Steering Wheel Cover Fix How To

cowsurgeon

Junior Member
Messages
354
The steering wheel leather tends to lift as the glue holding it on to the airbag cover denatures. This causes it to look like there are air bubbles underneath the leather, and it looks rubbish:

This isn't my wheel (I realised afterwards, I didn't take a 'before' picture) but this is an example of how they look with the leather lifting:

steeringwheel.jpg


One suggestion was to inject more PVA glue directly in to these lifted areas through the leather itself, but I decided to do the job (semi-) properly, and take the cover off and reglue it:

THIS IS A REPORT ONLY - AIRBAGS ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND CAN DEPLOY INSTANTLY CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR DEATH. FOLLOW THESE STEPS AT YOUR OWN RISK. I AM NOT A QUALIFIED CAR MECHANIC/AIRBAG INSTALLATION ENGINEER, AND HAVE NO TRAINING IN AIRBAG INSTALLATION/DISCONNECTION.

Step 1:

Lower the car windows an inch or so and then disconnect the car battery either by using the switch/screw if you have one installed, or by taking the lead off the old fashioned way. Leave the car alone for at least an hour.

Step 2:

Locate and undo the security torx screws holding the airbag in to the steering wheel. There are 2 - one on each side. The special sockets are available from screwfix online for £8.99:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/36856...ts-Hex/Forge-Steel-Star-Socket-Bit-Set-23Pcs#

IMG_3842.jpg



IMG_3843.jpg



Step 3:

Gently wiggle the airbag forward


IMG_3844.jpg



Step 4:

Pull forward the airbag fron the steering wheel exposing the yellow wire and red plug to the airbag.


IMG_3845.jpg



Disconnect the wire (it pulls straight back out of the airbag). It needed some force as it 'snaps' back in when you reassemble the whole thing. I held the airbag pointing well away from my face at this point as I am a scaredy-cat.


Steering wheel without airbag in centre - note yellow wire and red plug:

IMG_3846.jpg


Step 5:

Lay the airbag face down on a hard surface, and start to peel the leather away from the plastic cover:

IMG_0001.jpg


It comes away slowly and with a little difficulty, depending on how well the sides have been stuck down. Take care not to rip or damage the leather. I did it just using my fingers, but a blade has been suggested by others - didn't want to risk putting a hole in the leather!

Once the sides have been peeled off it should look like this:

IMG_0002.jpg



Step 6:

Turn it over and continue carefully peeling the leather back:

IMG_0003.jpg



Step 7:

I continued until I had both sides off, but not the top edge ( I had no bubbles in the top part), and i left the Maserati badge in place too (couldn't work out how to get it off without damaging it!):

IMG_0006.jpg



Step 8:

Clean all the old glue off the plastic airbag cover AND the underside of the leather - I can't stress this enough - if you leave any on you'll get palpable lumps when you've stuck the leather back down.

IMG_0009.jpg


It should look shiny and clean when you're done:

IMG_0010.jpg



Step 9:

Next I scratched all the shiny clean surface with a wire brush - I forgot to take a picture of this, but roughing up the surface will help the new glue to stay stuck down and not lift again.


Step 10:

Apply PVA glue and leave it to become tacky before smoothing the leather back down over the plastic, making sure no air bubbles or lumps of old glue are left between the leather and the plastic:

DSCN5268.jpg


I left it for a few hours, intermittently tensioning the leather and smoothing the surface down, to ensure a nice finish.

Step 11:

Reassembly is the reverse of the dissasembly steps unsurprisingly.

Finished wheel:

IMG_0114.jpg


Ideally if I do it again I'll take the leather off all the way around as you can see a slight line on the left side where the old glue meets the new.. Still, it looks a **** sight better than it did before!
 

cowsurgeon

Junior Member
Messages
354
Cheers guys - wasn't quite as happy with this one as my thermostat how to, as I found I hadn't taken pictures of all the steps - still, it will no doubt help those who may have been too nervous to have a go themselves!
 

GransportFan1

Member
Messages
17,857
Cheers guys - wasn't quite as happy with this one as my thermostat how to, as I found I hadn't taken pictures of all the steps - still, it will no doubt help those who may have been too nervous to have a go themselves!

The good thing in showing pictures as well as that it may give people the confidence to have a go themsleves
 

cowsurgeon

Junior Member
Messages
354
Ah, they didn't use easy tricks to do the hard work in my day lad. Just elbow grease, blood, sweat and tears... you young 'uns don't know how good you've got it...
(Could've done with some of that to be honest - tried medical adhesive remover but it wasn't strong enough so I left that bit out!)
 
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Parisien

Moderator
Messages
34,927
Yes, its important to use the correct solvent per glue...otherwise tend to make it worse....and go through 10 sheets of fine sandpaper and three fingers......!!


P
 

neilwrightson

New Member
Messages
13
I did my steering wheel last week and it's now much improved. I eneded up using evo stick rather than pva, as I had some in the cupboard. Using a hair dryer really helped to soften the leather and make it more stretchy. Of course having short hair didn't help the process....I've never owned a hair dryer in my life...........it appears that girls are useful in Maserati repairs after all!!
Now if only I could get rid of my own wrinkles so easily....
 
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2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
Bumping for ease of reference... Guess what I'm off down the garage to do this afternoon/evening!
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
Want to do mine, but one of the few genuinely scary experiences I ever had was with a seatbelt pre-tensioner. I *genuinely* could not believe that I could still count up to 10.

Annoying, really, as I *know* I can handle the airbag safely, but....

Maybe I'll summon up the courage in the summer.

C
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
Airbag 2-13.jpg

Simples....

Thanks to this excellent guide; C-man, my battery had been switched off for a week so no fear of residuals to blow it up, just two pinned Torx-30 screws to the back of the steering wheel and it lifts out and just pop the single connector off the back.

I used a solvent free impact adhesive I got from B&Q for sticking worktop trimmings on and some thorough cleaning with a new scratchy pad and some isopropyl alcohol to remove traces of old glue. left it attached by the badge in the middle so no alignment issues all in about 2 hours...
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
Not a problem I've got but mine hasn't lived out in the sun.. There is an excellent dash board removal thread that photos and guides step by step, just run a search for it, good for 3200 to GS.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
This whole 'residual' current thing is totally bogus IMHO. I mean, what is that phrase even supposed to mean? ;)
The significant risk comes from a static discharge, or accidently popping 12v across it.

Glad it worked, though Newton. Might well have a crack at it later. The boot seals seem to have set acceptably this morning, which is nice.

C
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,039
Tahts a great guide...There are so many for sale with the leather coming up from the centre...
 

Klive

Junior Member
Messages
724
Great write up. If (when) I need to do this I'll certainly be following it.