New proud owner! steering wheel cover issue

[Nickynoodles]

Hi all!

I am the proud new owner of a 1995 MX3 in red, she needs some attention to bring her back up to original beauty. My question is about the steering wheel. I dont want to replace the whole wheel, just the cover, does anyone know where to source one, and should I try to remove the original stitched cover?

Cheers Nicky x

[fowljesse]

Welcome to the forum!
I'd like to see pics in a worklog
You must have a leather covered wheel, if you can remove the stitches. That's cool. They're hard to find, and chances are that you won't find another one, and if you do, it'll be a long time. I've been looking for one for years. However, you can rewrap yours pretty easily, if you're handy. I have made them before, without a pattern. You have a pattern, if you carefully cut the stitching. You'd just lay the pattern over Deerskin, or some other thin, supple leather, and cut it out. Then lay it, and tie it onto your wheel with simple string around the outside, to keep it in place. Then, learn the "BaseBall" stitch, by looking at it while you're cutting, and unravelling it. Then get some good string, and stitch it up. You'll want it to be really tight, so if it overlaps, you'll need to trim it. For the part where you sew it together to go around the circumference, and it meets at the bottom of the wheel, you can pull it tight on the wheel, measure where it meets, and sew it together on a machine, or by hand, with the stitch hidden on the inside. If I don't get a leather wheel soon, I'll wrap mine, and post up a how-to. I've done shift knobs, and handbrakes, etc... too, and will be doing mine.

[Nickynoodles]

Oh thats a fantastic idea, mind you, I might wait to see how yours goes first!!! I am in the process of making a list of all the little things that need doing, but I am so happy I could burst lol. I have wanted an MX3 for years and now, I am hardly at home.

[fowljesse]

I'd like to see interior pics. I like your enthusiasm

[Ryan]

Jesse, why couldn't (s)he just get one off the forum?



edited for political correctness

[Nickynoodles]

He?

[Nd4SpdSe]

Replacing the steering wheel isn't hard, just need a screw drivers and a socket. The only fun part is wiggling the wheel of the column and how it likes to just suddenly gives way and you fly back into the seat and smack your face with the wheel, lol.

[Ryan]

Thats why you leave the nut on a few threads... so you don't get a steering wheel imprint on your face

[fowljesse]

I dont want to replace the whole wheel, just the cover, does anyone know where to source one, and should I try to remove the original stitched cover?

[Ryan]

But Jesse, you have to ask deeper...

I want to change my tires without removing the rim from the spindle

Now, tell me how I'd do that.

Its not expensive to replace the whole wheel, in fact, its cheaper if you value your time at all. I betcha (s)he could get one from one of us for <$20.

[fowljesse]

I have been waiting for a leather steering wheel for years now, and when they come up, they're out of my price range.
Alright, Nicky, you'll have to post a pic of yourself, and clear this gender thing up
So, I'm assuming you want the leather wheel. If not, then you can get a regular one easily, and cheaply here.

[MrMazda92]

Welcome to the forum!
I'd like to see pics in a worklog
You must have a leather covered wheel, if you can remove the stitches. That's cool. They're hard to find, and chances are that you won't find another one, and if you do, it'll be a long time. I've been looking for one for years. However, you can rewrap yours pretty easily, if you're handy. I have made them before, without a pattern. You have a pattern, if you carefully cut the stitching. You'd just lay the pattern over Deerskin, or some other thin, supple leather, and cut it out. Then lay it, and tie it onto your wheel with simple string around the outside, to keep it in place. Then, learn the "BaseBall" stitch, by looking at it while you're cutting, and unravelling it. Then get some good string, and stitch it up. You'll want it to be really tight, so if it overlaps, you'll need to trim it. For the part where you sew it together to go around the circumference, and it meets at the bottom of the wheel, you can pull it tight on the wheel, measure where it meets, and sew it together on a machine, or by hand, with the stitch hidden on the inside. If I don't get a leather wheel soon, I'll wrap mine, and post up a how-to. I've done shift knobs, and handbrakes, etc... too, and will be doing mine.

I'd love to do the shift knob and handbrake, maybe the steering wheel if I don't decide to replace it. If you have a how-to or know of any, please PM it to me! =)