Leather steering wheels are a beautiful accessory in your car, always giving that expensive look and feel to the vehicle. There are though ways that a leather steering wheel can peel over time usually due to age, product used or the sunlight.
Here are some ways to fix a peeling leather steering wheel
There are a few ways to fix your leather steering wheel if it has been peeling or flaking.
The most common ways are clean the leather to remove the excess flaking. The other two ways is to replace the steering wheel completely and re wrap the steering wheel.
We have researched and given you the three ways you can get rid of a peeling steering wheel within this article. If you follow the below steps that are right for you, then this will either improve your existing steering wheel or include a new one. Thanks for reading.
Ways to Fix a Peeling Leather Steering Wheel
Leather steering wheel covers and leather steering wheels are trendy accessories installed to make your car’s interior look more beautiful, feel more comfortable, and improve your driving experience.
However, there is a common, major problem with leather steering wheels and leather steering wheel covers – the leather starts to peel off, and the wheel looks terrible. If you’ve had this problem or have it now, you might think there is no point in fixing it because it will happen again. But there is a solution.
You can fix peeling leather on your steering wheel by using a particular product made for that purpose. Over time, leather steering wheels tend to crack and skin because of constant friction and heat exposure.
Worse is that if you don’t fix them right away, the peeling can worsen, and the damage can spread throughout the entire leather surface. Here are reasons why you should set your peeling leather steering wheel:
• It creates a safer driving experience: If you keep on driving with a peeling leather steering wheel, it won’t be long before your skin starts to stick to it when you’re sweating. It gets more challenging for you to drive without making adjustments or losing control of the wheel when this happens. It’s dangerous for both you and other drivers on the road!
• It improves grip: A worn-out leather cover can easily make your hands slip off the wheel when driving high speeds or making sharp turns. A cracked or peeled shell also feels rough against your hands, which isn’t very comfortable for long drives. It makes sense why a lot of car owners prefer fixing.
• Safety: When your hands are covered in sweat, it cannot be easy to grip the wheel properly. A worn-out steering wheel makes it even more challenging to control the car during an accident or while taking a sudden turn.
• Comfort: An old leather steering wheel can cause blisters and rashes on your hands as you constantly rub them against the leather. This can be a painful experience.
• Ease of use: Your steering wheel is one of the most used parts of your car. If you don’t fix this problem, you will have to put up with an uncomfortable experience every time you drive your vehicle.
• Added value: If you ever decide to sell your car, a beautiful interior will add value. Peeling leather is a common problem that car buyers don’t want to deal with. Getting your steering wheel fixed will prevent you from having to reduce the price of your vehicle at resale.
• Improved appearance: A peeling steering wheel looks terrible, and it makes it look like you don’t care about the maintenance of your vehicle. Fixing this problem will improve the aesthetics of your vehicle’s interior.
Having a steering wheel that is worn and has exposed the fabric underneath is unsightly. This can lead to embarrassment, especially if you are driving someone around.
To avoid getting into this situation, you need to proactively take care of your steering wheel. The fabric covering can be protected by keeping it clean, treating it with leather conditioner, conditioning it regularly, and using a steering wheel cover when in storage or if it’s going to stay outside your vehicle for extended periods. Here are some tips on ways to fix a peeling leather steering wheel
Clean The Leather
The leather in your vehicle, especially if it’s a dark color, is prone to developing an appearance of dryness and cracking in the spots that we touch, such as the steering wheel. This can range from small sites to large areas.
Although the dry patches may seem unnoticeable at first, these cracks will gradually increase with continued use of the vehicle and more abrasion on the leather. When left unclean, cracked leather can damage your vehicle’s interior, even though you’re not directly seeing this happening as it occurs.
Therefore, you must take preventative measures to protect your car’s upholstery and keep it looking beautiful and new for years to come. Luckily, there are different ways to clean and repair your leather steering wheel, so you don’t have to worry about the surface flaking off when driving and possibly causing an accident. Here are ways to clean a peeling leather steering wheel:
• Cleaning product: The first way is to use a cleaning product. Many companies specialize in creating products specifically designed for cleaning and repairing leather surfaces. Just find one at your local grocery or hardware store and follow the directions included with the product.
• Petroleum jelly: The second method is to use petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly was created as a byproduct of oil refining, so it has many uses besides just being an ingredient in lip balm and makeup. Apply some petroleum jelly to the damaged surface of the steering wheel and massage it into the area until it feels smooth again.
• Wipes: The third way involves using wipes. Wipes are moistened with water and contain alcohol, making them very effective at removing dirt from almost any surface, including leather steering wheels! Gently rub one over the area.
• Use Shoe Polish: Shoe polish works well on leather steering wheels because it has a greasy texture that helps the leather retain moisture. This prevents the cracking and peeling common issues in old cars with worn-out steering wheels. To use shoe polish on your steering wheel, start by applying a small amount of polish to an old toothbrush or rag and rubbing it into the leather until it’s fully saturated with oil from head to toe!
• Get Some Beeswax: Beeswax is another excellent option for cleaning a peeling steering wheel because it has antifungal properties and will help prevent any new cracks from forming and keep existing ones from getting worse over time (plus, beeswax smells lovely!).
Replace The Steering Wheel
If you drive a car with a leather steering wheel, it’s starting to peel. It happens more often than you think and can result from the steering wheel being exposed to the sun for an extended period.
The only way to fix this issue is by replacing the leather on your steering wheel. This can be done in several ways, depending on your budget and the time you have to dedicate to fixing your steering wheel.
You can replace the entire leather cover or put a new body over your existing one. Both are affordable options that should take no longer than two hours to complete. Here are ways you can replace peeling leather on your steering wheel.
• Replace the leather cover: Replacing the leather cover is one of the best options if your leather is peeling away or cracked. The new body will look much better than an old, worn leather wheel and offer a better grip. You can buy a new surface or pay a professional auto upholstery shop to install it for you. You’ll want to use a professional if your old body isn’t removable because they’ll have to cut it off your steering wheel.
• Reupholster: If your leather is just slightly worn out, then consider having it reupholstered instead of replacing it entirely. Reupholster.
• Replace the Steering Wheel: Replacing the entire steering wheel is a more expensive option. This is a good idea if you are also dealing with frayed cloth on the wheel or another type of damage that would be difficult to fix.
• Replace a Leather Steering Wheel Cover: If it’s only the peeling leather, consider buying a replacement leather steering wheel cover. These covers come in many different colors and styles, so you can even customize your car’s interior.
Wrap The Leather Steering Wheel
One easy way to fix a peeling leather steering wheel is to wrap the wheel in leather. A wrap kit comes with all the tools needed to cover the wheel, including a heat gun and special spray glue.
The process takes about an hour, and once finished, it makes the wheel look like new. It’s also possible to add stitching to the wrap to look authentic. Those who want to do something more permanent can replace the entire wheel. Replacing the wheel is more accessible than wrapping it because it’s unnecessary to remove the airbag or any of the buttons on the steering wheel to replace it.
This option is also less expensive than buying a new car because of a bad steering wheel. Here are steps on how to wrap a leather steering wheel:
• Remove the airbag from the steering wheel. This isn’t difficult, but it’s a job for which you should have your vehicle’s service manual handy.
• Spray the backside of your new leather with adhesive and apply it to the steering wheel. Be sure to pull the leather tight around the bottom and use a few dabs of glue to hold it in place. Let this dry for a couple of hours or overnight.
• Spray adhesive on the face of your steering wheel and adhere your leather cover to it, pulling tight wherever possible and using glue where necessary.
• Trim off any excess leather with scissors or an X-Acto knife and finish by applying some conditioner or sealant, following the directions on the bottle.
