So I have been working through little detail type repairs/improvements on the convertible and thought I would share this with you all here looking from an appearance improvement.

My leather wrapped steering wheel was getting rough and badly faded at the top from the sun and acids in our palm sweat. I had a spare in what I thought was pretty good shape, so I installed it with a much better airbag I also had. Once I did this I noticed the discoloration was worse, but with no leather "deterioration" (roughness)... so kinda a trade off of what is actually better. Started thinking about the shoe shine guy at the airport who I watched apply a black wax to the guy next to me shoes... Wonder if shoe polish would help???

Short trip to the grocery store to see what I could find. I found Kiwi brand Leather DYE.


Here is the before pics of the wheel that is installed in the car...





After application... Now it says it needs 24 hrs cure time before polishing. which I have yet to do. I have driven it in the mean time and nothing comes off on your hands (fyi)





Much better, and when I hit with some leather polish I'm pretty sure it will get even better.

The process:
- Clean surface with all purposed leather vinyl cleaner and allow time to dry.
- Apply to surface of wheel/shift ****/parking brake handle as directions recommend.
- Spread the dye slowly and softly and remove any bubbles to prevent roughness when dries out (Bubbles will dry rough btw)
- Let sit and cure (let it sit for 2 hours before driving and no residue came off)
- As directions recommend to polish with leather polish (may just use shoe polish?)

 

Looks good man,

I actually did the same thing a couple months ago on I steering wheel I picked up...

The results were similar..

 

When do you apply the Bud Light that's sitting on your dash

Thanks for the tip, need to do it to my gear shift ****

 

Turned out mint. I may have to try this myself.