Steering Wheel Repair

[Racinbob 10,268]

I picked up this steering wheel for my Suburban at the big show. It was decent but did need a little work. I didn’t take any before shots but you all know what happens to these old wheels. After patching deep gouges, cracks, etc. smooth things up and do any reshaping if needed. Clean up the spokes, prime and paint. Mask the finished spokes stopping about 1/16” short of where the plastic coating on the rim started. I used Dupli-Color Truck Bed Coating in a spray can. They make two bed coatings. The blue can that I used and the Bed Armor in the black can. The Bed Armor might be a bit better for a truck bed but I really don’t think it’s best for this application. I held the wheel with a ¾” wood dowel and had several coats on in just a few minutes. Even in this Florida humidity you could actually see each coat dry literally in seconds. I applied enough to get the finish I liked and to blend it into the painted spokes. I love the texture and feel of it and it should be durable.

[AMC RULES 36,941]

Really does look great now Bob...     
but, we'll have to revisit this to see how well it holds up. 

[Racinbob 10,268]

Thanks Craig and I agree about it holding up. Being a truck bed liner I'm optimistic though.

[WHX?? 46,703]

Keep us posted Bob & throw a pic on of what you used.....I have one that every time you grab it it turns your hands black so I am going to have to do something with it. Mine has a few small cracks but no gouges, what did you use to fill the cracks in? The bedliner stuff? Friends suggested the in a can undercoating.

[Racinbob 10,268]

Here's the stuff. Unfortunately that's an internet picture. I tossed the can I bought. I always clean the nozzles on rattle cans doing the invert thing and pulling the nozzle off to really clean it. Ummmm....don't do that with this stuff. It screws it up and there was a lot left in the can

Any body filler should be fine. I used Bondo Plastic Metal because I had it. I don't think undercoating would work well because it never really gets hard. I used 180 grit to sand it which is too course for paint but worked well in this situation. It's thick enough to completely hide the sanding marks. I think it will hold up quite well but time will tell. Of course it's not 'original' but I like the grippy feel.

[DennisThornton 4,769]

Looks great!  You've done this before?  The filling part?  And it held up well?

Edited September 1, 2015 by DennisThornton
p to a d

[Racinbob 10,268]

The filling part, yes. But then I used paint in the past. The filler held up fine, the paint too figuring the situation. This is the first time with the bed liner.

[Jake Kuhn 1,547]

Looks good Bob! I primed and painted the one on my 57 and am happy with it, but this looks great too. I like the idea of the bed liner and a different type of grip. Also interested to hear how it holds up over time, but I wouldn't think you'd have issues. 

[DennisThornton 4,769]

Man!  It looks good!  Got a Power King wheel that I'm itching to work on!

Edited September 1, 2015 by DennisThornton
added "s"

[Molon_Labe 731]

Bob, great minds really do think alike! I did the exact same thing to my Suburban and could not have been more pleased with it. The bed liner holds up as you would expect and should give the old girl another 50 years of good service. 
 

[Racinbob 10,268]

If your mind works like mine all the time you should be very worried

That looks great. What spray liner did you use. If different it gives the others options.

[953 nut 51,536]

Another alternative would be "Plasti Dip". It is made for coating tool handles so you know it is tough and it comes in colors in the event you want to be different. I used it on the under side of a mower deck a few years back and it has held up well.

[Molon_Labe 731]

If your mind works like mine all the time you should be very worried

That looks great. What spray liner did you use. If different it gives the others options.

Same products Bob, Duplicolor Bed Liner and 3M Plastic Metal for filler.

 

[WHX?? 46,703]

I was thinkin the plasti dip stuff as well. Any body know what they used to originally make these wheels?
I'm also thinking I may needto see some more pictures of Bailey's Suburban. ...lookin awfully cherry from what I saw