Steering Wheel Upgrade 16+ LC (4 Viewers)

[thefourthdoctor]

Is there an OEM all leather wheel option for 2013-2015 LCs?

 

[ohsix]

I have not used personally but I read Craft Customs - Steering Wheel Restoration - https://craftcustoms.com/ has a great reputation.

They replaced the leather on my '95 80 series and I am happy with it. My '17 200 steering wheel is there now. They can't remove the factory leather without destroying the heating element, so they have to put the new leather over the old. They can do custom leather and stitching, but I just stuck with similar to OEM. My price was $524 plus $18 to ship the wheel to them, so you're getting close to the price of a new OEM wheel. It also takes 3-4 weeks from the time you ship your wheel to them. If I had seen this thread, I probably would have just ordered the full leather wheel when Toyota runs 20% off parts.

 

[rmhrc630]

I purchased a 2016 land cruiser which had some nicks on the steering wheel from the previous user. It wasn't the infamous peeling problem found on the 16-17 wheels, but it appears to be some nicks from a wedding ring on the left hand. I did wrap the original wheel with a loncky steering wheel wrap, but I was not a fan of how thick it made the wheel feel.

Since the steering wheel is the one item you are constantly using while driving, I thought it was worth the $750 to purchase a new wheel. Turns out, it appears in 2020 Mr. T released a full leather wrapped wheel w/ a heating element.

Part: 45100-60A91-C0

The part is a plug and play item with no additional modifications being necessary, and boy, is it a treat with a HUGE upgrade in feel. This is the steering wheel Toyota should have shipped from the factory.

I was hoping the wheel would be heated all the way around, but it's only in the same area as the plastic wood wheel. Though, it appears the heat is MUCH better than the old 7 year old wheel, so I'll take the win on that one. I am unsure if it's due to the wheel being 7 years old or if it's a different heating element.

It does have gray stitching on the wheel (which honestly looks completely fine), but I could not find one that was fully leather wrapped with black/white stitching and had the heated function.

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I used this video to help replace the wheel:

The guide is fairly helpful, but I would add some pointers which weren't covered in the video:

1: First step is to undo the battery to minimize the chance of an airbag deployment.
2. Ensure the steering wheel is straight up and down with your tires pointed straight forward.
3. After undoing the steering wheel nut (19 mm), turn the steering wheel to one side (1-2 degrees) to lock it and remove the slack in the wheel, then use a sharpie or paint marker to mark where the steering wheel shaft mates with the old steering wheel. After removing the wheel, do your best to eye ball and transfer the paint mark to the new wheel. Then simply turn the steering wheel to the same lock position and line up the paint lines while installing the new wheel. (this is to ensure the new wheel isn't cockeyed when going straight down the road)
4. I would advise getting a steering wheel puller to avoid damaging the expensive steering link assembly. I used a cheap harbor freight special which did the trick. Steering Wheel Remover Set - https://www.harborfreight.com/steering-wheel-remover-set-63685.html

This job took around 45 minutes and is a fairly easy install. I would not be intimidated about this job at all after doing it.

Any idea if this will fit on a 79 series with a kenwood head unit? Does Toyota wiring genrally allow plug and play? I assume I'd need the wheel, airbag, and controls obviously but this wheel looks worth it

 

[Zill]

Any idea if this will fit on a 79 series with a kenwood head unit? Does Toyota wiring genrally allow plug and play? I assume I'd need the wheel, airbag, and controls obviously but this wheel looks worth it

I’m not much of any help on this one.

Typically, wiring for different series cruisers are completely different so the likelihood this will be plug and play for the wiring is next to zero.

I’m also not sure if the mounting holes will line up on the steering column as well.

It’s a VERY long shot.

 

[rmhrc630]

I’m not much of any help on this one.

Typically, wiring for different series cruisers are completely different so the likelihood this will be plug and play for the wiring is next to zero.

I’m also not sure if the mounting holes will line up on the steering column as well.

It’s a VERY long shot.

I agree but as many point out the this wheel is brilliant. In Australia (because we as a country make and do nothing) the use of chinese ali express wheels is prolific. I bought one. It 'looks' cool but it's too thick and too small a diameter and as a result you actually lose leverage. Combined with my underlining desire to eradicate chinesium from my life and vehicle, I find your 200 series option absolutely brilliant.

As a question the wheel being fitted in this thread is an 'updated' all leather wheel? I did read about wheels delaminating in Australia when the 200 came out, but I think that was the fake wood wheel.

The wheel in this thread looks like it has it all - leather, looks, leverage. (plus heating)

In AUD it wont be cheap and I need to also add in the airbag/honr module but at least it will be genuine Nippon, not fake chinese.

IN terms of supply is Amayama still the go too? I've used impex on occassion but

 

[Zill]

I agree but as many point out the this wheel is brilliant. In Australia (because we as a country make and do nothing) the use of chinese ali express wheels is prolific. I bought one. It 'looks' cool but it's too thick and too small a diameter and as a result you actually lose leverage. Combined with my underlining desire to eradicate chinesium from my life and vehicle, I find your 200 series option absolutely brilliant.

As a question the wheel being fitted in this thread is an 'updated' all leather wheel? I did read about wheels delaminating in Australia when the 200 came out, but I think that was the fake wood wheel.

The wheel in this thread looks like it has it all - leather, looks, leverage. (plus heating)

In AUD it wont be cheap and I need to also add in the airbag/honr module but at least it will be genuine Nippon, not fake chinese.

IN terms of supply is Amayama still the go too? I've used impex on occassion but

The wheel is indeed fully leather wrapped. In terms of a supplier in Australia, I would run it through Toyota to get the part. I would imagine they should be able to get the part ordered for you.

 

[rmhrc630]

The wheel is indeed fully leather wrapped. In terms of a supplier in Australia, I would run it through Toyota to get the part. I would imagine they should be able to get the part ordered for you.

Assume it can be made to fit.

For my 79 am I right with the following LC200 PNs?

(this is for a RHD cruiser)

Are steering wheels different between LHD and RHD? I note toyota marking a difference in PN descriptors?

84250-60410-C0 - LC200 Switch Assy, Steering Pad - Black
45100-60A90-C0 - LC updated leather clad steering wheel (and rear cover) - Black
45713-48130 - Damper steering shake
45130-60580-C0 Horn/pad assembly - Black

Clearly not a cheap exercise

 

[Gartenmeister]

Have any of you guys who've purchased the all-leather wheel paid a professional to have it installed? Dealer, auto upholstery shop or ?? If so, what did it cost? I feel like there is a good chance I'd screw it up if I tried to replace it myself.

 

[Zill]

Have any of you guys who've purchased the all-leather wheel paid a professional to have it installed? Dealer, auto upholstery shop or ?? If so, what did it cost? I feel like there is a good chance I'd screw it up if I tried to replace it myself.

I would highly recommend doing it yourself. It’s a 1 maybe 2 banana job difficulty.

Just get a steering wheel puller tool prior to starting the job.

But, you can likely get an independent shop or Toyota dealer to the job if you don’t want to mess around with it. They probably will charge you an hour of labor or so.

 

[rmhrc630]

I would highly recommend doing it yourself. It’s a 1 maybe 2 banana job difficulty.

Just get a steering wheel puller tool prior to starting the job.

But, you can likely get an independent shop or Toyota dealer to the job if you don’t want to mess around with it. They probably will charge you an hour of labor or so.

Out of interest what’s a US Toyota hour of labour go for?

 

[Artie]

They replaced the leather on my '95 80 series and I am happy with it. My '17 200 steering wheel is there now. They can't remove the factory leather without destroying the heating element, so they have to put the new leather over the old. They can do custom leather and stitching, but I just stuck with similar to OEM. My price was $524 plus $18 to ship the wheel to them, so you're getting close to the price of a new OEM wheel. It also takes 3-4 weeks from the time you ship your wheel to them. If I had seen this thread, I probably would have just ordered the full leather wheel when Toyota runs 20% off parts.

That sucks about the heating element… I had figured I could send my ‘21 HE wheel off and get something completely custom and unique but it sounds like I can only get a new over wrap… bummer.

I wonder if there are any places that can remove the leather and not mess up the heating element.

 

[Zill]

Out of interest what’s a US Toyota hour of labour go for?

Depends on the area of the country, but from what I have gathered, it can be anywhere between $120-$200 an hour. Some places in a high cost of living area like California might even be higher than that.

 

[ohsix]

That sucks about the heating element… I had figured I could send my ‘21 HE wheel off and get something completely custom and unique but it sounds like I can only get a new over wrap… bummer.

I wonder if there are any places that can remove the leather and not mess up the heating element.

I should have my wheel back by the middle of next week and will post photos and diameter of the overwrap. If I have the wheel back Tuesday, it will be 4 1/2 weeks round-trip.

Craft Customs says the heating element is woven into the oem leather, so I doubt it can be removed.

 

[Artie]

I should have my wheel back by the middle of next week and will post photos and diameter of the overwrap. If I have the wheel back Tuesday, it will be 4 1/2 weeks round-trip.

Craft Customs says the heating element is woven into the oem leather, so I doubt it can be removed.

Please do and report on how the heating works through the extra layer. I don’t often use that function but when I do I like it warm and toasty.

 

[xeuxaz]

I would highly recommend doing it yourself. It’s a 1 maybe 2 banana job difficulty.

Just get a steering wheel puller tool prior to starting the job.

But, you can likely get an independent shop or Toyota dealer to the job if you don’t want to mess around with it. They probably will charge you an hour of labor or so.

+1

 

[JohnPW]

Have any of you guys who've purchased the all-leather wheel paid a professional to have it installed? Dealer, auto upholstery shop or ?? If so, what did it cost? I feel like there is a good chance I'd screw it up if I tried to replace it myself.

I bought mine through a dealer and had them install it. I don’t remember the cost for installing but I didn’t find it to be expensive, especially relative to the cost of the part. It might be a simple job but no way I was going to try to do it myself. No regrets on a bit of labor expense.

 

[ohsix]

I don't have my steering wheels back from Craft Customs, but Serra Toyota is running 25% off Toyota parts and the all leather steering wheel comes out to $561 right now. You won't see the full discount until you go to checkout. Shipping is crazy high, but they credit back the shipping at checkout.

Part number is 45100-60A91-C0

Website is Genuine Toyota Parts and Accessories: Official Online Store Serra Toyota of Decatur - https://autoparts.toyotaofdecatur.com/

 

[Artie]

I installed the all leather wheel today and I swear the splines are not identical to the OEM wheel. I made my center mark and installed it, it seemed too far to the right when driving. So I came home and moved it one spline over and now it seems to be too far to the left. I needed an alignment before I did this so that muddies the water to be sure. The steering wheel locking at an angle also complicate things.

I will say that removing the wheel is extremely easy and can be done in 5 minutes flat and that’s using a steering wheel puller.

Now I just need to decide if I leave it as is and get the alignment or move it again…

The wheel is truly an upgrade over the wood one, no doubt.

The black mark on the post lines up with the one on the nut and the small point on the purple spot. I think I just need to leave it be and get the alignment.

 

[Zill]

I installed the all leather wheel today and I swear the splines are not identical to the OEM wheel. I made my center mark and installed it, it seemed too far to the right when driving. So I came home and moved it one spline over and now it seems to be too far to the left. I needed an alignment before I did this so that muddies the water to be sure. The steering wheel locking at an angle also complicate things.

I will say that removing the wheel is extremely easy and can be done in 5 minutes flat and that’s using a steering wheel puller.

Now I just need to decide if I leave it as is and get the alignment or move it again…

The wheel is truly an upgrade over the wood one, no doubt.

View attachment 3852715

The black mark on the post lines up with the one on the nut and the small point on the purple spot. I think I just need to leave it be and get the alignment.

That’s very interesting. Mine lined up to a T and is straight up and down while going down the road.

Likely an alignment will get this fixed.

 

[Artie]

That’s very interesting. Mine lined up to a T and is straight up and down while going down the road.

I may put the old on one just for reference. I don’t drive it enough to really know exactly how it was before I yanked the original wheel, it’s been a week or more. I figured marking it would be enough but once the wheel moved to lock I had a feeling I was going to have trouble.