Leather Steering Wheel Peeling

[1956ford]

A couple of places on my leather wheel just began peeling at the 10 and 2 o'clock positions. Like a very fine layer of tan paint, so a darker color is showing underneath. Not certain that is actually what it is though.
Does this happen with low mileage six year old truck steering wheels?
Can it be stopped and restored?
Or just let it happen and put a wheelskin on it?

 

[bushpilot]

i wouldnt bother trying to restore it...just install a 40 dollar
"wheel skin" you can buy one from LOTS of different on
line retailers

Wheelskins - The World's Finest Genuine Leather Motoring Accessories, Steering Wheel Covers, Driving Gloves and Shift Boots

wheel skins - Google Search

 

[big_rooster]

Or you can do the steering wheel outta the navigator and towncars and never deal with peeling again. Mine peeled at bout 50k miles and i replaced the wheel.

 

[bushpilot]

BR is right...although i suspect the "leather" is the same on the
wheel that you have (peeling) now....and you will likely spend
more on that wheel "upgrade" than you will for the REAL LEATHER
wheel skinz.

I find the wheel skin made the wheel a little thicker and it feels
nicer (more heafty than the stock thickness) in my hand

 

[paulkeith]

BR is right...although i suspect the "leather" is the same on the
wheel that you have (peeling) now....and you will likely spend
more on that wheel "upgrade" than you will for the REAL LEATHER
wheel skinz.

I find the wheel skin made the wheel a little thicker and it feels
nicer (more heafty than the stock thickness) in my hand

i too rock the wheelskin. pretty labor intensive to get it on there, but the result is nice. i had the superbusted vinyl piece on my truck.

here's a pic i took while putting in my chip...quality is lacking but you can kinda see the wheel.

good luck,
paul

 

[Crumm]

Can it be stopped and restored?

I stopped and restored mine with Meguiars Gold Class™ Leather Cleaner & Conditioner. I put it on rather thick and let it sit for a day then wiped it down and reapplied. It took a little time working it into the wheel to get rid of the rough spots but I got it looking pretty good. I don't like the thicker feel of the Skins so now I condition it every few months to keep it from going bad again.

 

[JLDickmon]

Ford has a TSB on this..
there is an upgraded wheel available, but I like the Town Car wheel better..

 

[big_rooster]

The leather on the wheel i installed is not the same much more supple and thicker and real leather rather than the painted leather the original wheel was made outta.

 

[Crumm]

Ford has a TSB on this...

Think it would cover my 96'?

 

[JLDickmon]

Think it would cover my 96'?

dunno, it only covered my '99 for the original 12/12