I have a 77 Cutlass with the sport wheel and cannot get that gooey, sticky grip feel off the rubber. I've tried Simple Green with a towel scrubbing and its still there. Tried a vinyl cleaner, no good. The auto parts store said to try Goo Gone but got home with it and it says not to use on rubber. Isn't this what the wheel is made of? I don't remember the wheel being this bad but its been sitting a few years. Other than sticky, the outer rubber looks great. How do you get this stuff off?

 

try doing a search, this topic comes up here and there, for the life of me I can't remember what I used, it worked for a bit but it always got sticky again eventually. maybe it was benzene.

 

As I recall, you will just have to keep cleaning it from time to time. It's a condition that happens on some steering wheels of that era. I have a '68 442 and a '70 GTO and those steering wheels are fine. But on my '69 442, the steering wheel oozes that same stickiness that you describe and I do not believe there is any cure for it, other than occasional cleaning.

Randy C.

 

I used goo-gone and cured it - for a month or so....
I used that then used light soap and water.
It is a constant battle of the outgassing, aging chemicals. This is the reason why mine is still in the back bedroom and not in the car.
I am thinking of having it wrapped in black leather at a custom rod shop. Costly but goo-less...

 

I have used a wax and grease remover about once a year, then soap and water, then a very light wiping of armoral, and it seems to have helped.

try it on a small area first before proceeding to do the enitre wheel.

tim

 

I'll try the goo gone and rewipe the wheel with Simple Green and report back.

 

I've used an aerosol called tuff stuff, seems to clean most of it off. Then I go over with a damp cloth.