Steering wheel - cover; replace etc

[ozscott]

...the question...what to do with D2 wheels that fade and go goo like over time. I know you can inject them with glue to get them to re-bind, but that doesnt fix the fade etc. I like the stock rubber wheel, but the leather ones look mighty fine.

On ebay you can pick up leather wrapped ones, but they look to me like stock rubber ones leather wrapped, which would make fat wheel even fatter, and I wonder if it would be uncomfortable. They probably also want too much for them. You can get new replacement leather ones on ebay from the states, but double the price of the leather wrapped rubber jobbie. You can get new rubber ones for about $160 plus postage from the states which I may go for in the end.

Anyone had their rubber wheel leather covered by an upholsterer? I could look around the yards to see if the wreckers have low mileage late D2 wheels and just swap over the air bag.

Cheers

[OffTrack]

The leather wheel is a really nice upgrade, and well worth doing.

It is worth keeping an eye on eBay, if you aren't in a hurry.

I picked a used factory leather wheel in very nice condition from the US on Ebay about three months ago for a grand total of $130US shipped. I was the only bidder. The wheel had been stripped of the horn buttons and switches but I just swapped all the gear across from the old wheel.

cheers
Paul

[ozscott]

Nice find Paul. I will keep a lookout.

Many thanks.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

The genuine ones are a work of art,, :TakeABow:

[clubagreenie]

The genuine ones are just the rubber with a leather cover so anything with leather will be fatter (ever so slightly). I purchased a cover from ebay for about $25- plus postage. Watched the crap out of half a dozen instruction videos on you tube and then sewed away. Was a bit large to begin with, seller offered to replace but I stuck with it and over they year has shrunk enough to be ok. I've sent him better dimensions though ad his new ones are better. Best upgrade I've done, and mine had some pieces missing around the top I just cleaned up the holes to a better shape & filled with some hard foam that was cut to shape.

[ozscott]

Thanks gents - she is being treated to three new italian leather gaiters, new seat bolstering and vinyl (where they always tear near the plastic seat base) and new headlining, so I wouldnt mind finishing it off with a nice wheel. I have been thinking that although I love the shape and feel of the gear knob, a nice dark black leather gear knob (still with the 5 speed shift pattern to be road worthy of course) would look nice with the new gaiters....now...where's my ebay search bar again...

I will keep a lookout for a bargain!

Cheers

EDIT - would this fit on? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VW-Passat-B5-B5-5-Gear-Shift-Knob-Black-Leather-5-Speed-/180747827426?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a1568f8e2&_uhb=1#ht_2640wt_904

EDIT - keeping the gaiter on any aftermarket knob might be the challenge because the genuine one has the recess for the rubber band thingy

[OffTrack]

The genuine ones are just the rubber with a leather cover so anything with leather will be fatter (ever so slightly).

That is incorrect. If anything the rim on the leather wheels is slightly thinner than the rubber.

You can see in the eBay listings the wheels that have been fitted with covers are noticeably pudgier than the rubber wheels whereas the factory and oem wheels appear to every similar in terms of rim thickness.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Gear Knobs (http://www.autotek.com.au/shop/gear-knobs.html)

[Pedro_The_Swift]

That is incorrect. If anything the rim on the leather wheels is slightly thinner than the rubber.

I thought so too Paul,,,,,,

[ozscott]

That is incorrect. If anything the rim on the leather wheels is slightly thinner than the rubber.

Yep the ones I have seen the wheel looks slightly thinner than the rubber ones.

Cheers

[Pedro_The_Swift]

mine is a really nice dark green,,
other colours?

[OffTrack]

They should be made on the same frame, so it might be possible to strip the rubber back and then leather cover the underlying frame?

[ozscott]

I am thinking of that...I will see what an upholsterer can do in terms of stripping back the rubber and starting again around the steel frame.

Cheers

[ozscott]

Now this would be nice...in black though..

Discovery leather gear knob (s) « Green Land Rover (http://www.greenlandrover.org.uk/leather-gear-knobs/)

[clubagreenie]

A genuine D2 leather wheel was the only one I didn't measure when I was doing the measurements for the supplier TBH. As the one he supplied was only marked discovery I thought that maybe he assumed that D1 & 2 were the same, as it turns out the D1 wheel (non leather) is slightly bigger than the D2 (also non leather) and so that"s why his D2 cover was too big (about 10mm to long in cut length). I also tested the cover on a D1 non leather wheel and it as a perfect fit (slightly tight but not a stretch) and a D1 leather wheel with leather removed and was also ok. On my D2 (non leather) it's too big, and D2 leather it would seem even bigger still..

[jafir]

Can someone post a picture of the stock non-leather wheel? I'm not sure d2 came without them here. Both of mine have leather wheels, even the 03 S model that doesn't have sun roofs or leather seats.

Here is a post of someone's leather wheel with the leather cut off. It looks pretty good.

Has anyone tried cutting the leather off a D2 steering wheel, when it wears through? - Land Rover Forums - Land Rover Enthusiast Forum (http://landroverforums.com/forum/discovery-ii-18/has-anyone-tried-cutting-leather-off-d2-steering-wheel-when-wears-through-41377/)

[ozscott]

Interesting Jafir those pics look like stock D2 wheels... Interesting because the ones I have seen here appear thinner than a stock wheel but maybe they just look it...

EDIT - he is not saying in that post that this was a pic of his wheel - just one like it. So my bet is that the leather wheel is not just a covered stocker.

Cheers

[clubagreenie]

If someone has a leather removed wheel and can measure then I can compare to my known non leather wheel.

[Marmoset]

I just put one of those $18 ebay leather covers on my manky wheel several months ago and I like it. It didn't seem to add too much thickness but feels a lot better than the worn plastic slippy original.

It's clearly not a factory look around the spokes but it's a good enough solution given the cost. Matches the leather gaiters well :)

[clubagreenie]

Where are people getting the gaiters? As I have an auto, a set without the gearlever isn't always available. And they're not always leather when they are.

[OffTrack]

I could well be wrong - in which case I owe Clubagreenie an apology - but the first impression I got with the leather wheel was the rim was thinner than stock.

If there is a stock wheel under the leather, a cheap tatty leather wheel could be a great way to get a hold of pristine standard wheel.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=53532&stc=1&d=1353468566

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=53533&stc=1&d=1353468642

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=53534&stc=1&d=1353468721

[ozscott]

Here is the re-covered one per ebay

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2 Leather STEERING WHEEL | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LAND-ROVER-DISCOVERY-2-Leather-STEERING-WHEEL-/200790726668?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec00f580c&_uhb=1#ht_661wt_948)

Here is a genuine one - very xy and does look thinner than the recovered one above:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Land-Rover-Brand-Discovery-2-1999-2004-OEM-Black-Leather-Steering-Wheel-NEW-/200836824386?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec2cebd42&_uhb=1#ht_669wt_1137

And gaiters - these are the ones I got from ebay for my mate with an auto:

eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/290614924823'ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_1030wt_904)

came quickly and very good quality - yet to fit them though.

Cheers

[ozscott]

And as for the fitted and home stitched covers - these look pretty good...

FOR LAND ROVER DISCOVERY BLACK ITALIAN LEATHER STEERING WHEEL COVER WHITE STITCH | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FOR-LAND-ROVER-DISCOVERY-BLACK-ITALIAN-LEATHER-STEERING-WHEEL-COVER-WHITE-STITCH-/260882598014?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3cbdd0887e&_uhb=1#ht_1293wt_948)

Cheers

[OffTrack]

If someone has a leather removed wheel and can measure then I can compare to my known non leather wheel.

I've measured the rim by wrapping a strip of paper around it opposite the cruise control switches and marking the overlap point. The circumference at this point is 109mm for a (supposedly) factory leather rim.

[OffTrack]

Here is the re-covered one per ebay

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2 Leather STEERING WHEEL | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LAND-ROVER-DISCOVERY-2-Leather-STEERING-WHEEL-/200790726668?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec00f580c&_uhb=1#ht_661wt_948)

Here is a genuine one - very xy and does look thinner than the recovered one above:

Land Rover Brand Discovery 2 1999-2004 OEM Black Leather Steering Wheel NEW | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Land-Rover-Brand-Discovery-2-1999-2004-OEM-Black-Leather-Steering-Wheel-NEW-/200836824386?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec2cebd42&_uhb=1#ht_669wt_1137)

And gaiters - these are the ones I got from ebay for my mate with an auto:

eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/290614924823'ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_1030wt_904)

came quickly and very good quality - yet to fit them though.

Cheers

The OEM wheel is being sold by a US ebay seller/firm that appears to drop ship from the UK. They tend to be very xy.

[Marmoset]

Where are people getting the gaiters? As I have an auto, a set without the gearlever isn't always available. And they're not always leather when they are.

I got mine from someone called topgaiters on ebay - nice leather, fit well.

[Disco Muppet]

I've measured the rim by wrapping a strip of paper around it opposite the cruise control switches and marking the overlap point. The circumference at this point is 109mm for a (supposedly) factory leather rim.

Not much difference then, factory vinyl one on mine is 112 using the same method and location.

[jafir]

EDIT - he is not saying in that post that this was a pic of his wheel - just one like it. So my bet is that the leather wheel is not just a covered stocker.

Cheers

Based on a pic in this other post:

Temp/Fuel Gauge Issue - Land Rover Forums : Land Rover and Range Rover Forum (http://www.landroversonly.com/forums/f40/temp-fuel-gauge-issue-56093/)

I think that might be a photo of his wheel. But not 100%.

[jafir]

If there is a stock wheel under the leather, a cheap tatty leather wheel could be a great way to get a hold of pristine standard wheel.


I may give it a try. My 99 has a two tone leather wheel, and the top of it has worn all of the dye off. No holes yet, so I was considering trying to re-dye it, but it might be easier to just cut the leather off. I'm planning on selling it soon anyway.

My 03 has a solid color, that looks pretty much just like the photos you posted.

[Disco Muppet]

So at this point it seems like leather and vinyl wheels have the same skeleton, just with a different cover.
Minimal size difference in the two, however a leather cover will add to the size of the wheel.
Which is annoying, as I'm not handing over 600 clams for a new wheel, but I'd like a leather one without adding to the thickness of the steering wheel :p

[schuy1]

I would very much doubt that a factory wheel would just be a vinyl wheel with a leather cover stitched on. My betting is it is the foam under the leather.no vinyl. to add over a vinyl wheel would add too much thickness and no matter how well you did it would end up moving and looking funny after a time.
I would love a leather 1 too but am seriously not considering 600 for 1! yet:P
Cheers Scott

[Tombie]

Takes about 20minutes driving to not notice the minuscule size difference!

[clubagreenie]

I'll bow to Tombie on this that, that wheel looks thinner where the leather buts up to the edge of the spokes.

I do actually prefer the extra thickness (so does she!)

[Basil135]

I have the white (or whatever colour it is) wheel, and hated it since I got the car.

About 2 years ago, I got a genuine leather wheel wrap from evilbay... When I went to put it on, thought it was too small, but being real leather, it did stretch just enough.

Sewed it up, and it feels great. I was worried about it slipping, or being too fat, but no dramas. So now, I have a black wheel, it feels comfy, and I am as happy as a Defender driver whos car starts twice in the same day.. :D



They don't come in here, do they???:tease:

[Rok_Dr]

Hi like basil135 et al I also went the eBay leather wrap cover route. Only about $30 delivered and an hour to sew on once I worked out how to do it. It is thicker but once I got used to it i found that i much prefer it. Perhaps one day I'll get a genuine one but there are higher priorities for my dollar at present.

Got my cover from these guys:
FOR LAND ROVER DISCOVERY LEATHER STEERING WHEEL COVER | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FOR-LAND-ROVER-DISCOVERY-LEATHER-STEERING-WHEEL-COVER-/260734082059?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3cb4f65c0b&_uhb=1#ht_1262wt_689)

I can put a pic of the finished result up if anyone is interested.

Cheers Steve.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I can put a pic of the finished result up if anyone is interested.

Cheers Steve.

Please?;)

[schuy1]

I have the white (or whatever colour it is) wheel, and hated it since I got the car.

About 2 years ago, I got a genuine leather wheel wrap from evilbay... When I went to put it on, thought it was too small, but being real leather, it did stretch just enough.

Sewed it up, and it feels great. I was worried about it slipping, or being too fat, but no dramas. So now, I have a black wheel, it feels comfy, and I am as happy as a Defender driver whos car starts twice in the same day.. :D



They don't come in here, do they???:tease:

Dang it!:angry: Proved wrong again! Just as well the Missus does not read this forum:eek: Ahh well at least it is good to find that the covers do work ok :)

And I shall remember that remark as my 300Tdi chortles past the electrically challenged disco on the flat top!! :twisted:

Cheers Scott

[Pedro_The_Swift]

And I shall remember that remark as my 300Tdi chortles past the electrically challenged disco on the flat top!! :twisted:

Cheers Scott

was it silver?:(

[schuy1]

Dunno, So if you see a White 110 tray studiously ignoring your predicament .............:D HeHeHe

No really I would never do that. have been known to stop for To-To-To- , Ahh you know, those other thingys :)

[Disco Muppet]

Dang it!:angry: Proved wrong again! Just as well the Missus does not read this forum:eek: Ahh well at least it is good to find that the covers do work ok :)

And I shall remember that remark as my 300Tdi chortles past the electrically challenged disco on the flat top!! :twisted:

Cheers Scott

I think there might be a difference between "genuine leather wheel" and "genuine leather wheel wrap"
Genuine leather wheel = standard wheel frame MINUS the vinyl, instead with leather.
Genuine leather wheel wrap = Goes OVER standard wheel.
Two completely different things, so you're right. Genuine leather wheels are not Leather wrapped vinyl ones, they're leather in place of vinyl :)

[OffTrack]

I think there might be a difference between "genuine leather wheel" and "genuine leather wheel wrap"
Genuine leather wheel = standard wheel frame MINUS the vinyl, instead with leather.
Genuine leather wheel wrap = Goes OVER standard wheel.
Two completely different things, so you're right. Genuine leather wheels are not Leather wrapped vinyl ones, they're leather in place of vinyl :)

Yup two senses of Genuine in use:

Genuine leather wheel = A leather steering which is a Land Rover supplied part
Genuine Leather wheel wrap = A wheel wrap which is made from real leather.

As far as I'm aware there isn't such thing as a:
Genuine leather wheel wrap = A leather wheel wrap which is a Land Rover supplied part.

Probably makes more sense to use "factory leather wheel" rather than "genuine leather wheel".

[clubagreenie]

Just to confuse things, took a look again at mine pulled back the cover at the edge of the spokes where it meets the rim there's a small step that, if it were a factory fitted and thin leather cover without a hemmed edge it would be a very nice smooth finish level with the spokes. So it may be the same wheel. I think we need to put two known cars side by side.

[Rok_Dr]

Here you go Pedro :)

Not perfect but comfortable and functional. E-bay supplier also supplied the thread and needle.

Cheers

Steve

[OffTrack]

Just to confuse things, took a look again at mine pulled back the cover at the edge of the spokes where it meets the rim there's a small step that, if it were a factory fitted and thin leather cover without a hemmed edge it would be a very nice smooth finish level with the spokes. So it may be the same wheel. I think we need to put two known cars side by side.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=53568&stc=1&d=1353546492

This was a pic that I took when I was retrofitting the ICE controls to my standard wheel. You can see the step on the spoke reasonably well, even if it wasn't what I was taking the pic of. :D

[ozscott]

Here you go Pedro :)

Not perfect but comfortable and functional. E-bay supplier also supplied the thread and needle.

Cheers

Steve

Mate - I actually like the look of that better than the stock leather one...is it just ordered as straight black with black stitching? I saw his youtube video and it looks easy enough to fit if you have a spare hour or so to kill in the quiet.

Cheers

[OffTrack]

Mate - I actually like the look of that better than the stock leather one...is it just ordered as straight black with black stitching? I saw his youtube video and it looks easy enough to fit if you have a spare hour or so to kill in the quiet.

Cheers

There is no accounting for taste. :p

I guess the saggy baggy elephant look appeals to some.

[Marmoset]

It does get tighter after a while - it comes with some sort of in built anti aging cream! :eek:

[Disco Muppet]

There is no accounting for taste. :p

I guess the saggy baggy elephant look appeals to some.

Harsh :p

[clubagreenie]

Here you go Pedro :)

Not perfect but comfortable and functional. E-bay supplier also supplied the thread and needle.

Cheers

Steve

That looks incredibly like mine (sans extra material). Was it custom steering? If so was it a good fit or did it have some looseness to it, and did it work first time or did you work from the bottom and have an excess of material at the end?

[Rok_Dr]

Mate - I actually like the look of that better than the stock leather one...is it just ordered as straight black with black stitching? I saw his youtube video and it looks easy enough to fit if you have a spare hour or so to kill in the quiet.

Cheers

Hi ozscott

Yes it was std black with black stitching. His you tube vid was useful and there was also another couple that I looked at which showed how the stitching worked.

[Rok_Dr]

That looks incredibly like mine (sans extra material). Was it custom steering? If so was it a good fit or did it have some looseness to it, and did it work first time or did you work from the bottom and have an excess of material at the end?

Hi

Yes it was custom steering. The link is in my first post on the previous page. It was a good fit and from memory I only had 1 or 2 stitches of misalignment at the end, which was easily tightened by putting some extra stitches either side of the spokes.

Yes Paul a bit saggy baggy but @ $30 and an hour or so to fit it will do nicely until a genuine one in good nick appears.

Cheers

Steve

Ps apologies for extra post can't work out how to double quote on this iPad :)

[Rick Fischer]

Years ago my local motor trimmer sent mine to Adelaide to a company that does/did them for the General/HSV. Came back schmick! Leather the correct colour. Then $300.

Just had to sit and look at the shaft for a couple of weeks.

[clubagreenie]

Mine had the saggy baggy look, like an elephants ass. After about a year it's come good, still a bit loose but at the rear where you don't notice. I could get it replaced (he offered a replacement with the new measurements) but can't be bothered. I could just shorten it myself but cant be bothered pulling the stitches. I'm curious, did you start from the bottom or top? And if at the bottom, did you have to work at the top section to get it right. I tried everything to get it right, first try started on left and had a heap of material at right left over, then started at centre and worked out, had bags on both side (though smaller), then at sides in (beg in centre). Even pulled it off (get your mind out of the gutter), and marked the stitches to make sure it was aligned perfectly. In the end, just left the stitching open at the end and have let it shrink and its ok.

Have since acquired an old Singer leather/canvas sewing machine so might have to re sew it.

Also does anyone know where I can buy leather for making gaiters from? Heavy stuff isn't an issue but the nice soft stuff is.

Love the brown leather shift knobs, pity mines an auto and has black leather on the auto shifter otherwise I'd have a trans knob. Did they come in factory leather?

[Rok_Dr]

Gwad now you're stretching my grey matter.:D

From memory I did the bottom first to make sure that the join was centred then either side and finally the top. Mine had to be stretched slightly to fit on the wheel and the the thread pulled tightly to get a neat join as there was a 1 or 2mm gap, when wrapped round. I didn't have any major saggy baggy problems except a wee bit round the top left spoke where I finished. A bit of wriggling and some extra stitching around the spokes to pull it more tightly together solved the problem. I seem to recall I did do a bit of jiggling as I went though.

Steve

[clubagreenie]

Sounds like you got a post revised measurements c/- my too big model.

[worane]

Look on ebay. After you have trawled through several pages of manual sets of gaiters , you will find an auto set. I know because this is what I did last week. They are very good
I found it from top gaiters 196305. It cost $11.98 + $6.15 postage.
Code #23059589938