Suggestions On Having Steering Wheel Re-covered?

rwest · rwest's Garage

Hello,

15 or 20 years ago I re-covered my own 3 spoke steering wheel with a ALGA kit and I thought it came out pretty good and lasted a long time. It needs to be done again and since doing it myself took a long time and kind of sucked; I would rather "toss" some money at it and have someone else do it!

My questions are: What companies are doing this; what is the cost; and how is their quality and service?

Thanks for any suggestions.

-Rutager

scottb · 03-02-2011, 03:22 PM

Some people have used these guys and have been happy:

Dallas Custom Steering Wheel

Also, what about this method:

So, what do women's boots and steering wheels have in common?

Good luck!

chaw704352 · chaw704352's Garage

Since I'm right here in Dallas, I need to give the Dallas Steering Wheel a call as well. I will likely just buy a new steering wheel (as my horn cover is a faded), but I would like to see if they can redo my dash.

Has anyone on here used them for dash recovering?

rwest · rwest's Garage

Thanks for the info on Dallas,

I sent them an email and they promptly replied. They charge $319 to recover a 3 spoke with leather and new padding.

-Rutager

Jerome74911S · 03-03-2011, 03:09 PM

Dallas Custom did mine, color-matched to sample. Excellent work.

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

Dallas did mine as well:

Nate2046 · Nate2046's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwest

Thanks for the info on Dallas,

I sent them an email and they promptly replied. They charge $319 to recover a 3 spoke with leather and new padding.

-Rutager

Wait..what!?!?!? I was considering having my three spoke wheel recovered not because the leather is that bad but because I want a thicker grip. I was thinking it would be somewhere more in the ~150 range. That seems really steep for what amounts to not a lot of material and not that much labor for a pro. I could buy an entire MOMO or Nardi for less. Am I wrong?

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

I prefer the 3-spoke sport wheel to the Momo or Nardi.

asterix031 · 03-04-2011, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Quote de rwest

Thanks for the info on Dallas,

I sent them an email and they promptly replied. They charge $319 to recover a 3 spoke with leather and new padding.

-Rutager

Wait..what!?!?!? I was considering having my three spoke wheel recovered not because the leather is that bad but because I want a thicker grip. I was thinking it would be somewhere more in the ~150 range. That seems really steep for what amounts to not a lot of material and not that much labor for a pro. I could buy an entire MOMO or Nardi for less. Am I wrong?

Not a lot of material but labor intensive.

canamfan · canamfan's Garage

Wow! That 3 spoke (with what appears to be a thicker grip) is AWESOME!! IMO that O.E. look with a subtle upgrade in grip width (like the old Carrera wheel) seems to be one of "The Best" wheels for the 911, of course a RUF wheel would be nice too! I've seen "American Stitches" online, though I don't know anything about them, Dallas appears to have done some really nice O.E. work & then some.... Check out "Design Paul Champagne" who also does some fantastic work.

Kidasters · Kidasters's Garage

I had Craft Customs (Craft Customs Steering Wheels and Wood Dashes customizing repairing and reconditioning and custom steering wheels) do my wheel. I had them wrap it "extra thick" and use red stitching. It was $350 or so shipped.

Love it.

Ken

Wil Ferch · 03-04-2011, 04:57 AM

I get laughed at too for similar thoughts.....I think a fat-rimmed 380mm , 4 spoke Porsche steering wheel has certain advantages and appeal for certain applications.....

PCA7GGR · 03-04-2011, 05:40 AM

Do not buy the material from AGLA! I placed an order with Alan and he charged my credit card the next day. After two months, he claimed to have sent me the cover twice and I received nothing. I have requested a refund from him and also made a claim with my credit card company.

Monday I sent my early 380mm 4-spoke wheel to Dallas for the thick rimmed R/RS/RSR style covering. I will post pics as some as I get it back.

1982911SCTarga · 03-04-2011, 05:42 AM

Here's my fatty three-spoke wheel.

Brian

cbush · 03-04-2011, 06:05 AM

I had my 75's three spoke wheel done by AGLA recently and they did a great job- think it was around $219 and very fast. That is the second 911 wheel they have done for my and I have been very happy with both.

rwest · rwest's Garage

Thanks for the great suggestions and leads!

I strongly believe that it's worth spending some money on a quality re-cover, since it's probably the thing you touch the most while driving and it's directly in your line of vision, so you'll spend a lot of time looking at it too!

-Rutager

m110 · 03-04-2011, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wil Ferch

I get laughed at too for similar thoughts.....I think a fat-rimmed 380mm , 4 spoke Porsche steering wheel has certain advantages and appeal for certain applications.....

Do you feel there is a technical or comfort advantage of 4 spokes? I have a 4 spoke carrera and am planning to get rid of it for a 370 mm 3 spoke 911 R replica...just seems like the spokes are a little narrower and it doesn't have the big horn pad.

m110 · 03-04-2011, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerome74911S

Dallas Custom did mine, color-matched to sample. Excellent work.

This a sweet interior, what is the exterior colour?

RG5 · 03-04-2011, 05:55 PM

I got mine re=trimmed by a local trimmer in Australia, using generic quality leather. The stitching is not the OES cross pattern but I am very happy with the result.

I retained a black hornpad for the OEM look.

The original wheel was blue and starting to look tired..

Some more shots of the recovered wheel:

Wil Ferch · 07:11 AM

Since someone asked my reasons for re-doing a 4 spoker, I like:
- 380 mm diameter...gives a finer-edge of control and less effort than the popular 350mm aftermarket kinds.
- mounting is offset considerably from "center" ... making top-side, straight ahead view of gauges good, and doesn't require kludge fix like rotating gauges to awkward angles. I don't like turn signals pointing up/down instead of sideways. Sure...looks racy, but then do it right and redo gauge faces instead, another cost.
- I like ( sometimes) the small "flat" area on the front-side of the wheel rim....at times your thumb feels good being there. But the rim needs to be fatter.
- for long drives....like the option to "hang-onto" the lower horizontal pair of spokes, and then later change over back to more normal upper pair. Lower pair allows elbows some lap-rest too for the long, straight drives.
- big horn pad means horn access while hands are still on the wheel, unlike the center horn buttons of the aftermarket style. Probably safer too in case of high-impact chest contact during an accident, collapsing the forward portion of the steering column as intended but spreading forces over a larger contact area on your body.

That all said....a Prototipo is hard to ignore !!