Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

How To - Steering Wheel Spoke Refurbishment

User avatar
Marlon
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10899
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:13 am
Location: Lancs.
Contact:

How To - Steering Wheel Spoke Refurbishment

Post by Marlon » Wed Feb 07, 2018 11:21 pm

srhutch wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2018 11:12 pmI re did mine last year with Matt black and then a special lacquer which gives a very similar feeling to the original finish, a soft/rubber finish.

It also seems to be holding up well.
This is were I went wrong, didn't apply a final lacquer coat. Will need to redo them as the plastikote is showing signs of wear.
Image
Gone: 3.0si 2008 E85
911 997 Carrera S

User avatar
MrPT
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4745
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:44 pm
Location: Bucks/Oxon

How To - Steering Wheel Spoke Refurbishment

Post by MrPT » Thu Feb 08, 2018 12:03 am

srhutch wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2018 11:12 pmI re did mine last year with Matt black and then a special lacquer which gives a very similar feeling to the original finish, a soft/rubber finish.

It also seems to be holding up well.
Where did you get the lacquer? I used plastic primer and satin black bumper paint, which seems to be very durable and looks the part but still doesn’t replicate the original texture.

Agreed removing the stuff is horrendous! I found wet and dry plus lots of water did the trick, but it took chuffing ages.
imag4961.jpg
imag4961.jpg (213.09 KiB) Viewed 6423 times
2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone

User avatar
Bing
Legend
Legend
Posts: 26514
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2011 7:19 pm
Location: Exiled Scot in Maidstone

How To - Steering Wheel Spoke Refurbishment

Post by Bing » Thu Feb 08, 2018 7:12 am

srhutch wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2018 11:12 pmI re did mine last year with Matt black and then a special lacquer which gives a very similar feeling to the original finish, a soft/rubber finish.

It also seems to be holding up well.
I need to speak to you about how you did all that as the ones I got have a white line along the edges where the paint hasn’t taken or has worn... my OCD won’t let me fit them like that :oops:
Current... Silver Grey ///M Roadster, non-flimper spec, Imola Red nappa, permanent ear-to-ear grin 8)

Previous... 3.0Si Sport Roadster, Black Sapphire, Dream Red leather with lots of toys and lots of mods...

User avatar
ph001
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3870
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2016 5:53 pm
Location: N. Yorkshire.

How To - Steering Wheel Spoke Refurbishment

Post by ph001 » Thu Feb 08, 2018 10:36 am

I wonder if something like acetone would bring the old rubberised paint off easily? I don't think it would harm the plastic if it is a hard plastic.
2007 E85 Z4 3.0Si manual :driving:
19" CSL's | Eibach Springs | Aeroskirts | Z4M front bumper | Clear brake light | ZHP | RCH+| Stubby

2004 E46 M3 coupe manual - gone but not forgotten.

Image

User avatar
craigbeal
Member
Member
Posts: 123
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2018 7:39 am

How To - Steering Wheel Spoke Refurbishment

Post by craigbeal » Mon Sep 24, 2018 6:57 pm

going to have to give this a go. Looks great!!

Polarbert
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2016 7:47 am

How To - Steering Wheel Spoke Refurbishment

Post by Polarbert » Thu Nov 15, 2018 3:43 am

I used something called Plastikoat when I redid mine. Still holding up well after 9 months of daily driving.

dgmx5
Member
Member
Posts: 89
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 2:14 pm

How To - Steering Wheel Spoke Refurbishment

Post by dgmx5 » Mon Nov 23, 2020 8:12 am

Very useful information throughout here.

The water pump recently went on my 3.0si so whilst it was laid up in the garage awaiting delivery of parts I thought this would give me a great chance to get in and finally refurbish my spokes which were looking tired. I had thought I would only do this once I got the wheel covered in Alcantara by Royals but having had the chance to give it a damned good clean whilst the spokes were off, I will probably leave as is as the wife, whose car it is, doesn't really like any mods.

I did front and rear spokes so that the feel/texture will be the same even if you can't see the rears.

Having removed the remainder of the rubberised coating using IPA, and keying the sound paint below or removing it entirely in parts, I went with grey plastic primer, matt black and matt lacquer (all Halfords' rattle cans). I did not sand down between coats which means there is a slightly rough finish but I actually think it suits.

Time will tell as to whether or not the lacquer helps prolong the finish although the car only does ca. 2-3,000 miles a year.

Reinstallation was a bit of a problem for the centre spoke.

As most here have experienced, the clips had all broken and the lugs of the front spoke into which the screws go had previously been sheared off leaving the front spoke only held in by the airbag. A mix of superglue and 2-part chemical weld had given a pretty strong base but I managed to shear them again when installing as I could not get the rear spoke inside the "shroud" of the wheel which left a gap which as I tightened the screws caused the lugs to shear again

There was also an unsightly gap along the sides that necessitated removing the wheel entirely to take off the plastic shroud (3 torx screws, same size as the other torx screws on the spokes). This allowed me to properly seat the rear centre spoke first before reattaching the shroud. As a result, even though I only have the two torx screws to attached the front centre spoke to the rear centre spoke, it lines up pretty well. The rear side spokes could be moved into place with the shroud still fitted.

Really pleased with the outcome.
20201121_092748 (1).jpg
20201121_092748 (1).jpg (166.21 KiB) Viewed 2065 times
20201121_092834.jpg
20201121_092834.jpg (135.64 KiB) Viewed 2065 times
20201121_092904.jpg
20201121_092904.jpg (167.5 KiB) Viewed 2065 times
20201121_092918.jpg
20201121_092918.jpg (138.74 KiB) Viewed 2065 times
20201121_093002 (1).jpg
20201121_093002 (1).jpg (84.78 KiB) Viewed 2065 times
The red arrow marks where I could not get the rear centre spoke to fit inside the rear shroud without removing the wheel and taking the shroud off. Note the pretty good 'shut line' between the rear and front spokes despite only having the two torx screws to hold this section together. And if the lugs do break again, it will be a lot easier to just remove the front piece and repair.

User avatar
flimper
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4578
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:47 pm
Location: Hampshire

How To - Steering Wheel Spoke Refurbishment

Post by flimper » Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:16 am

My spokes are a bit sticky/scratched now and interesting reading this thread. But being lazy and seeing how much hassle this is I may just spend £220 on new spokes and work a couple of my days off!
Piano black & black extended leather. Power mirrors, tinted glass, PDC, Prof hi-fi, CD, retro-fit cruise

User avatar
Ben_Z4
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue Jan 09, 2024 3:30 pm

How To - Steering Wheel Spoke Refurbishment

Post by Ben_Z4 » Mon Mar 04, 2024 9:43 am

My steering wheel can also use a touch up. I am going to readup this topic :)
IMG_20240302_154930_.jpg
IMG_20240302_154930_.jpg (49.39 KiB) Viewed 97 times
flimper wrote: Thu Jan 25, 2024 11:16 am My spokes are a bit sticky/scratched now and interesting reading this thread. But being lazy and seeing how much hassle this is I may just spend £220 on new spokes and work a couple of my days off!
mm, seems I would need three parts for this, the covers 32348035326 and the two buttons (with covers). Seeing the prices for that, it would be more like 650 euro. Then some homework becomes more likely :P

User avatar
flimper
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4578
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:47 pm
Location: Hampshire

How To - Steering Wheel Spoke Refurbishment

Post by flimper » Mon Mar 04, 2024 10:39 am

At 650 euros they can keep their shiny new bits :D
Piano black & black extended leather. Power mirrors, tinted glass, PDC, Prof hi-fi, CD, retro-fit cruise

User avatar
pvr
Legend
Legend
Posts: 26155
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:27 pm
Location: South East UK

How To - Steering Wheel Spoke Refurbishment

Post by pvr » Mon Mar 04, 2024 10:47 am

I used the method to get all the rubber material off with alcohol, works very well - except that your fingers hurt like mad :lol:
Current:
911-50 Black - unique spec
X5M - 575 hp of fun in a V8
Abarth 595 Comp.
Golf Clipper - collectors item
Z4 3.0si Black Sapphire
VW ID.3

Previous:
Z4M Silver Grey - non flimper spec (gone to Bing)
Z4 3.0 Toledo

User avatar
Z4Mariner
Member
Member
Posts: 169
Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2022 6:40 pm

How To - Steering Wheel Spoke Refurbishment

Post by Z4Mariner » Fri Mar 08, 2024 2:19 pm

Lots of good advice here, but I'll add a quick description of my experience in re-finishing my 'pop-up' CID (computer information display) unit for the Sat Nav in my Coupe. The paint advice may or may not be brand-specific (I'm in the US).

I removed the ‘soft touch’ vinyl finish on the exposed surfaces with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) like most have described. It swells the original finish for removal, but it doesn’t dissolve it. The vinyl can be rubbed or scraped from the base plastic – and it’s a messy process! Then followed more IPA and lots of rubbing with clean IPA-soaked paper towels. This leaves a plasticizer residue. As a chemist, I'm familiar with this property of vinyl materials. I removed the plasticizer with low-odor mineral spirits. Because the plastic is an ABS/PC blend, I worried ketones or ethyl acetate would cause damage, so I tested on a hidden spot, and mineral spirits worked. I did a final IPA wipe to remove the mineral spirit residue (oily) before painting the parts.

To paint the display module parts I used Rustoleum® flat black primer, allowed it to dry for over 48 hours, and finished it with two coats of the same brand of matte clear. I asked the Rustoleum® help desk for the most durable surface out of three possible products they sell (satin bumper paint, flat auto accent paint, and their '2X-coverage' standard paints). They said that matte clear (not flat, not satin) was likely to be the best for a surface that might receive some wear and light cleaning but still look okay. This advice on matte finish versus flat or satin may or may not extend to other paint manufacturers. I'm happy with the result, now we'll see how well it wears.
Z4Mariner
Minnesota, USA

2006 Z4 Coupe 3.0Si, Montego Blue, MT

Post Reply