How to ideally select and install the braid on the steering wheel: instructions

Why is steering braid needed?

A steering wheel braid, also called a steering wheel cover, is not just an accessory for many car owners, but a necessary element, and there are a number of explanations for this. First of all, the braid ensures traffic safety, because a regular plastic steering wheel is not very comfortable. This steering wheel tires your hands quickly, and the cover gives it extra thickness. If we look at luxury cars, their interior is trimmed with leather, the design is consistent in the same style, the steering wheel is also not devoid of attention and is trimmed with leather braid.

Owners of budget-class cars have to independently work out the aesthetic side of the issue so that their eyes have at least something to “catch on to.” A braid will not be superfluous for a car with high mileage, in which the attractiveness of the steering wheel leaves much to be desired due to the large number of scratches. If you plan to sell the car in the future, then a protective cover will not be superfluous, because it will preserve the original attractiveness of the steering wheel.

The steering wheel braid allows you to hide defects during high mileage or give the interior solidity.

Why is braid needed?

The steering wheel braid is not only an important element of the car’s interior decor, but also a part that performs a lot of useful functions. The braiding increases the thickness of the steering wheel, making it much more comfortable for your hands to grip its surface. This element also makes the steering wheel warmer in winter weather - it is much more pleasant for the driver 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 an entire steering wheel is much more difficult and expensive.

Kinds

Not only the method of its fastening, but also further care and duration of operation depends on which steering wheel upholstery is preferred.

Leather braids

One of the most common materials for steering wheel covers is genuine leather, which is characterized by practicality in processing and durability. The material can be either regular or perforated. The holes on the case additionally decorate the product and add volume. In addition, the skin allows you to visually smooth out unevenness, if any. Since products made from such material are characterized by high performance, leather is considered the most convenient for the accessory in question. The material is easy to care for and hygienic compared to other types of braids. The leather-covered steering wheel can be easily wiped with antiseptic agents before driving. Such treatment will not cause any harm to the material, and will protect the driver from possible problems. The high price tag for leather braiding may scare you off at first, but it would not be entirely correct to save on such an important element of the car’s interior. The cost is justified by the long service life and pleasure while traveling.

One of the most common and practical materials for finishing the steering wheel is leather.

Made from eco-leather

Along with leather products, eco-leather covers are no less popular. Such braids are made on the basis of rubber. The material is called “breathable” artificial leather, where polyurethane is used instead of PVC. The undoubted advantage of such covers is the absence of toxic emissions. In appearance and tactile sensations, an eco-leather accessory leaves only a more positive impression. The use of rubber as a base gives such braids another advantage - ease of installation. Plus, the price is more affordable compared to leather cases.

Eco-leather as a material for braiding gives the accessory hypoallergenic and pleasant tactile properties, as well as an affordable price

Fur

Fur covers can attract attention only at first, but after a few days the material will show all its negative sides, which boil down to low practicality and soiling. The fur braid quickly wrinkles, the pile gets dirty, which worsens the aesthetic appearance, and this is especially true for light colors. Dirt and dust accumulate between the pile, which negatively affects hygiene. In addition, in the hot season, hands sweat, which leads to the steering wheel slipping when steering and reducing the level of safety when driving a car.

Fur braiding, apart from being attractive in the first few days, has no other advantages, since dust and dirt accumulate in the material, which negatively affect hygiene.

Wicker covers

There were times when domestic cars had braided wire braids. Such cases were endowed with high strength, because the plastic insulation of the wire was very rarely worn out. If we compare braided braids with natural leather, they are less attractive and have a low level of hygiene. Dust and dirt collect between the turns of wire, which can be difficult to remove. In this situation, solutions based on household detergents come to the rescue. In addition, such braiding hardens in winter and practically does not warm up, and you have to wear gloves to drive a car.

Braided braids were previously used on domestic cars and were characterized by abrasion resistance, but in winter it is not very convenient to drive such a steering wheel

Useful braids

You can make a steering wheel cover yourself, and the product will be not only beautiful, but also useful. To make it most comfortable, massage inserts are made on the outside. In addition to convenience, they will ensure better blood circulation in the fingers and palms, which is important for long trips. You can install heating under the homemade braid. This function will be especially relevant when operating the car in winter in Russian conditions. You can control the heated steering wheel using a button located on the instrument panel.

Results

The summary of all of the above can be summarized in a few tips:

• You should choose a braid for the steering wheel based on the parameters and make of the car.
• The choice of material depends solely on the preferences of the buyer and the interior of the car.
• Lacing the braid is a fairly long but simple process. You can learn how to properly lace a case within a few minutes, but during the actual process you should be patient and carefully monitor that no wrinkles remain.
• If something doesn’t work out in lacing, then you can practice on the braid itself, without putting it on the steering wheel.

How to put the braid on the steering wheel + video instructions
5 (100%) 6 votes

Choosing the right accessory

When choosing the accessory in question, you should be guided by the following criteria:

1. Material of manufacture. Today, a wide selection of braids is offered, which are made from a variety of materials. The female sex prefers soft covers made of fabric, suede or velor, but in a particular case it all depends on the preferences of the car owner. Men, as a rule, choose cases in a classic design, namely leather and eco-leather. There are foam rubber braids available on the market, which are not worth purchasing because they lose their shape very quickly.
2. Color and style. The braid should be selected in such a way that the accessory is combined with the overall design of the interior. If the interior is black, then the steering wheel cover should also have dark tones. For luxury cars, you should not take braids in the form of flowers or flashy shades. Such a decision can not only spoil the interior, but also create the wrong impression about the tastes of the car owner.
3. Mounting type. Steering wheel braids are divided into two types: covers that are put on without covering, and elements that are fixed with a special thread. Each category has its pros and cons. The fixed braid can completely merge with the interior design, while it is almost impossible to understand that the cover was purchased separately. However, when installing such models, there may be some difficulties associated with a lack of skills for independent cladding. Covers that do not require trim are easier to install but less attractive.

How to find out the correct size

The size of the braids is selected according to the following criteria:

• steering wheel diameter;
• rim circumference width.

If the steering parameters are unknown, then they can be easily found out using a tape measure. One of the most common sizes is M, also called medium. If we talk about the parameter in numbers, then the diameter is 37–39 cm. Most sedans from Europe and Japan, crossovers and minivans have a steering wheel size M. Small cars are equipped with size S steering wheels, on American cars - size L. If the exact parameter is unknown steering wheel of your car, it is better to give preference to size M. This braid should also fit well on steering wheels of larger and smaller diameters. Now regarding the girth width. It’s easy to decide on this parameter. Most cars are characterized by a girth width of 82 mm. American cars are slightly thicker.

To select the braid size, you should know the diameter of the steering wheel and the width of the rim circumference

Selection by car brand

Let's look at the size of the covers depending on the make of the car:

1. S, which is 35–37 cm in diameter, is suitable for brands such as Oka and Tavria. This size is also suitable for cars with a sports steering wheel. Installation on the KIA Picanto is possible, although the cover will be difficult to fit.
2. Size M. Mainly installed on foreign passenger cars. Suitable for brands such as Kia, Nissan, Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, as well as domestic cars of the VAZ 2108–2110, Priora, Grant and Kalina families.
3. Size L corresponds to a diameter of 38–40 cm. Suitable for cars such as Volga, Moskvich and Niva. It will also fit on 2108, 2111, 2113.
4. XL with a diameter of 42–43 cm is installed on GAZelle and UAZ.
5. XXL is equal to the steering wheel diameter of 47 cm. Used for the steering wheel of foreign-made trucks.
6. Size XXXL corresponds to a diameter of 49 cm and is installed on KAMAZ vehicles.

Large-sized braids are installed mainly on trucks of domestic and foreign production

Reviews

During the use of the Renault Logan car since 2008, about 105,000 km have been driven. With such a mileage, the wear on the original coating of the car's steering wheel became very noticeable. It became noticeable that on one side (mostly on top) the steering wheel was polished by hand to a shine))). And in order not to aggravate the situation, it was decided to buy a braid for the steering wheel. I didn’t really want a thick one that just pulls on, since it’s inconvenient to hold such a steering wheel, so I bought a lace-up one at a local USAVE store for 590 rubles. Autopilot brand. Size "M". The box contains the braid itself, it seems to be even leather, a needle and thread. At first the braid did not want to crawl onto the steering wheel, but we soon succeeded. And they immediately started lacing.

To make the braid on the steering wheel look beautiful, you may not be able to put it on the right way the first time, but don’t despair

The first attempt was unsuccessful, as the seams of the braid got into the intersections of the steering wheel. The edges did not want to be pressed and the overall picture did not look very presentable... Having moved the seams of the braiding, we began take No. 2... we lace... we tighten everything well in a circle several times... and voila... we got an excellent result! This braid required accidentally breaking an iron crochet hook ((, a lot of diligence, and probably an hour and a half of time. But the result is good. I really like it. The steering wheel turned out to be a little thicker, but not so much if they had just purchased an overlay braid. If you are diligent and diligent, I advise everyone, otherwise you will spit and just buy an invoice)

TaisiyaLisa

https://irecommend.ru/content/trudoemkaya-ustanovka-no-rezultat-otlichnyi-foto

But reviews can also be the opposite. Some owners are faced with outright deception when buying a product in online stores. The website describes that the material is genuine leather, but in fact the accessory is made of something unknown. The product emits such an unpleasant odor that it is impossible to drive more than 200 km. Such braiding simply has to be thrown away. From the described reviews, the conclusion suggests itself that the steering wheel cover must be chosen carefully.

How to care for your accessory

In order for a braid made of genuine leather to last as long as possible, the material requires certain care. To maintain an attractive appearance, the material is regularly treated with special products that prevent drying and cracking, for example, Hi-Gear (leather cleaner), LIQUI MOLY Racing (leather care), Turtle WAX ​​(cleaner and conditioner), 3ton (wet wipes) . The main thing when caring for leather is that the material does not lack moisture. Otherwise there is a risk of cracks appearing. Proper care will ensure the use of the cover for at least five years.

Cleaning and caring for leather braiding consists of the following steps:

1. Prepare soft and clean cloths, cleaning products, and leather conditioner.
2. Apply a cleaning agent to a rag and clean the steering wheel. In hard-to-reach places, you can use a toothbrush.
3. When cleaning is complete, wipe the braid with a clean and dry cloth and apply conditioner. This product is designed to protect the leather product from drying out, which will extend the life of the accessory.

Today, purchasing the right car interior care product is not a problem: in almost every car store you can find everything you need.

For leatherette products, ordinary soapy water and clean rags can be used as a care product. The procedure is simple: use a clean rag soaked in a soapy solution to wipe the steering wheel, trying to remove all dirt. After this, wipe the steering wheel with a dry cloth. Suede braids or products made on a synthetic base are cleaned with a car vacuum cleaner or a dry, clean brush. It is better to avoid washing, since such a procedure can worsen the fit of the accessory to the control, which will also affect the quality of the external one.

How can you tell if the braid needs cleaning? This procedure must be resorted to when you feel that the steering wheel has visible dirt and has become sticky and slippery. If the cover material is leather, then over time it becomes dry. In this case, moisturizing and conditioning are required. This care procedure should be carried out at least once a year.

In order for the braid to last as long as possible, the product requires periodic maintenance using special products.

How to properly put the braid on the steering wheel

Before starting work, you must remove all sharp objects to the side (screwdriver, mounting tool). Although these tools will speed up the process, they are highly likely to damage not only the braid, but also the steering wheel. When putting on the cover, problems may arise only at low temperatures, so it is worth pre-heating it near the interior heater. Next, we align the steering wheel and apply the braid. If there are patterns or notches on the accessory, place it in accordance with the position of the steering wheel. They begin to put on the braid from the top, gradually moving down. To make the procedure easier, you need to perform rotational movements around the rim of the steering wheel, which will ensure faster seating of the cover.

Video on putting the accessory on the steering wheel

Errors when replacing the steering wheel cover

There are a number of nuances that are better to observe than to be satisfied with a less than 100% satisfactory result. And so, here we go:

If the case is bought in a store, the package almost always contains instructions where the manufacturer has calculated everything and gives precise instructions for installation, so in order to avoid problems it is better to follow these instructions.

Whether it is worth making the braid yourself or not is a controversial question. On the one hand, almost everyone has the material, but there is no sewing machine and no time. On the other hand, there is AliExpress, where the average bill for a steering wheel cover is about 200 rubles.

Source

How to make a steering wheel braid with your own hands

The steering wheel cover can be made at home. To say that this is easy to do would not be entirely correct. Firstly, you need a certain set of tools, and secondly, skill.

Materials and tools for sewing a cover

Before you begin, you will need the following list of materials and tools:

• a strip of leather measuring 120*10 cm and several additional pieces;
• cord for firmware about 3 m long;
• punch for perforation for lacing;
• two needles more than 50 mm long and a hook with a small head;
• 2 thimbles for tailors;
• tape and cling film;
• A1 sheet of paper on which the pattern will be made.

The steering wheel trim is possible in two ways: the first involves finishing the rim, the second also involves finishing the spokes. If the work is done carefully, then both options look quite decent.

Steering wheel trim without spokes

For a cover for finishing a steering wheel without spokes, you will need a piece of leather, the length of which is calculated using the following formula: the length of the diameter is multiplied by 3.14. The braid can be made not only from a single piece of leather, but also from shreds. The main thing is that the finished product fits harmoniously into the interior of the cabin. The reserve left for sewing together pieces of leather is coated with a special glue for this material. Gluing will prevent further thread separation and increase strength. Due to the allowances, the seams may protrude, but this can be easily corrected by lightly tapping the seals with a hammer. To perform lacing, you should prepare the holes using a punch. The tool is pointed at the skin with a sharp edge and hit on the opposite side with a hammer. The cut piece of leather will fit into the hole of the punch. Next, we make markings along the side for stitching and punch out perforations for lacing with leather cord (string) or thread.

Depending on the owner’s preferences, the cover can be sewn with different seam options

To stretch the cord, you should use an awl. Although the process of such firmware is longer, the result, if compared with firmware with nylon thread, is worth it. Lacing should begin immediately behind the spokes on the handlebars. This technology will make the knot less noticeable. Lacing can be done in several ways. The simplest methods include sequential stitch and cross stitch. It is better to tighten it after the area between the adjacent knitting needles has been completely passed. To make the fixation more reliable, before the cord is completely tightened, a little shoe glue is applied between the steering wheel and the braid. For better distribution of the substance, the glued surfaces are heated with a hairdryer. As an addition, the braid can be smoothed from the outside. To avoid untying the knots when stitching with nylon thread, use superglue.

Covering the leather braid can be done with twine or nylon thread

Spoke steering wheel trim

The version with knitting needles is somewhat more difficult to manufacture and requires preliminary production of a pattern. To do this, you will need cling film, which is used to wrap the braiding areas and fix them with masking tape. Next, the places where the seams will go are marked with a marker, and the pattern elements are numbered. A diagram of the location of individual parts is drawn on a separate sheet. Afterwards, the masking tape is cut along the marked seam lines. The parts that were received are leveled and outlined on an A1 sheet. All that remains is to cut out the parts, adding material to the joining of the seams.

Photo gallery: DIY braid sewing

To get the blanks, we wrap the steering wheel with film, then with tape and mark the elements with a marker. We form patterns for the elements by placing the blanks on a piece of leather and outlining them. After stitching the elements, we try on the cover on the steering wheel: the product should be put on with a slight tension. Having tried on the braid and making sure that the sizes match, we proceed to sewing seams We install all decorative elements in place and evaluate the work done

Next, we stitch along the length of the steering wheel. The future braid must be under slight tension. The tool makes a perforation for lacing. All that remains is to secure the cover and lace up the seam. To do this, remove the decorative plastic and airbag. When the lacing is finished, all the parts are put in place. If necessary, the gap between the braid and the steering wheel is glued. Use a hairdryer to dry the glue.