Steering Wheel Repair

[Jerry]

Can you describe how you did the beautiful transformation in wood?

 

[BigGreen]

TR2/3/3A - Steering Wheel Restoration

I am thinking a head a bit, I was disappointed when my car was at the body shop the steering wheel was left out in the sun and elements and treated with absolutely no respect. I believe the steering wheel is a focal point of the car’s interior and I’d like to think I can bring it back to its...

www.britishcarforum.com

 

[Bitchun Bob]

Anyone have a picture of a wheel, or parts of a wheel, with no plastic on it?

With old solid axle Corvettes the cracks usually mean that the underlying weld has broken, and needs to be repaired if the plastic repair is going to hold.
I'm just wondering if the Healey wheels have welds, or how the spokes are held to the outer ring. Will these suffice. Looks like there spot welded to ring.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

Looks to be a smaller diameter than the original battleship helm, no?

 

[Bitchun Bob]

When I have repaired steering wheel cracks in the past I've used Tiger Hair. It's chopped fiberglass blended in a resin and you add a few drops of hardener to the amount you need for the job. When repairing cracks in your wheel you first need to grind it out a little and taper it in to the bottom of the crack. the wider the taper the better. Then fill and sand after hardening. Apply more if needed till satisfied with smoothness and look. Any two stage epoxy with fiberglass strands will work. By tapering and feathering in your fiberglass filler it should never crack again. Paint with a two stage epoxy paint. To eliminate cracking; avoid direct sunlight and extreme heat. Cold temps have no adverse effects, unless you smack it with a hammer or such. Also avoid using your steering wheel to keep you from going thru the windshield when you slam on the brakes at stop lights, animals crossing the road, or pretty girls standing on the corner, etc. etc.

 

[PHulst]

Thanks for the photos. Definitely places where there is flex that can lead to cracking.

In Corvettes, my restorer friend finds that today's "larger owners" use the steering wheel as an assist to get in and out, flexing the wheel and causing cracks. That doesn't help.

 

[Bitchun Bob]

Thanks for the photos. Definitely places where there is flex that can lead to cracking.

In Corvettes, my restorer friend finds that today's "larger owners" use the steering wheel as an assist to get in and out, flexing the wheel and causing cracks. That doesn't help.

I can believe that. When they produce the steering wheel. They need to reinforce the plastic with fibers of some sort or make the thing using carbon fibers. The wheel could flex all it wants then and not crack. It's like pouring a slab of concrete and leaving out the wire mesh or adequate rebar. That's also the problem with JB Weld. There's nothing in it too reinforce it. The reason wooden wheels don't crack. Mother nature put fibrous strains in them.

 

[Editor_Reid]

Several years ago I saw a Nash Healey at the Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson auction with the steering wheel rim broken off completely and lying on the passenger seat. My hunch is that their contract driver was a large fellow who wrenched on the relatively delicate steering wheel getting out and ... CRACK.

You can torque most American car steering wheels that way and it's no problem. Not so with the steering wheels of old European cars.

 

[Dandare]

Here are some ideas with an MGA wheel which seems to have a similar consruction.

Danny

 

[Jerry]

Dandare, that article was very helpful.

 

[Dandare]

Dandare, that article was very helpful.

Not much help if you don't have any plastic at all though?

Danny

 

[Jerry]

Ah but I have another wheel to work on now. This forum is good at sharing.

 

[LarryK]

Lots of wheel restoration guides on youtube. One guy actually makes a mold, inserts the metal and fills in one pour.