Relacing stitching on steering wheel

[mholbrook38]

Boy, what a tedious process. I replaced my stock wheel a week or so ago with a Nardi which I really like. But, the original wheel was fine except for all the laces going away. Basically they were either just worn away or rotted out or were eaten by some critter.

So, I take the back off the wheel (3 screws) and go to JoAnns and get some heavy "beading thread". Also picked up a packet of tapestry needles which have pretty big thread heads. I used a cross stitch with two needles. Pretty easy to do but since you only move around the wheel at 1/8" at a time it was about a 3-4 hour process.

Using the two needle process you begin by threading up the two needles with about 5-6 feet of thread. Put one needle through the first two holes and take a couple turns before you begin stitching. Then just go from right to the next hole, under through and out the other side. Then take the left needle through where the right thread came out and go straight across. Keep doing that and keep the thread taunt and eventually you will get done. If you run out of thread, tie a square knot under the leather and just start with a new thread through the last two holes you did. No way to tell where you stop and start.


Makes you wonder how the factory stitched these up in the first place. End result is that the wheel looks great and should last a long time. It is out in the garage right now drying with Kiwi Shoe Dye (Black) on it before I use Lexal leather cleaner followed by Lexal Leather Conditioner.

Then I'll hang it up on the wall for as a decoration until I decide to put it back in the car.

[bpp944]

You may be able to find some seatbelt thread at a local trim shop.

[peon77]

Yup, did mine the same way and my neck hurt for 3 days. IIRC I used somthing called Sinu?