bumSteer

“Remove the wheel from the hub using a steering wheel puller”

‘Fixing a Bum Steer” – Restoring Your Classic’s Steering Wheel

by Jeff Shade

Among the most noticeable items in the interior of your classic car is the steering wheel. I would say by far, it is one of the most used. Because of that fact, steering wheels frequently become cracked and discolored, but with the right tools, materials, and patience, restoring a steering wheel is a job most home hobbyists can perform with good results. There are many reputable services for steering restoration if you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, but outsourcing the job will set you back in the neighborhood of $200, more or less.

Steering wheels replaced tillers on cars in 1900. Early wheels were made of wood. However, most of the wheels on cars of the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s were made of hard rubber or bakelite material. Bakelite was formed by the reaction under heat and pressure of HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenol" \o "Phenol" phenol (a toxic, colorless crystalline solid) and formaldehyde (a simple organic compound), generally with a wood-flour filler. It was the first plastic made from synthetic components. Bakelite is used for several components of the Model "A" Ford, including the distributor head and cap, several other elements in the electrical system, and the 1930-31 horn button. The methods outlined here will work on those items too.

The reason most wheels crack is the repeated heated and cooling cycle that is associated with the extreme Summer heat and Winter cold that occurs in many parts of the country. Paint and clear coat comes off simply from many years of constant touch and use. .

Evaluating a Candidate

Before you think about restoring your wheel, you need to evaluate whether its damage is too severe to be a suitable candidate. Of course, with enough time and money, almost anything can be fixed, but you’ve got to weigh the effort to restore your wheel against replacing it with a new one. If a new one is not available, then you should search for a more restorable wheel.

Some of the things that would make a steering wheel near impossible to fix are cracks that extend into intricate ribbing or designs. The repair in these areas requires many hours of filing and re-contouring with fine tools and files. These extensive repairs are frequently visible on a finished wheel. Another area to look out for is the back of the rim where detents are made to allow you to grip the wheel. It’s not common to find cracks there, but if they are present, they’re difficult to fix.