How to upgrade a steering wheel in (an undetermined number) easy steps

"Baconpocket" (baconpocket)
01/22/2016 at 07:08 • Filed to: Diy Instagram Miata suede

The leather on my 1993 Miata wheel was starting to feel less than satisfying to grip. Let me tell you a story in Instagram pictures.

Pictured above “final” product after $52.

The first step was a product of my cheapness and fit attitude. I went to a national fabric store where they gave me free 4" samples of marine grade vinyl.

Then I spent 8+ hours hand sewing it over the old wheel.

This was...fine...but not the tactile experience I wanted. I would use real leather or suede if I were to go to the trouble of doing it again. (I probably won’t but it cost me no dollars and I learned something)

So I bought a $40 wheel and $12 dollar hub adapter on Amazon and enlisted my 5 year old to install it.

Grabbed an old license plate to make a horn delete.

Cleaned it up.

And now I have Tavarish’s favorite. A suede wheel.

We'll see how I like it in time.

DISCUSSION (13)

XJDano > Baconpocket
01/22/2016 at 07:43

Very nice.

I put a smaller diameter wheel in my 93 Cherokee, I really liked it.

The grant steering wheels are pretty nice if you don’t have airbags to mess with.

In Missouri leagally you need a horn, but it can even be a doorbell button on the dash somewhere, I never got the horn hooked up on mine. Besides I never really used it. It’s not like I drove NYC traffic, ever.

Baconpocket > XJDano
01/22/2016 at 07:50

I looked at the grant wheels too. How did you feel about the value?

I ended up with the 6 bolt “universal” for any eventual upgrades.

XJDano > Baconpocket
01/22/2016 at 07:54

I bought it off eBay or something about 10 years ago, for the $40 or whatever I spent it was way worth it over the stock wheel. But anything would be better that the worn out one you had.

I kept it when I scrapped the jeep, so I may put it in one of my 84 GTIs.

Party-vi > Baconpocket
01/22/2016 at 08:08

I swapped out the sport wheel for an M3 wheel in my E46 - the best change I’ve made to the car hands-down.

TheJWT > Baconpocket
01/22/2016 at 08:56

Kinja'd!!!

Literally the only nice thing on my car is this MOMO wheel, and it’s staying with me when I sell the car

Baconpocket > Party-vi
01/22/2016 at 08:59

I really like the idea of upgrading to an OEM wheel. That's my plan for my mazda5.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Baconpocket
01/22/2016 at 09:28

The problem with suede wheels is that you need to always wear driving gloves with them.

yitznewton > Baconpocket
01/22/2016 at 09:46

I put a Wheelskin on my Fit because the OEM wheel was too skinny for my liking. I also got one for my decaying-leather Jetta wheel, but either the listed size was wrong or the wheel had shrunk, and by the time I got the replacement and would have got around to selling it, I installed the car.

Edit: ahahaha, that should read “would have got around to installing it, I sold the car.”

IMO great simple upgrade/fix for an OEM wheel. Installation is about 45 tedious minutes and you’ll probably cut up your fingers a bit, but it’s worth it.

MonkeePuzzle > Baconpocket
01/22/2016 at 09:57

cost me no dollars and I learned something

the best! glad you tried the DIY

I hear people complain that suede wheels wear and look terrible quickly, but I guess at $40, it doesnt have to last long to feel like an ok investment before just getting another $40 wheel.

Baconpocket > TheJWT
01/22/2016 at 10:14

Me gusta. Do those have different depth options?

Baconpocket > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
01/22/2016 at 10:17

So far I’ve been wearing gloves because it’s freezing out anyways.

Have any suggestions for a reasonable daily driver glove?

TheJWT > Baconpocket
01/22/2016 at 10:53

Not sure, I bought it secondhand off ebay. If you want to spend crazy money you could get a MOMO Prototipo for like 10x what I paid for mine

daender > Baconpocket
01/28/2016 at 19:47

Nice upgrade! If you want to go OEM+ in the future, there are ways to install the NB’s 3-spoke wheel and potentially keep the airbag functional . That said,