Leather steering wheel recovering kits

falcon · falcon's Garage

I really like my stock 4 spoke steering wheel, but the leather is getting worn and some of the stitching is loosening. I've seen different leather recover kits but I'm not sure of the leather quality or the time to put one of these on.

There was only one previous post on this subject but it was on sending in a steering wheel for recovering.

Anyone out there purchase such a kit? Was it hard to put on? Where the results what you expected?

Thanks in advance

Randall

bob tilton · bob tilton's Garage

the wheelskins are nice. easy for the do it yourselfer. i'd leave the wheel on the car so you can really torque on the thread.
bob
'68 L

Steve in SLO · 03-27-2002, 10:32 AM

I have recovered a 3 spoke wheel with the AGLA kit (Alan Gunn Leather A-something). They advertise on Excellence. The kits are between $49 and $59, and come with needles, thread, and instructions. Mine took me 1.5 hours to do. I took my wheel off, brought it inside, sat down with a beer (okay, it was a 2-beer job) and did a nice job of it. Use a good thimble. Needle-nosed pliers help in pulling the needle out ot the leather. A relatively easy job, which looks close to factory. For $100 more, they will do it for you.
The kit is of pretty good quality, and covers the area of the original leather, unlike a wheelskin, which always looks like an add-on.
Hope this helps.

falcon · falcon's Garage

Steve,

Great description. I'm going to order me up some leather and some beer!

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 03-27-2002, 11:32 AM

I did the AGLA kit and am quite satisfied. The secret is to stitch through every other hole, not every one. This is what they do when they re-cover the wheel for you (they'll tell you so), and the every-hole stitch job is really recommended only for concours compulsives. Takes--obviously--twice as long.

Stephan

Jim T · 03-27-2002, 12:15 PM

I concur on the AGLA recommendation.

Wheelskins? No thanks, they fit very poorly, have HUUUGE stitching, etc. The diff between Wheelskin and AGLA is night and day.

I wish I would have known about the every other hole thing with the AGLA cover, though. I've done 3 of them over the years, using every hole. Took me something like 4+ hours each.

9XI · 9XI's Garage

Anyone have the phone number for the AGLA kit handy?

I have been using the same wheelskin for 10 years and have always thought it looked like an add on. It gets you by, but that's about it.

I'm ready for something closer to the original factory look.

Jim T · 03-28-2002, 09:21 AM

www.aglausa.com

9XI · 9XI's Garage

Thanks, Jim.

skinnerd · skinnerd's Garage

I'm another who has done the AGLA wheel cover kit. Mine might have taken 3 beers (I was more interested in the beer than the recovering job). When I woke up the next morning, it looked great. I also took the wheel off to do the job. Good luck. -Doug

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

"When I woke up the next morning, it looked great.

Geez, I wish I could say that about my last date!

Kidding. I'm just kidding!!!!! -- Curt

skinnerd · skinnerd's Garage

Actually Curt... that was my last date! It's cold and lonely up here in the Pacific NW during the winter. I guess my wife had better never see this post, or I'll be checking out the garage for living quarters. On 2nd thought, I will be that much closer to the cars and maybe even finishing some of the projects I've yet to finish?!?!?!? -Doug