Steering Wheel Repair

Discussions about general body work and modifications
mercuryman
Posts: 119
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:08 pm
Location: Kalamazoo,Michigan

Steering Wheel Repair

Post by mercuryman »

Has anyone ever repaired they`re steering wheel? What should I use? I have a steering wheel that's cracked and wondered if its worth repairing. Thanks.

User avatar
poboyjo65
Moderator
Posts: 7037
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:40 pm
Location: Camden, Tenn.

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by poboyjo65 »

I use PC-7 epoxy from eastwood. good stuff. plenty of work time. sandable. I repaired some cracks at the hub & encapsulated the entire wheel, which was missing areas & brittle. I built it up to a fatter steering wheel. it was a pain but fixing a few cracks would be easy.
Image
Johno

Comechero65
Posts: 1870
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2014 10:37 pm
Location: Santa Clara, Ca

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by Comechero65 »

I repaired cracks in a mustang steering wheel. Used marine epoxy to fill the cracks. Primed and painted. Still looked good 2 years later.
Image
Ron
Image

mercuryman
Posts: 119
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:08 pm
Location: Kalamazoo,Michigan

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by mercuryman »

I started the steering wheel repair. I`m using PC-7. Stay tuned.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

User avatar
poboyjo65
Moderator
Posts: 7037
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:40 pm
Location: Camden, Tenn.

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by poboyjo65 »

V out the cracks with a file or dremel tool, makes it easier to get them full with out voids. another trick I learned to do is put tape on each side of the crack,close to the edge. the sanding will be easier & when you get down close pull the tape & smooth out the edge it left. being careful not to sand out too much & have to reapply more epoxy.
Image
Johno

vicegrip
Posts: 402
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2013 12:12 pm

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by vicegrip »

https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/u ... rdener+Kit

I've tried a bunch of different epoxy fillers and they all shrunk and cracked after a while,including PC-7. This West System G/Flex 655 is good stuff and hasn't cracked on my last two wheels. It's a little thin and takes several coats but doesn't seem to shrink.They are a marine type company...maybe it's what Ron used.

A/FX
Comet Central Member
Posts: 1094
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:07 pm
Location: S.E. Wisconsin

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by A/FX »

I have repaired numerous steering wheels using epoxy. The main reason they crack after correctly repairing them is that when you get in the car you pull yourself in by using the wheel as an anchoring point. The steel frame of the steering wheel flexes and causes the repair to fail.
A good epoxy will not shrink. Another trick is to cut a groove in the wheel perpendicular to the crack and insert a small threaded machine screw with the head removed. This will bridge the damaged area and when the crack and the groove are filled with epoxy the repair will be strong.
‘64 Cyclone/ Boss 302,quads,4spd, Winters 9”

Image

Comechero65
Posts: 1870
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2014 10:37 pm
Location: Santa Clara, Ca

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by Comechero65 »

The stuff I used came from the hardware store. Don't know the brand but it was in a rope like form and you knead the two parts together then use it. Never shrunk after two years but don't know how it is today a couple more years later.
Ron
Image

popscomet
Posts: 9689
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:19 pm
Location: Jacksonville, Arkansas

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by popscomet »

AND OL POP is the world's worst for grabbing the whl and kinda of jerkin my way in ,not so much in the comet but when getting in one of my trucks that sit a tad higher...just a habit and one that I need to break myself from... :? :wink: pop
Image
pop/glenda

mercuryman
Posts: 119
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:08 pm
Location: Kalamazoo,Michigan

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by mercuryman »

Some more pics of the PC-7 repair. I like this stuff.
Image
Image
Sands really well.
Image
Almost ready for paint.
Image
Image
Image

User avatar
poboyjo65
Moderator
Posts: 7037
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:40 pm
Location: Camden, Tenn.

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by poboyjo65 »

Looking good ! & oh so familiar! :lol:

Imagescreen capture software
Imagefree photo hosting
Image
Johno

mercuryman
Posts: 119
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:08 pm
Location: Kalamazoo,Michigan

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by mercuryman »

Looks great Johno. Nice job. Hope mine turns out half that nice. Got the primer on and it turned out pretty good.
Image
Image
Image

User avatar
poboyjo65
Moderator
Posts: 7037
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:40 pm
Location: Camden, Tenn.

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by poboyjo65 »

Thanks. I could have made it better but I was burnt out on sanding.it has a few slight air pits. I think yours will look much better than mine. It looks great so far!! :D
Image
Johno

lavron
Site Admin
Posts: 4710
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2003 9:17 am
Location: Missouri, Ozarks
Contact:

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by lavron »

I guess I need to dig my replacement wheel out and see if I need to repair it any, if I remember correctly it was crack free but haven't seen it in a few years. The one in my Comet is not too bad so I can't imagine I bought one worse than it.

See Ya,
Mike
Mike's build thread
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13058
Image

mercuryman
Posts: 119
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:08 pm
Location: Kalamazoo,Michigan

Re: Steering Wheel Repair

Post by mercuryman »

Paint is on. I'm happy with it. Not perfect but much better then it was.
Image

Post Reply