HOME FORUM RULES CONTACT
     
   
   

Go Back   CLASS RACER FORUM > Class Racer Forums > Stock and Super Stock Tech


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-29-2019, 04:46 PM   #1
Greg Reimer 7376
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Glendora,Calif.
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 164
Liked 644 Times in 205 Posts
Cool Cleaning steering wheels ?

While rooting around upstairs in the garage, I came up with two of the once very popular four spoke steering wheels once found on Chevelles,Monte Carlo's,Camaros,Nova's and Vega GT's between '72 and '77. Problem is they are very sticky and gooey more so than they used to get when used occasionally. I used to use waterless hand cleaner and a shop rag to clean them back in the day, but these are far worse. They probably would clean up, though. Anybody got a better idea for cleaning them up than that?
Greg Reimer 7376 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2019, 04:54 PM   #2
Mark Ugrich
Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Auburndale,Florida
Posts: 196
Likes: 19
Liked 54 Times in 31 Posts
Default Re: Cleaning steering wheels ?

Try some tire cleaner. I use it to clean interior panels and plastic trim. Works great.
Mark Ugrich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2019, 06:40 PM   #3
2021STK
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 281
Likes: 270
Liked 17 Times in 14 Posts
Default Re: Cleaning steering wheels ?

Having the same issues, would like to hear someones success story and product used.

Thanks
__________________
Dave Outten
2222 S/SS/SST/SG/HR
2021 S 1968 SS 1969 SR 1966 1990 Bracket
2021STK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2019, 09:28 PM   #4
KRatcliff
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 753
Likes: 74
Liked 502 Times in 135 Posts
Default Re: Cleaning steering wheels ?

Not sure this will work, but it may be worth a try. Dawn dishwashing soap does wonders sometimes. You might also try the Armor All interior cleaning wipes. The leather steering wheels on my street cars and trucks will get sticky/tacky over time. I tried everything and nothing worked right.

I don’t know what possessed me to try the Armor All cleaning wipes because I thought they would be the last thing that would work. I was shocked. The steering wheels feel like a smooth dry non-tacky leather like they did when the cars were new. It is after they dry from the wipes and you will see how filthy the steering wheel gets.
KRatcliff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2019, 10:47 PM   #5
FED 387
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 309
Liked 279 Times in 149 Posts
Default Re: Cleaning steering wheels ?

might try lacquer thinner
FED 387 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2019, 10:58 PM   #6
stage1scott
Member
 
stage1scott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Cornville
Posts: 397
Likes: 1,641
Liked 87 Times in 38 Posts
Default Re: Cleaning steering wheels ?

I used many of them in my old blazers and suburbans-get some go-to cleaner from California Car Cover-wet a terry cloth towel- soak the wheel in gtc, twist vigorously around the rim with the towel. I used to use 409 for this back in the day, Go To Cleaner works better. it is easier if it is mounted to something.
__________________
Scott McIntyre-Cornville-retirement at last!
2015 Chevy SS. LS3/ 6 spd Stick-Wolf in sheeps clothing!
stage1scott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2019, 12:38 PM   #7
Dave Gantz
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Verrry South Jersey
Posts: 525
Likes: 123
Liked 219 Times in 114 Posts
Default Re: Cleaning steering wheels ?

Might wanna be careful with lacquer thinner. Pretty aggressive. Maybe prepsolv.

I've used super clean or purple clean, whatever it's called. Aggressive degreaser that seems to be soap based. Lots of water needed to clean the purple stuff off, it's sticky in itself.
Dave Gantz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2019, 04:51 PM   #8
Todd Bailey
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Houston
Posts: 302
Likes: 24
Liked 28 Times in 14 Posts
Default Re: Cleaning steering wheels ?

I JUST cleaned one this past February and actually used carb cleaner from Walmart. Theirs is not as potent as say the Gumout brand. You WILL turn a lot of paper towels yellow in the process to get the oil, residue,whatever, etc from the wheel. After cleaning it, i sprayed it with WD-40 and wiped it down. It presently is in the '69 Camaro Stocker ragtop that the Emmons have.(Pops's former car)
Todd Bailey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2019, 06:04 PM   #9
Jeff Kempton
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 218
Likes: 819
Liked 47 Times in 23 Posts
Default Re: Cleaning steering wheels ?

I've cleaned them easily in the past using hardware store paint thinner. There's another thread currently on FB where someone suggested dusting it with baby powder after cleaning to seal the pores, which seems like a good idea.
Jeff Kempton is offline   Reply With Quote
Liked
Old 07-03-2019, 12:18 PM   #10
Greg Reimer 7376
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Glendora,Calif.
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 164
Liked 644 Times in 205 Posts
Cool Re: Cleaning steering wheels ?

Got them done. It was quite a bit of work, but the end result was pretty good. The Dawn dish soap and the hot water and a scrub brush loosened the dirt stuck to the wheel, but a trip to Napa for a three dollar small container of white paste type waterless hand cleaner, not the type with pumice or other granules seemed to soften and remove the sticky residue these steering wheels seem to create.It took several applications, using a shop rag to work it into the wheel rim and the spokes in a rather vigorous fashion, then after all traces of sticky stuff was removed, the end result seemed okay. A final wash with Dawn and hot water seemed adequate enough to finish it off. I remember when new cars had these wheels and if they sat locked up in the sun a lot, they got that way fairly frequently. Working in a dealership for five years, we got good at finding ways not to track up customer's new carpets or mess up steering wheels and dash knobs. The wheel in my Chevelle is getting a little tacky, time to get it next. These two wheels I got out of the attic were really bad,however.
Greg Reimer 7376 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:14 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © Class Racer.com. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.