Redline Goods steering wheel cover install tips

DEValken

DEValken

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My steering wheel cover had disappeared at the top of the wheel, worn completely through. Tried the slip over kind, but it began walking around the wheel after a few months. So I bit the bullet on a Redline Goods cover, and decided to save myself a few dollars and do the installation myself. Only sewing, right? I was a custom furniture-maker prior to turning into a structural steel guy at 45 years old. Familiar with a wide variety of materials, worked stone for a little while as a kid, acrylics as well. So, why not leather?

My tip is pay the damn $189 and send the wheel away to get done. I started Friday morning around 8. By 12 I was undoing what I had just done and starting fresh, with a new COA. By 8 pm I was pretty much back to where I was at noon. Neck cramping, headache from bad eyes trying to focus on a tiny hole. Fingers cramping up, figured I would finish by noon the next day. I finished this morning at about 9 am. Ran out of thread yesterday because I was too impatient to unthread my original soup sandwich and just cut down the middle to remove it. Ran out to Micheal's to find something matching (45 minutes away), and lucked out.

I would never do another one - the price seems cheap for what I did. My fingers ache, and my tendonosis cranked back up, eyes are tired as hell, but I think it turned out nice. Couple things my light OCD can handle, I stopped going back and fixing things sometime on Saturday 🥴.


20200727_110742.jpg
 
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David Valentine said:
My steering wheel cover had disappeared at the top of the wheel, worn completely through. Tried the slip over kind, but it began walking around the wheel after a few months. So I bit the bullet on a Redline Goods cover, and decided to save myself a few dollars and do the installation myself. Only sewing, right? I was a custom furniture-maker prior to turning into a structural steel guy at 45 years old. Familiar with a wide variety of materials, worked stone for a little while as a kid, acrylics as well. So, why not leather?

My tip is pay the damn $189 and send the wheel away to get done. I started Friday morning around 8. By 12 I was undoing what I had just done and starting fresh, with a new COA. By 8 pm I was pretty much back to where I was at noon. Neck cramping, headache from bad eyes trying to focus on a tiny hole. Fingers cramping up, figured I would finish by noon the next day. I finished this morning at about 9 am. Ran out of thread yesterday because I was too impatient to unthread my original soup sandwich and just cut down the middle to remove it. Ran out to Micheal's to find something matching (45 minutes away), and lucked out.

I would never do another one - the price seems cheap for what I did. My fingers ache, and my tendonosis cranked back up, eyes are tired as hell, but I think it turned out nice. Couple things my light OCD can handle, I stopped going back and fixing things sometime on Saturday 🥴.


View attachment 179860
Click to expand...
Looks good though
 
I definitely need to do something with my steering wheel. On my old TJ I found a very cheap slip on cover at wally world that was pretty good. Very hard to get on but never budged after it was on. I'm guessing I can get a local shop to sew one on the LJ.
 
Nice job, looks very good!

I almost went the Redline DIY route but had 2nd thoughts due to my OCD.

Ended up buying a refurbished one from the guy in Poland on eBay. Just arrived this weekend.

8EEDCAAE-5F91-481C-9DF6-40B818365C59.jpeg
 
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David Valentine said:
My steering wheel cover had disappeared at the top of the wheel, worn completely through. Tried the slip over kind, but it began walking around the wheel after a few months. So I bit the bullet on a Redline Goods cover, and decided to save myself a few dollars and do the installation myself. Only sewing, right? I was a custom furniture-maker prior to turning into a structural steel guy at 45 years old. Familiar with a wide variety of materials, worked stone for a little while as a kid, acrylics as well. So, why not leather?

My tip is pay the damn $189 and send the wheel away to get done. I started Friday morning around 8. By 12 I was undoing what I had just done and starting fresh, with a new COA. By 8 pm I was pretty much back to where I was at noon. Neck cramping, headache from bad eyes trying to focus on a tiny hole. Fingers cramping up, figured I would finish by noon the next day. I finished this morning at about 9 am. Ran out of thread yesterday because I was too impatient to unthread my original soup sandwich and just cut down the middle to remove it. Ran out to Micheal's to find something matching (45 minutes away), and lucked out.

I would never do another one - the price seems cheap for what I did. My fingers ache, and my tendonosis cranked back up, eyes are tired as hell, but I think it turned out nice. Couple things my light OCD can handle, I stopped going back and fixing things sometime on Saturday 🥴.


View attachment 179860
Click to expand...

I’m glad you posted this because I’ve been eyeballing that same cover from Redline & thinking I could install it myself. I can wire flight control systems on fighters, how hard can a steering wheel be? I’ll be shipping mine off for a $189 install fee. Thank you.
 
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Use a puller...don't beat on the upward on the wheel whatever you do. There are cage type bearings in the column you don't want to damage whatever you do.
 
Feels amazing after the old sticky mess I had before. I don't want to paint the exterior because of the trails around here; it's probably the nicest (aesthetically speaking) thing on the jeep.

Did I mention how nice it feels? Couple of times coming up to a curve I found myself shifting the wrong stick. Embarrassing with no doors on.
 
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In spite of the recommendation to NOT DIY this, I ordered the wheel skin and armrest to match the Redline shift boot I installed a few months ago. Dealing with shipping my stock wheel is way more than I want to do.

I had purchased the cheap generic leather skin over a year ago and never installed it.
 
mistro said:
Anyone have an updated contact info on the guy from Poland?
Click to expand...

I just bought a second cover about a month ago. Still responsive, if you allow for the time zone difference. They do great work.

Edit: IAW the first post, I had it installed by their people. Took a couple weeks to get the cover to me, then I shipped the cover and my wheel to a place in Cary, NC. They sent a shipping label, I had to box it. I got the impression they worked with multiple seamstresses across the country.

A bit more than a week later they shipping it back. Looks great, and I got to keep some self-esteem.

20250524_105759.jpg
 
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