Steering Wheel Rehab

[jpaz]

I repaired my badly cracked steering wheel and finally got around to putting it back on. Was pretty easy to fix. I used my Dremel tool to grind out the cracks to make them larger. That makes a nice surface for the epoxy to grab to, and it makes it so you can get enough epoxy in the cracks. If you just try to cram some glue or epoxy in, it just doesn’t work.
I used PC7, a 2 part putty which adheres to plastic and POR Patch. The POR dries very hard and is pretty difficult to sand. The PC7 putty is much easier to sand and it seems like it should be durable enough. So I used the POR for some of the really wider and deeper cracks and then used the putty for the top. Sanded it down and went back over with more putty to fill in some pin holes. Then painted it with 2k semi gloss black. Turned out pretty good.

 

[vintageman]

Looks great. I did the same thing to my original steering wheel last year and it came out looking great. I can't remember what type of epoxy I used but I did hit it with a dremel first to give the epoxy something to bite on. Worked out well.

Tom

 

[SteveO_71]

Looks really nice! I was always wondering the proper way to rehab a steering wheel.

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

Looking great. I have done several in the past did two last year. You can end up with lots of hours in one for sure. I use the JB weld putty that comes in a stick that you need to mix. It seems to hold up good. For the last little places i just use regular bondo. One secret for it to last is not to pull on the steering wheel getting in or out of the car and crack it. I use the appliance epoxy paint for black wheels never done one in color.
Here is pic of the filler I use and like you say you need to rough up the area to give it something to hang on to. I push the putty into the area then pick on it with small hammer or handle of a screw driver to make sure it is all in. I have fixed gaps over 1" with it in the past.
 

 

[73T5Conv]

Great! Thanks for the good explanation and the good supporting pictures! I like the results!