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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Posts: 155
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help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
I just picked up a new to me steering wheel that had not one but two layers of steering wheel wrap on it. To my pleasant surprise the handle is in great shape with no cracks. Because I want to keep it in that condition I am asking here what is the best product/method to clean and restore the luster to the vinyl on the steering wheel.
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![]() 1971 Chevrolet C10(78 motor), Longbed, 69 Bed I think Quadrajet 4 barrel 7043208, Th350 tranny, No A/C Various components are lightly to highly modified depending on the number of beers consumed prior to modifications performed. |
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#2 |
Roadtrip!
![]() Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Grand Rapids MN
Posts: 13,737
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
Just so you know, that is a 73 and up wheel and are known for being dirty and sticky. Not sure the best way to clean them. This style usually didn't crack.
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67 gmc custom lwb dakota truck. Sold...And bought back 69 swb 4x4 project (in progress) 70 c-10 lwb texas truck 70 4x4/BB/bkts/posi/tach(retired) 70 swb (wifes) 70 jimmy camper 71 K-5 factory 2wd 71 cheyenne 4x4/tach/posi/ plow rig 71 Cheyenne20 BB, buckets, tach, tilt, 4 speed 72 jimmy CST wyoming rig 72 jimmy Colorado rig 72 lifted texas 4x4 3/4 ton burb 65 fury conv. 383/auto 65 chrysler 300 "L" 413 auto |
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#3 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2012
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 1,906
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
The original wheel on my truck crumbled like an Oreo cookie under a hammer. When I bought it back it had a mid 70s wheel just like you have there. That god awful thing just oozed sticky plastic. It was gross. I just recently swapped it for a wood 15" grant. Love the new wheel. You are not going to able to do anything with the center rubber part of that wheel. It's just a bad formula of rubber or plastic or whatever it is.
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White K20 |
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#4 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2012
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 1,906
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
Here's the wheel I just took off. Really sticky, and my new wheel... no sticky!
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White K20 |
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#5 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,858
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
I don't think you can hurt those wheels. It seems to me I used Lestoil or Pine Sol to clean and kill the funk. Follow that with an interior cleaner to get the solvent res out, then use something like Armorall, Lexan, whatever. Whatever is the best thing out there
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#6 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2012
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 1,906
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
Quote:
I don't know of anyone who has successfully stopped the sticky once it breaks down to that point.
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White K20 |
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#7 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2012
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 1,906
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
Just a quick tidbit here. You know my statement above "I love the new wheel". Well, not anymore. I drove the truck today and the damn thing is separating at one of the joints. I just sent NPD an email. Not to completely hijack your post here, but I don't no longer want no one thinking I'm liking the wood grant 3 spoke. I now dislike it and will be moving on to something else.
![]() PS.. the grant lasted one week and one day before it showed its quality!
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White K20 Last edited by jeffahart; 03-30-2015 at 08:44 PM. Reason: Attach Photo for viewing pleasure! |
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#8 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: WALLS, MS.
Posts: 190
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
^^^^Just scratched that one off my list...
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Tim Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that's why it's called "the present". 1971 ![]() |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Neskowin OR
Posts: 1,153
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
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#10 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2012
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 1,906
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
I like the 68 wheels and have been keeping my eye out for an nice black one. I have sticky back on the truck after the grant fiasco. You know I made plastic flat springs so the horn would work independently of the cap so I would never get a blowing horn from the horn cap popping off the center. A common problem with the grant. And after all that; the steering wheel wood started separating. Really irritated me. I now bad mouth the wood grant at every opportunity.
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White K20 |
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#11 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Neskowin OR
Posts: 1,153
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
Quote:
![]() Yea I prefer the '68 wheels too, I have to do some serious work to restore the one I got though, but hey it was the right price (FREE!) so I really can't complain. ![]() |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 6,421
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
You might try ZEP Orange Gel Degreaser. It is my go to product for removing adhesive. I think Home Depot sells it.
What about the reproduction steering wheels for our trucks? Are those crap too? (I have heard they are brittle). |
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#13 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Midway USA Kentucky
Posts: 562
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
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#14 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Midway USA Kentucky
Posts: 562
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
Has anybody tried "sealing" these with something like a clear coat so they can no longer breathe?
I know we did a similar thing with certain cars which emitted a pronounced odor from the seam sealer used on the body of these cars years ago, this prevented an odor from entering the passenger compartment. |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Md
Posts: 2,475
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
Gojo hand cleaner works well, cherry with pumice has some grit but won't scratch. I have painted over after degreasing it.
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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=635605 |
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#16 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,858
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Re: help with cleaning and restoring a steering wheel
Can't seal or clear these wheels. It's rubber no plastic. I have never had the extreme problems that some here describe. I use Lestoil or Pine Sol ammonia cleaners and it gets it nice again. That's why I made the can't hurt it comment. You can play hard when it comes to a cleaner. And that makes the wheel stay nice much longer. Never seen one ooze anything. More like dirt stuck to the sticky. I'd want to wash my hands or wear gloves if it was as bad as some describe. Would want to be holding my sandwich with toxins like that on them.
I like the 88-98 wheels for a later soft grip wheel anyway.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#17 |
Old member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S.
Posts: 19,936
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Try and find some kind of car wheel. The 60,70 car wheels should fit the truck just fine at least the ones I have refinished did.
My 71 C 10 with 67 Chevelle stering wheel in frist 2 pictures. Then a older Corvette wheel and then my 67 wheel I'm cutting down. Last picture is of the wheels I've re claimed myself. 64 Impala wheels fit as do Corvair and Camaro wheels fit. ![]()
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1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 ![]() Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs. |
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