steering wheel leather peeling

[x SMURF x]

some of the leather on the top part of the steering wheel, the smooth leather, is rough, and has small patches that seem to have come off, and smaller slivers sticking up. its been there for awhile, just never really annoyed me until now..lol. it might have been there when i first got the car and never noticed, but its been there for as long as i can remember.

any chance this may be covered under some sorta warranty?

[sleepy3]

I doubt it. They will probably say it was from not maintaining it/abuse.

[LWNY]

FBSW time

[krazyboi]

i don't think i ever touch the top part of my steering wheel.

[LWNY]

i don't think i ever touch the top part of my steering wheel.

that's the guido wrist position.

Maybe the gold bracelet is scraping the steering wheel. You can alternate your hand position from one wrist on top of the wheel & the other on the shifter to same arm hanging outside the window and the other wrist on top of the steering wheel.

[drew138]

Could be a result of the callouses?

[tp.]

time for new wheel!

[krazyboi]

time for new wheel!

I will have one for sale...if I find air bag.

OP, buy me air bag, and I will send you my old steering wheel.

[VWAddict]

This will tend to happen sooner if:

1) You drive with dirty hands.
2) You park outdoors in sunlight
3) You don't occasionally clean and nourish the steering wheel leather.

Regarding 1): I try... (*TRY*) to wash my hands before driving home in the evening... I always wash my hands before leaving home in the morning... last thing I do before heading to work is clean the coffee cup, and since my hands get wet, they get washed.

Regarding 2): I usually (75% of the time) use the OEM windshield sunshade. I also park where it's in shadow for about half of the day.

Regarding 3): I try to remember to use Lexol leather CLEANER (on a paper towel... 2 or 3 applications until the paper towels stop picking up a dirty shade), then I let it dry off for a half hour or so, before applying Lexol Leather Conditioner. Let it dry (in a warm place, with the windows cracked open slightly is perfect) every 3-4 months. -This thread is a timely reminder for me though... I think I last did it at Christmas, so I'm overdue!

Just using the Lexol cleaner on its own makes the wheel (ALL parts of it) and the shifter handle etc. all feel much more 'new' again. -The conditioner is a slight improvement beyond that.

I got this tip from the fella who supplied me with the leather to recover my Porsche steering wheel after that fell apart in the manner which the OP described... I've treated the leather steering wheels on the P-car for 5 years, and on the A3 and the wife's Merc using this method for about 4 years now, and the results are spectacular.

In fact, the 'feel' is so noticeable that if I do it to the wife's car and don't tell her that I've done anything, she will ask me "Did you treat the steering wheel? -it feels so nice!"

You can't make things magically better, but you can SIGNIFICANTLY slow the process by keeping your hands cleaner, by keeping it shaded (you don't need to use a windshield shade if you don't want to... a towel thrown over the wheel works just as well) and by keeping it conditioned/nourished.

If you change your oil and don't clean your hands before driving... if you reach into the french-fry-bag while you steer... if you let the SoCal sunshine blast its rays right at the wheel... if you never treat the leather... then what you describe (like a rough, dry, 'suede-y' patch) happens sooner rather than later.

[x SMURF x]

This will tend to happen sooner if:

1) You drive with dirty hands.
2) You park outdoors in sunlight
3) You don't occasionally clean and nourish the steering wheel leather.

wall o text

1) maybe?
2) always
3) never

normally I don't put my ands on the top of the steering wheel, thats why i forgot it was like this, until yesterday where i did and during turning felt some strange roughness, then remembered oh wait the leather is peeling.

as far as buying a new steering wheel goes, def not happening. Currently my money is going into installation of my suspension, skid plate, wheels (not sure which ones anymore, though so this is iffy)

so basically there is no way to "fix" this, just ways to prevent it from getting worse? oh well my car has enough small visual issues, paint chips, scratches and dents :/ this is just one more I'll attempt to ignore

edit: okay read the wall o text, i will definitely keep all of that in mind and pick up some of that leather cleaner

[VWAddict]

Definitely do steps 1 through 3 when you can.

It'll make things SOO much better.

And if you have leather seats, do those too. You'll be surprised what comes off, and the WHOLE steering wheel will feel "newer", it's more than just 'extending the life of the rough/dying bit'.

Same for the shifter knob. -It'll feel impressively nice afterwards... and we ALL like to rub a little cream into our knob every now and then... -am I right?!??!?

[x SMURF x]

Definitely do steps 1 through 3 when you can.

It'll make things SOO much better.

And if you have leather seats, do those too. You'll be surprised what comes off, and the WHOLE steering wheel will feel "newer", it's more than just 'extending the life of the rough/dying bit'.

Same for the shifter knob. -It'll feel impressively nice afterwards... and we ALL like to rub a little cream into our knob every now and then... -am I right?!??!?

would it be against forum rules to do the following?

speaking of which, check out my brothers product: http://www.the1sthand.com/

[LWNY]

This will fix your problem:

would it be against forum rules to do the following?

speaking of which, check out my brothers product: http://www.the1sthand.com/

Did you test it for him or maybe he test it on you?

[NYCameron]

speaking of which, check out my brothers product: http://www.the1sthand.com/

lol, is that really your brother's product?

[x SMURF x]

lol, is that really your brother's product?

yessir it is haha