Recently, steering wheel braids have become an incredibly popular fixture among motorists around the world. Therefore, the choice of braid and the correct way to put them on the steering wheel is a topic of constant debate. This article will discuss: the main types of braids, the method for choosing a suitable braid, and the process of putting on and lacing a cover on a car steering wheel.
Why is a braid needed?
Braid on the steering wheel is not only an important element of the interior decor of the car, but also a part that performs a lot of useful functions. The braid increases the thickness of the steering wheel, which makes it much more comfortable for hands to cover its surface. This element also makes the steering wheel warmer in winter weather - the driver is much more pleasant to touch the soft surface of the braid than the cold metal surface of a standard steering wheel.
The braid protects the surface of the steering wheel from scratches and other mechanical damage, because if the braid is damaged, it can be replaced with a new one at any time, while the same replacement of the entire steering wheel is much more difficult and expensive in terms of money.
Braids on the steering wheel differ depending on the material from which they are made.
Leather
- pros: durability, resistance to antiseptic agents, hygiene, ease of care, pleasant to the touch.
- Minuses: high price.
Artificial leather (eco-leather)
- pros: no toxic emissions, easy to install, easy to clean, reasonable price.
- Minuses: low resistance to antiseptic agents, average durability of use, most often unsightly appearance.
Wire (braided case)
- pros: high strength, durability, low cost.
- Minuses: low level of hygiene, very difficult to clean from dust, inconvenient in winter, when it hardens and warms up very poorly.
Silicone
- pros: high strength, affordable cost, easy to clean.
- Minuses: unstable before exposure to antiseptic agents, short-lived, unattractive appearance.
Foam rubber
- pros: high strength, minimal cost, fairly easy to clean.
- Minuses: not very comfortable, short-lived, unattractive appearance.
It should also be noted braids with additional properties. For example, heated braids for hands: they cost more, any material can be used. It is worth noting the popularity of these covers, because for many motorists these very additional properties of the cover are the determining factor when buying.
How to choose a braid on the steering wheel
As with the selection of any other device for a car, you need to choose a steering wheel braid based on your own needs and preferences. Nevertheless, here there are general parameters that help to choose the best option for the buyer:
- Braid size depending on the size of the steering wheel (S - diameter 35-36 cm, M - 37-38 cm, L - 39-40 cm, XL - 41-43 cm, 2XL - 47-48 cm, 3XL - 49 cm.) .
- The brand of the car for which the braid is bought is a determining factor, because the size of the steering wheel depends on the brand of the car.
- The type of braid must correspond to the visual data of the machine and the material of its interior upholstery.
How to put on and lace up a braid
The main headache of a person who has bought a braid on the steering wheel of his car that is suitable in diameter and external characteristics is the need to put it on in the right way. And in this case, it all depends on whether the braid is designed for steering wheel spokes. If not, then everything is done quite quickly, because you do not need to carry out additional manipulations with the steering wheel. If the braid is designed for spokes, then the steering wheel must be removed (you need to remove it carefully, disconnecting the battery and waiting a few minutes so that the airbags do not work), the braid is put on the removed steering wheel, and then the steering wheel is installed back into place.
Removing the steering wheel and putting on the braid
The main problem when putting on a braid is its lacing. Yes, you can purchase a one-piece case that does not require lacing. But if lacing is necessary, and the buyer does not know how to do it correctly, then the process of installing the braid on the steering wheel can be a real problem. Learning how to lace a braid is quite easy, because this process, although long, is also very simple.
In the event that, as a result, any folds still remain on the cover, the problem areas of the braid can be warmed up. This technique will help increase the elasticity of the material and facilitate the lacing process.
Covering the steering wheel with leather is one of the types of car tuning. Often, car owners update the steering wheel after years of use to improve the appearance and driving comfort.
It also sometimes happens that the car is perfect for all technical characteristics, but the appearance of the interior is not pleasing. This is where tuning comes to the rescue, capable of remaking the interior of a car to suit all the taste preferences of the owner, as well as threads.
Steering wheel wrapping is a creative process and should be approached responsibly.
After all, the steering wheel is what is closest to the driver and with which he directly contacts while driving.
When tightening, you can independently choose the type and color of the skin, as well as the type of seam and the color of the threads. Any combination is possible: it all depends on which steering wheel the driver wants to hold in his hands.
Let's take a closer look - what is a tight steering wheel and why is it needed
Covering the steering wheel plays not only a decorative role, but also can improve the appearance of the car.
By the appearance of the steering wheel, you can usually determine how old is the car but if a brand new and beautiful steering wheel, then it will not give out all the details about the car, which it can. Also one of the most important characteristics is the thickness of the steering wheel, this, by the way, is discussed in this video:
Thanks to the waist, this parameter can be adjusted to the individual preferences of the driver. It will not work to make the steering wheel thinner, but it is possible to make the steering wheel thicker on 4-8 millimeters. It seems that the difference is not significant, but it is 12%-24% of the normal handlebar thickness.
Another reason for constricting the steering wheel may be the desire to make it soft. Before skin-tight, the steering wheel is covered with porous, soft polyurethane. Soft rudders are used in all BMW E65 and M-series.
Tactile sensations play an important role in driving. By choosing a high quality material for wrapping, you get a guarantee that it will not slip and will hold well in your hands. This will definitely give you confidence when driving.
Summarize. Steering wheel wrapping is not only a tuning element to improve the appearance of the steering wheel, but also a process that can improve driving performance.
Types and options for covering + materials
Steering wheel rim
Excellent white leather BMW E39 steering wheel rim with herringbone stitching.
The simplest way is the steering wheel rim. With this type of work, only the rim itself is covered with leather or leatherette, and where it docks with the knitting needles, the material is sheathed and glued.
Steering wheel upholstery with eco-leather
Eco-leather is an excellent material for covering the steering wheel. The main thing is that it is environmentally friendly.
Eco-leather is an innovative environmentally friendly material.It is very difficult to distinguish it from genuine leather. The material is not very expensive, but high-quality and reliable. Eco-leather is very elastic and perfectly fits the steering wheel, and the homogeneous structure of the material looks expensive and organic.
Original steering wheel wrap, choice of threads
If you are very creative and not like everyone else (and also love a plaid and coffee) - this type of cover is for you.
The original (standard constriction) is an absolute duplication of the factory covering of the steering wheel of a car. This is an ideal option for those who are completely satisfied with their car and the skin is needed only for updating.
Usually with such a constriction of the steering wheel, genuine leather is used. Do not forget that automotive leather exists and it cannot be replaced with leather for furniture or shoes.
Automotive leather has special characteristics, such as:
- resistance to temperature changes;
- resistance to various kinds of mechanical and chemical damage;
- abrasion resistance.
Also, hauling is possible according to your own sketches using complex geometry and expensive materials. For example, inserts made of expensive wood, which will make the car exquisite and unique in its own way.
A special role is played by the types of seams
It all depends on how I trim the steering wheel. Asian and American car manufacturers cover the steering wheel with four pieces of leather, which results in four seams. German manufacturers do the same from one piece of leather, and the seam is one.
Germans use seam "macramé", it looks very aesthetically pleasing, even, thin threads are used for it, and it does not lift the skin.
But Korean and Japanese manufacturers most often use a seam "herringbone" or "pigtail". These stitches raise the skin, which makes it a little bulging, thick threads are usually used.
In principle, it is not particularly important which seam will be used, the main thing is that the work be done with high quality and painstakingly, and then the result will be high quality and beautiful.
Types and options of seams. Click to enlarge
Instructions for hauling the steering wheel with leather with your own hands at home
There is another option for the steering wheel. With the help of step-by-step instructions, it is not so difficult to do it yourself. In order to get started, you need to arm yourself with all the necessary materials and tools.
You will need:
- 2 strong semicircular gypsy needles;
- kapron thread;
- stationery knife;
- pencil or pen;
- awl;
- pliers;
- roofing scissors;
- cardboard;
- marker;
- a convenient place to work, where you can fix the steering wheel.
For everything to go well, follow the step-by-step instructions!
- To get started, remove the steering wheel from the car, disassemble it, wash it and dry it to perfect condition. Before starting work, of course, you need to decide on the seam that will be used.
- The next step is to markup. To do this, we take cling film, wrap the steering wheel, then wrap it with mounting tape. Mark with a marker, carefully cut along the contours with a clerical knife. We remove, carefully smooth out the elements - this is our sketch.
- We apply a sketch to the skin, make markings along the edges, receding by 5 millimeters. These 5 mm will be for tightening the skin. Cut out the elements, sew them into one large round ribbon.
- What happened, soak in warm water for twenty minutes. We wipe, dry, but not completely and pull on the steering wheel. In order not to make mistakes, we handle the skin carefully, as it is wet and elastic and can be easily damaged.
- The next step is markup. We put on the cardboard through dashes every 8 mm. We apply it to the skin on the steering wheel and make holes every 8 mm with an awl.
The work must be done gradually so that the seam is even. It is advisable to make 10 holes on each side to sew, and then continue. Treat work responsibly and slowly, otherwise dress up to redo work.
That's all. Share, like, tell your friends,
Ask questions in the comments and offer your options!
otherwise HE will stop you:
- Zoya
My review
I never thought that leather-wrapped steering wheel is so important for men ... now from my own experience I can say that most men do it for the image - they want to show their level of well-being and the solidity of their car. My husband did this out of necessity when he bought a far from new vehicle. I had to use my sewing experience and fit his steering wheel, it’s good that there were examples of various techniques in the article ... now, instead of the usual suits and dresses, I make good money on this business. By the way, men really like soft skin, but the seams do not matter to them!
- Natalia
My husband made his own steering wheel constriction leather. Used the instructions above. It's good that there are such informative sites. The whole process of hauling is clearly outlined.
Made it easy and simple. It turned out even very beautifully, and most importantly, it is convenient. The steering wheel does not slip, the hand does not sweat. We would like to do a reupholstery in the future. This process is described on the website page. - Svetlana
- Andrey
They did a constriction last summer on the e60 in the M package M, the steering wheel was trimmed. I chose the original skin as it was, but the color of the threads is in the range M: blue and red. It looked good. It looks like the first video. And it is very pleasant to the touch, I did not want to let it out of my hands. Definitely I'm for the stretch!
Wow, why didn't I come across this article before! ?My husband likes the leather steering wheel, says hand nicely. And we recently did a close-fitting, but without instructions. I sat, sketched the steering wheel on a scale, and then drew patterns. It worked the second time. But since I found the instructions, I will do “work on the mistakes”. And then somehow it came out clumsy.
- Laura
Our G8 Zhiguli were about 10 years old when my husband thought about reupholstering the steering wheel. The plastic has worn off a lot during use. We found soft black leather, we have an old Zinger sewing machine that sews leather goods perfectly. They carefully scribbled according to their own pattern and made a mistake. I wanted to make it prettier and we gave it to the workshop, where they put metal rivets on the holes for lacing. The cover is beautiful! But when we removed it a few years later, it turned out that the rivets had scratched the steering wheel badly. Now dragged with new skin, already without rivets.
Do-it-yourself leather steering wheel trim is not a very complicated process, which will save on the involvement of specialists. The first skin can cause some trouble.
The steering wheel is used by the driver during the entire driving time. It is it that receives in the first place all the reactions in the form of stroking or pushing, expressing anger, joy or annoyance from the person who sits at the "steering wheel". Also, driving safety may depend on the quality of the steering wheel.
Do-it-yourself braiding on the steering wheel will help minimize the risks from inconvenient operation of the steering wheel. One of the advantages of self-installation is the selection of individual material and color to match the overall interior decor.
The choice of upholstery depends on the method of its attachment, further care for it, as well as the durability of the use of the selected material.
Leather braids
It is customary to use genuine leather as upholstery material. It is more durable and practical in processing. The material is selected with or without perforation. The presence of holes helps to give volume to the product, and is also an additional decoration. It is also a little visually smoothes possible irregularities surface or minor technical problems during processing.
Leather braid
Leather is the most comfortable of the materials due to its performance.
It is easy to care for and also more hygienic than other braid options. This item is especially relevant in cases where the car has several drivers. The leather steering wheel is easily wiped with an antiseptic solution before driving. For the material, such a procedure is not dangerous, but it will save you from getting “undesirable surprises”.
High-quality material can scare away at first with its price. But, not worth saving on such an important part of the car. The price will pay off with a long period of use, a good mood while driving and simple care.
Fur braids on the steering wheel
The use of fur braids only in the first couple of days may be of interest, then such an impractical and easily soiled material will bring more negative emotions when driving. The fur is quickly wrinkled in places of the most intensive use. The pile also gets dirty too quickly and loses its aesthetic appearance, especially light colors.
Fur braid on the steering wheel
Between villi clogged with a lot of dust and dirt, which reduces the level of hygiene for such a frequently used control. In summer, hands sweat quickly, the pile can also get wet and this causes slippage when driving. Such a factor can affect the safety of driving a vehicle.
Braided wire braids
Once upon a time, wire braids were fashionable on cars. They were often decorated mainly with domestic VAZ models. The practicality of this option lies in the relative strength of the plastic winding of the wire. It rarely wears off even with intensive use.
However, compared to imitation leather or genuine leather braided base is not as pretty and not hygienic enough. Dirt quickly collects between loose turns, which is not so easy to remove. Helps to restore a neat appearance by using solutions with household detergents.
Braided braids on the VAZ
In winter, such material quickly “zadubevaet” and weakly warms up. You have to wear gloves while driving.
Useful braids on the steering wheel
With self-manufacturing of the braid, you can make it not only beautiful, but also useful. For this, special massage inserts are made in the outer part. They improve the usability of the steering wheel, as well as help improve blood microcirculation in palms and fingers.
Along with massage seat covers, this braid helps with long journeys by car.
Heating can be carried out under a self-made braid. The option will be useful for all drivers in Russia, since the cold season in our country lasts several months. The button to turn on the heating can be displayed on the instrument panel.
Upholstery color and thickness
Do not choose trendy colors. They can quickly get bored, and you will need to re-tighten. And since it is unlikely that it will be possible to sew a braid on the steering wheel quickly, then for some time you will have to drive with the old, boring steering wheel constriction.
original braid
The material should preferably not be too thick. so that your hands don't get tired. For short distances, this is not a significant factor, but with prolonged use of a thick "steering wheel", fatigue will be noticeable.
Bulky inserts
It is unlikely that foam inserts under the braid will help. At first, they will add softness, although they will increase the thickness of the wheel. For cars with a thin steering wheel, this may turn out to be a bonus, but during operation such a thickener is enough lose shape quickly. The outer material due to this state of the foam rubber will sag and will scroll along the diameter.
For those who do not know how to make a braid on the steering wheel with their own hands voluminous and at the same time preserve the shape of the “steering wheel” for a long time, we can advise use gel pads. It will not flatten, as it is based on containers with an incompressible substance. It is enough to protect such a steering wheel from punctures and burns.
Braid with gel inserts
Basic parameters for selection
In order to determine the required size of the material for the braid, it is not necessary to remove the steering wheel. It is enough to take a tailor's meter and take a measurement on the outer part of the rim. This will be the base setting. You also need to measure the diameter of the rim to determine the desired width of the upholstery strip.
At the same time, an addition of 3-5 mm per seam is taken into account. Most often, the outer diameter is in the range of 35-41 cm. A smaller steering wheel is typical for sports-style cars, and they prefer to put a larger diameter on executive class cars. In addition to aesthetic perception, there are legally approved standards for steering wheel sizes.
Types of lacing with kapron thread
According to Russian GOST, the rim diameter should not exceed 40 mm.
Not all traffic police officers are at the post with a caliper for measurements, but with a clear discrepancy, you can get punished for such an excess.
Do-it-yourself braiding
Reliable tools and high-quality carefully selected material will help to get a good result. Let's bring leather steering wheel tuning example. To make a braid, you will need to stock up on the following set:
- leather strip approximately 120x10 cm in size and a few additional flaps;
- lasting nylon cord for firmware, about 3 meters, it can be replaced with leather twine;
- breakdown for perforation under a lace;
- minimum two needles from 50 mm long and a hook with a small head for tightening a nylon thread;
- pair of tailors thimbles;
- skein food film and a roll of tape
- drawing A1 sheet for the pattern.
Decorative seam on braid
There are two steering wheel options. In one case, only steering wheel tuning is used, and in the second, the spokes are also upholstered. Both options look nice when done neatly, but the method of decorating without upholstery of knitting needles is considered to be less laborious.
Spokeless steering wheel
In this case, you can get by with a strip of leather, the length of which is calculated by the formula, multiplying the number pi (3.14) by the length of the diameter. Additionally, you can use a tailor's meter to carry out empirical measurements of the outer circumference. At the same time, until the last stitching of the tape into a ring, you need to make a small stretch on the skin, as it will stretch slightly on the handlebar.
The ring can be made not only from a single piece, but also from combinations of perforated and smooth elements, material with extruded milling or relief embossing, using multi-colored inserts of various skin tones that harmoniously fit into the overall interior of the cabin.
Seam types
Allowances left for sewing parts of the braid, needs to be covered with glue for the skin. This operation will add strength and subsequently prevent the threads that connected the pieces of the pattern from standing out at the joints. The seams may stick out due to the allowances of the skin. This is removed by lightly tapping the seals with a hammer.
For lacing, holes are prepared using a breakdown. It is a metal tube with one edge sharpened. Having pointed it with such a side to the skin, on the other hand it is necessary to hit with a hammer, we get a hole. The excess skin will go into the punch hole.
After marking along the entire side for sewing, you can punch perforation for lacing with thread or leather twine. It is difficult to buy such a line separately, and it is almost impossible to find a long two-meter piece of genuine leather. For this, it is used a device made of a knitting needle and a sharply sharpened simple pencil.
Making a leather cord
They are tightly fastened to honey with adhesive tape and a spiral is drawn on a leather flap. The tip of the needle is held over the line drawn in pencil. Parallelism is observed between the edges of such an Archimedean spiral, which most engineers studied in universities. The thickness of the twine must be made at least 3-4 mm, otherwise it will break with a strong tightness.
To pull such a cord, you will need to use an awl. The process will be longer, but the result will be more original than firmware with a nylon thread.
It will be more convenient to start lacing immediately after the knitting needle. So the knot will not be "striking" in the eye. The operation is performed by several types of cross lacing. The simplest options are a cross or successive stitches. It is preferable to tighten after a full pass through the sector between the nearest spokes.
For better fixation, you can pour a little shoe glue with a syringe into the incision between the braid and the steering wheel until it is completely tightened. Heating the glued surfaces with a hair dryer will better distribute the liquid. Additionally, smoothing is applied on the outer side of the braid.
Punch for perforation
Knots of nylon cords must be smeared with superglue so that they don't get loose. Nylon slides between each other, and a small amount of glue will fix it in one place.
spoked steering wheel cover
A more complex option involves making patterns for sewing upholstery. It is done with the help of cling film, we wrap all the places for new upholstery with bark. We fix such a base with molar tape. After that, we draw the seams with a marker and number the resulting pattern details. On a separate sheet, we draw the layout of the numbered parts.
Now you can carefully cut the molar tape along the marked seams. The resulting parts are straightened and outlined on sheet A1. Then we cut out the patterns, taking into account the addition of dimensions to the connecting seams.
Step 1. We wrap it with a film, then with tape and number the sectors 
Step 2. We form patterns for sectors 
Step 3. Trying on stitched patterns on the steering wheel 
Step 4. Sew up all the seams 
Step 5. Putting the Decor and Buttons in Place
We sew the parts on a typewriter along the length of the steering wheel. Be sure to do a little stretch. We punch perforation for lacing. Now you can fix the braid on the steering wheel and lace up the seam. First you need to remove the plastic decor and the cartridge with the airbag. After lacing, we return everything to its place. If necessary, glue the gap between the steering wheel and upholstery. Dry the glue with a hair dryer.
Sooner or later, you may have a question - how to tighten the steering wheel with leather yourself? This can occur for various reasons, for example, you have a plastic steering wheel and you want it to look presentable. Or you already have an old leather steering wheel, but from time to time it has worn out, and it just needs to be updated! In general, there are a lot of reasons, including the general tuning of the car, today I want to tell you and show you a photo of such a wrap with comments, of course ...
It should be noted right away that now there are three technologies for waisting - wrapping. I'll list it point by point:
1) The easiest and cheapest way is to buy a Chinese universal cover, it can be made from both genuine leather and ECO-LEATHER.
2) We turn to a special atelier where you can fit anything! Easy, but costly.
3) When you buy leather with your own hands, make a stencil and then drag it. Difficult, especially if there are no skills - but cheap, you will learn the technology (then you can drag it to others for money).
We will analyze each option in order, be sure to photo and video.
Chinese universal case
It is now gaining popularity in our country, it is very easy to buy on the same ALI, after which it will be sent to your home, and you will already pull the steering wheel. By the way, the kit comes with instructions on how to do everything yourself.
The difficulty lies in the fact that if you have never done it yourself, and you do not have sewing skills, even minimal ones, then again it will be difficult! You can also damage the cover. So the option is really cheap, such a cover costs a maximum of 500 - 800 rubles, but even after the correct constriction it does not look very, let's say presentable, because only the steering wheel is fitted, and the elements adjacent to the center remain old. So for an amateur! Watch the detailed video.
Special Atelier
Needless to say, my friend had a BMW 3 series, her braid was worn out from time to time (the car was 8 years old). Of course, you could not change it, but the steering wheel was black, and the scuffs were very conspicuous! A Chinese cover for a BMW would look just awful, so it was decided to remove the “steering wheel” - to make everything from high-quality leather, in general, to restore the external “former” look. The owner himself has never been a "seamstress", and therefore simply turned to a special organization.
The principle of operation was as follows:
1) Carefully removed the steering wheel - turned off the pillow - dismantled it.
3) The cover was removed, a new one was made from it.
4) After that, they simply pulled it onto the steering wheel - they fixed it with a new stitching.
It turned out very impressive, it’s a pity that I don’t have a photo now (and a friend sold the car) - you can distinguish “FIG” from the real one!
Do-it-yourself hauling
Well, of course, the most interesting thing is the hauling yourself. Now there are many different technologies, and everyone says that he has the best. Personally, I didn’t overtighten it myself, but I consulted with the guys who “ate the dog” on this. And they showed me the best technology for beginners.
Now there will be a photo instruction, for constriction:
1) Disassemble the steering wheel
2) We glue it with masking tape, in the right places, that is, we also glue the connecting elements that go to the center.
3) Then we draw places for separation.
4) We cut and remove the adhesive tape, we get a stencil. We number it.
5) After we transfer everything to the skin, cut out the stencils - sew them together. It should be noted that you still need to flash around the edges, we retreat 4 - 5 mm. It is advisable to use a reinforced thread, it is also "reinforced". It is this seam that we will connect.
6) Now we pull the cover on the steering wheel, it will be difficult to enter, this is normal!
7) After we begin to connect our seam, then whoever wants, you can use any seam - “sports”, “herringbone”, asterisk, etc.
8) The banner is ready.
The braid on the steering wheel is very popular and is often bought as an accessory to your car.
Drivers acquire this attribute for many reasons: in pursuit of decorating the interior of a car, increasing comfort in using the steering wheel and updating its already boring look.
Also, the braid contributes to the long-term preservation of the presentation of the car interior, because the steering wheel is the most noticeable part.
Steering braid is considered the most optimal and affordable way to tune your car.
It is sold at any auto supply store and is inexpensive.
In the assortment there are many varieties of this accessory: leather, fur, figured braids with foam rubber inside, eco-leather.
By purchasing a braid for the steering wheel, you can easily put it on yourself and replace it without any problems if it loses its presentation or just gets tired of you.
At the same time, when choosing a braid on the steering wheel, you need to take into account some difficulties, which include the competent selection of size, material, style, color scheme and fixation option.
Some covers can be put on very simply, while others will require quite a long and careful work using special threads.
Very often, drivers ask themselves the question: “Do you really need a braid on the steering wheel?”
The owners of the luxury category of vehicles are the most fortunate, where the car interior is equipped with leather trim, the design is consistent with the same style, and the leather braid on the steering wheel perfectly combines with the overall style of the entire interior.
At the same time, the owners of budget cars have to solve issues with aesthetics on their own, because in this segment of the car there is minimalism, in which there is not even anything to “catch on”.
Also, the braid on the steering wheel will be necessary for the driver of a used car, in which the steering wheel has lost its visual appeal, having acquired many scratches.
The steering wheel cover acts as a cover that serves to keep the steering wheel of your car looking attractive in case you decide to sell your vehicle.
Also, the braid on the steering wheel does not allow the hand to slide on the surface, preventing scrolling and increasing driving safety.
Also, this attribute, by increasing the thickness of the steering wheel, makes it possible for car owners with wide brushes to comfortably hold the steering wheel in their hand.
How to choose the right steering wheel cover?
The choice of this accessory should be carried out according to several criteria:
- Manufacturing material. Today you can find a variety of braids that are made from different materials. Girls prefer to buy soft steering braids made of velor, fabric and suede. These types of braids are characterized by cheerful coloring and are pleasing to the eye. Men, on the other hand, opt for classic options. Therefore, leather braid or eco-leather is very popular due to its long service life and noble appearance. You should not buy foam covers, because they lose their shape very quickly, slipping from touch.
- Color choice and style. Choose your steering wheel wraps based on your interior color scheme. If you are the owner of a black interior, then the braid must also be selected in dark colors. There is no need to “decorate” expensive representative cars with braids in the form of a velor dog or flowers. Such a decision completely spoils the whole impression of the good taste of the owner.
- Fixation type. Braids for the steering wheel of a car are divided into two categories: covers that do not require trim, and braids for the steering wheel, which are fixed by a special thread. Each of the models has its own advantages and disadvantages. A fixed cover will be very easy to put on, but during use they can twist and even slide off if they do not fit snugly. Such accessories are able to completely integrate into the interior of the car to such an extent that no one will even notice that the braid on the steering wheel was purchased separately. But in the installation of such models can be difficult. Installation will require some skills and free time to make the steering wheel trim on your own.
If you decide to buy a steering braid for yourself, then you should not have any difficulties in choosing.
You just need to measure the diameter of the steering wheel and report this information to the seller.
If you decide to buy a cover as a gift, then you need to understand the categories of such accessories, which are divided into several varieties.
To date, there are several sizes of steering braids in stores:
- Size S(diameter 35-37cm). This type of braid is ideal for a small car, such as Oka or Tavria. You can also purchase this size for those cars that have a sports steering wheel. In Kia Picanto, a similar size is also suitable, but when installing it, it should be borne in mind that it is difficult to fit, but it will clearly fit the steering wheel;
- Size M(diameter 37-38 cm). This type is the most relevant for passenger cars. It is considered standard because it is suitable for cars such as Kia, Nissan, Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet and even for domestic "eights", "nines", "ninety-ninths", "tens", Grant, Kalina and Priora. Therefore, if you are the owner of a foreign-made passenger car or domestic cars from the above list, then you can buy this braid size;
- Size L(diameter 38-40 cm). These sizes are suitable for Niva, Volga and Moskvich. Also, the braid will be ideal for models such as "seven", "eleventh", "thirteenth";
- Size XL(diameter 42-43 cm). This braid is designed for UAZ and GAZelle cars;
- Size XXL(diameter 47 cm). Designed for bagels of foreign freight transport;
- Size XL(diameter 49 cm). Purchase this accessory if you are looking for a braid for KAMAZ.
Of the huge variety of online auto stores, it is difficult for an ordinary person to identify conscientious sellers. Buying goods in dubious stores, people are faced with poor quality goods and delivery delays.
Especially for you, we have selected several trusted online stores with the best prices, where you can buy a good quality steering wheel braid without any fear.
A similar procedure should be carried out from above. Stretch the upper part of the braid and gradually move down, putting the cover on the steering wheel.
The most comfortable in this situation is to use the help of an assistant who will help you.
If you do not have anyone nearby who could help, then use ordinary scotch tape.
Pulling the underside of the braid, fix it with tape (so that the adhesive tape does not leave marks, cover the material with an ordinary cloth or polyethylene).
After this procedure, continue to pull the cover on the lower half of the steering wheel.
When pulling, it will be convenient to use 2 flat-head screwdrivers.
Putting the braid on the upper half of the steering wheel, pull the underside of the cover, prying it on both sides.
In the future, remove one screwdriver and immediately press down on this place with your hand. Due to the screwdriver, it is necessary to pry the back side of the braid, directing it to the steering wheel.
For an easier procedure for tightening the boot, it is best to soak the steering braid in warm water or heat it with warm vapors.
Interesting! With this method, the leather braid will receive greater elasticity and it will be easier for you to put it on due to the stretching of the materials.
You can also stretch the steering braid by placing struts in it for 12 hours. For this action, ordinary slats are suitable, on which you will need to tension the material.
After you were able to put the braid on the steering wheel of the car, fix it with special cords located on the inside of the steering wheel.
If you do not like the assortment of steering braids offered by stores, you can make this accessory with your own hands. Initially, you will need to decide on the color scheme and the material used for the braid, and then get to work.
The most suitable option for a steering braid would be perforated leather, which has softness and elasticity, which makes it easy and comfortable to work with.
Choose a material whose thickness is 1.2-1.4 mm.
For work, you will need to prepare:
- Material for the steering braid;
- Sewing accessories (needle, thread, scissors);
- Patience.
Before you start sewing, it is best to remove the steering wheel itself. However, if we take into account the difficulty of the procedure, it is possible to get rid of the removal of interfering components (airbags, adjusting buttons).
Be sure to disconnect the battery before doing this procedure.
Any kind of sewing begins with a pattern. It is very easy to create it.
You will need to wrap the bagel with cling film, wrapping paper tape on top. Next, draw a seam along it with a marker and make a cut along the drawn line.
Due to this action, you should have three pieces of the stencil on your hands, which should be numbered so as not to confuse the sewing sequence.
Apply the stencil to thick cardboard and circle with a marker, cutting out patterns with a margin of 5 mm on each side.
Important! The transfer of the developed layout to the skin should be accompanied by an additional margin of 1.5-1.7 cm.
After you have completed these procedures, attach the parts to the steering wheel and check that you have done everything correctly and that the dimensions match. With a good result, you can start stitching all the components in the correct order.
It is best to sew the details on a sewing machine using nylon threads. The use of this material will allow you to make more even seams that will last a long time.
Also, such a seam simplifies the process of pulling the braid, because the holes for the loops will already be made.
You can do the sewing process yourself if you are not afraid of difficulties. If you are not confident in your talent as a tailor, then contact the tailor with this task.