Steering Wheel Delamination

hi all,
the padded part of the steering wheel on my 02 tacoma is coming apart at the 12 oclock position....what kind of glue would be best to put it back together?....i'm good using glue, i'm a guitarmaker/repairman....cynoacralate (crazy glue) looks like it would happen too fast....or should i just put a steering wheel cover on it?
much thanks,
juan

 

My steering wheel was starting to do the same thing. I just bought a leather steering wheel wrap cover and seems fine for the last 3 years.
I am not sure how else to fix it, but yes maybe glue would work with the talent you have to do it.

 

What I'd do if it was a fairly nice keeper truck.

If it was a little rough for that expense, or you weren't going to keep it much longer, a budget cover from a parts house would be fine.

 

I can't think of any injectable glue for this application. Just get a nice laced cover or junkyard wheel. Lexus, Sienna, Camry, Tundra etc.

Search for writeups. Others do work.

 

Tundra wheel FTW!!!

 

I have used Loctite's self-mixing nozzle epoxy on similar projects (not steering wheels though)--with good results, you need of course to have or make a small hole to inject the stuff. Cyanoacrylate does not work too well on porous materials:

 

gonna have to make a pretty good size hole in the rubber to get that in, then hope it doesn't settle into one big lump as it dries (slowly with out air) or weep back out of the hole.

I tried gorilla once with a large syringe. Sprayed some water first as it says it cures with moisture not atmosphere. it held for a couple of days.

 

It's not all that large a hole, take a look at the mixing nozzles in the store. Also, epoxy does not "dry", it cures in a chemical reaction, much like concrete.

 

I just think back to the '80s and all those GM headliners were falling. You couldn't re glue because the foam just kept delaminating one more layer up than the glue. It was a failure of the foam itself and not the glue which is what the Gorilla foam did. It's still on the steel wheel. I can feel it, it just won't grab the foam backed wheel rubber.

The WheelSkins (sic?) is a good looking alternative.
Or as Bill mentioned, if just as a beater use a WallyWorld cheapo and change it when it gets dirty.

The Sienna wheel is a direct fit though and can be found leather. Mine's comfy. (BUT....it's aging too)

EDIT: I have a decent black leather IS300 wheel if anyone wants it but the bag is popped.
Would need the right bag (not sure of which Takata is right, I think there's an interchangability) and the cover re-ironed. The cruise control is a bolt in

 

If going the adhesive route, I would inject the epoxy, then move the delaminated portion all about to distribute it as well as possible. Finally bind/wrap it up tightly with electrical tape 'til the epoxy cures. Most all adhesives work best when clamped so as to minimize the cross section of the adhesive layer...

 

Your best bet is glue the crack and get a high quality wheel cover.
“wheelskin” steering wheel cover leather red stitching Is what I added.
It’s super strong and tight and the leather is top rated quality.
It’s Worth the extra dollar form this company

 

Someone on here did a steering wheel wrap with paracord. It comes in may colors and with you guitar skill, you would do a great job.

 

West Systems makes syringes for injecting epoxy. You cut the tip (like a caulk tube) to the size bead you want to inject. It's pretty small.

That addresses the how, not the what. The smallest size West System epoxy is still pretty pricey.

 

I'm curious how many Wheelskin's have been installed over broken loose rubber as opposed to just ugly/dirty wheels and if it got rid of all the roll that is from a broken foam bond underneath.

If it addresses that, then it really is the way to go. Provided you like the wheel you have anyways.

 

I installed a wheelskin over my 99 wheel (like the one pictured above) and it fixed the loose rubber on the top of the wheel. The leather wrap compressed the rubber enough to prevent it from slipping on the metal bar underneath.

 

Then this really is the all around best fix.

 

ok thanks, i'm going to put a wheel cover on it.