Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Worn out "leather" SVT steering wheel... ideas?

The previous owner of my SVT must have worn sandpaper gloves when he drove because the steering wheel and shift knob are pretty thrashed. I�m not even sure if its real leather on either item but do you think a place that worked with leather or interiors could replace the worn leather section? My other option is to find a new one. So if anybody has a blue SVT steering wheel for sale or ideas on where the least expensive place to find one let me know..

A new steering wheel may cost more than it is worth. The shift knob you could replace w/ another one easily (I belive they screw right off), and for the streeing wheel- buy a steering wheel cover. You can get real leather ones, I beleive they cost about $30, not sure where I saw them though. Post a wanted ad in the classifieds for a new steering wheel, or maybe get one from a junkyard.

Edit: I have a gray interior in my LX, and the top of the steering wheel is faded. Weird that happens to everyone.

yea same here with my midnight blue..its like completely faded

Same on the tan leather steering wheel too, all faded at the top where the previous owner had obviuosly held it all the time.

Mine looks like it did the day it left the lot, perfect shape.

Wheelskin

Steve

I havn't tried it yet, but when the color on my steering wheel comes off a bit more I intend to try to dye it back to something close to the original color. For me, that would be Midnight Blue. I found a possible source for anyone that is interested in investigating this further.

http://63.251.139.218/productinfo.aspx?productid=3&categoryid=4&startpage=1

Also check the color chart. I found what may be a color match in the furniture color chart, not the car color chart. Look for Midnight Blue, color code F 2483.

http://63.251.139.218/FurnitureColorChart.aspx

They can also provide custom color matching if you think it might be necessary.

hmm..thats interesting, I'm too much of a wuss to try, mine isn't completely faded, I've seen worse on other fellow contour owners' but I'm slowly getting there

My car was left sitting in the hot Texas sun a full year without moving before I bought it. It destroyed the top of the steering wheel and any time I have wet hands or I have been driving for a long time - peices of the wheel start to come off in my hand....really messed up. Now its got a curve in the top middle. But when its dry and cold it doesnt do it. It looks pretty ghetto.

Keep an eye out at the wreckers and on e-bay for steering wheels. I recently picked up one for $15 off a guy from e-bay.
Pay attention though ... I forgot to check it was leather and ended up with a vinyl wheel, however I think I'm still going to keep it under my bed just in case mine gets too bad.