC: Rebuilding steering wheels?

If I can't find a replacement I like, what epoxy or other product should I use to try rebuilding my steering wheel? The circumference plastic (most of the rest was covered with metal) is badly weathered, feels like sandstone. Whether I rebuild this or buy another wheel, I want to use the Glastron nut cap on it when I'm done.

I have rebuilt a few that had cracks in them, but never like what you have. I would junk it and get a different one. They are all over Ebay. I just think you could get the wheel back to specs by applying mud to the entire wheel like that. Plus, if the texture is what you said, and it had been eroding away like it looks, I do not believe that it is a good base for a 2-part epoxy like you need....

"Mud"? What kind of mud are you talking about? I'm sure I can sand down to good plastic that hasn't had any weather exposure.

Jerry over at CGOAMN told me about Bondo Easy Finish Black Flexible Bumper Repair which he uses.

A 2-part epoxy is what I use. I have heard of others using West Systems with the filler put in. "Mud" is just a general term for Bondo type or epoxy fillers.

Better steering wheels are not hard to come by, nor are they rare. You can find a much better example to repair then this one. Your going to be filling over pretty much the entire wheel and it will be very hard to get perfect like new again. My opinion is that you would be much better off buying a better one for $20 off Ebay and repairing that.

the hub and spokes will be covered again with metal, only the back sides of the spokes are noticeably weathered. The wheel itself can be covered again after the bondo build-up with a wheel wrap, I might even make the wheel thicker than it was. Rebuilding this will let me keep the appearance more period, most wheels I see on ebay are more modern look (and expensive).

I found that a drill works nice as a gentle rasp to remove the weathered plastic.

The classic and antique car guys do their steering wheels often. Eastwood Co. comes to mind. Try a Google search, Im sure you will find more results.

Not sure if this will be helpful or not, but I found it interesting.


www.secondchancegarage.com/public/93.cfm

I really enjoyed that link Flamingo

I "Like"d it on Facebook.