2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission steering wheel wear

[rivercat]

I did a search on this an couldn't come up with any old threads can I be alone I think not...



Me and every one I know with a 2nd gen ram gas or #2 burner has the infamus wear spot at the top of the steering wheel in the leather



I for one knew this was comming and always kept it rubbed down with my best leather lotion to no avail, the years of having either dirty hands or traces of degreasing chemicals or the harsh pumice hand cleaner on my hands has finnaly killed the wheel where it bugs me to look at it.



What are the options I feel sure that at least 80% of us that never wrapped the wheel or covered it and work in a blue collar job have this problem.



I know I don't have baby-soft hands and even if I took the time to clean them right and keep the wheel clean it would still have the ugly wear spot on it.



being a airbag wheel what are the options for replacement is it too risky to do by ourselves and too expensive or must we bow over and take it from the dealer for the labor +the new wheel? :-{}

 

[rono]

If you replace the steering wheel, what do you do about working with the air bag?

Ron

 

[rowilson]

Check with your local used car salesman buddy and ask them who they use to restore their leather seats and steering wheels when they have rips or tears. Most guys can repair them fairly easily and at a price that rivals a cheesy wheel cover. On a side note my truck had 59,000 miles on it when I bought it and the wheel was already trashed. My Buick LeSabre has 263,000 miles on it and the steering wheel hardly has any wear on it at all and it gets used with clean hands, dirty hands whatever and still looks great. I think DC like most things they did with these trucks just got cheap, REALLY cheap when they sourced the leather wrapped wheels. GM gets theirs from Mexico so I know it can't be the UAW wages causes the problem

 

[DVR]

they are not very hard to replace.



i have replaced one with a new wheel from the dealer. just follow the instructions to replace the clock spring but stop short of replacing the spring. the airbag is not a problem.



if you think the dodges look bad find a 3-5 year old f250 lariat with the tan leather wheel. they are the worst.

 

[onstottc]

I cut off the leather around the rim and recovered the wheel with leather with a kit from an auto parts store.



Its a strip of leather that is sewn into a circle. Stretch it around the wheel and lace it up. Cheaper and less of a nuisance than buying a new wheel.

 

[PC12Driver]

I used the kit from Geno's. Good quality product. It does add a bit of thickness (it wraps over the existing wheel), but not enough to be uncomfortable.

 

[tp0d]

Mine also had the fading problem, and for some reason got sticky, and everything I tried to use to clean it, it always got sticky again. I grabbed one of the nubby steering wheel covers from my local auto parts joint, and I like it a helluva lot better than the old thin wheel, the nubs and the extra material gives it a bit more cushin for the pushin... heh



-j

 

[Mingoglia]

I always thought this was a problem that only I had. Over the years I've just come to the conclusion that I hold the steering wheel a lot harder than most and eventually wear it away... at least I'm not the only one.



Do you remember what the price was from the dealer for a new wheel? I bet it's $250+

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I never liked the thin stock wheel so I covered it right away. Not too thick, but just enough. Too the cover off to replace with a new one yesterday. $10 from Checker Auto and wheel still looks brand new.

 

[FourBarR]

Isaw the first signs of this happening ,even thou I cleaned it with leather cleaner etc. went to auto parts store and bought a cover with dodge ram insigina on it . works for me.

 

[JGK]

I used the same product I think PC12Driver did, though I didn't buy it at Genos. The brand is called WheelSkins. Very nice leather wheel cover. Stitches on much like the original. It goes on over the stock cover but as he said, adds very little to the thickness. The only problem I've found is that even though its only been on a year and I've regularly cleaned it with leather cleaner and put on reconditioner, the leather seems to be loosing its finish around the top 3rd of the wheel where your hands normally grip it. But it's better than continuing to tear up the original cover.



I tried to buy a new stock cover, but only the entire wheel assembly is sold. Maybe you could find a bent one in a wrecking yard and scavenge the cover off that.



Other than that, go with the WheelSkins.



-Jay