painting steering wheel spokes

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just wondering if anyone has painted their steering wheel spokes on an exec?
or do you have to buy the painted ones?

[naf33n]

ive seen a few painted ones, even seen carbon fibre ones.

buying from holden would be easier but only avaible in 3 colours i think, satin, tempest and black.

so really depends on what colour you want and if you wanna spend some time painting, but painting will work out cheaper

[AussieHolden]

I've brought some satin parts from ebay Auto selector, Hand Brake, Spokes & Cluster facia. All I need is the center console to match.

[Calaber]

The OP asked if you can paint the spokes on an Exec wheel. The basic steering wheel doesn't have separate spokes - they are moulded with the rim in a flexible material. Because they are flexible, it isn't likely that you could paint them with anything durable, particularly if you wanted them in a satin silver or other metallic finish.

I think you would have to purchase a wheel with removable spokes first.

[PaulSV6]

The OP asked if you can paint the spokes on an Exec wheel. The basic steering wheel doesn't have separate spokes - they are moulded with the rim in a flexible material. Because they are flexible, it isn't likely that you could paint them with anything durable, particularly if you wanted them in a satin silver or other metallic finish.

I think you would have to purchase a wheel with removable spokes first.

Spot on, the spokes are a fixed part of the wheel, There not interchangable like on the SV6, SS, Berlina etc.....

[Phreddy]

Ummmm - are we talking about a VY/VZ wheel?? Indeed the spoke trims ARE removeable, whether Exec, Acclaim, SV6, SS, Calais, Berlina, Monaro, etc. in fact, about the only ones that truly are not, are the Grange or Senator wheel - they have leather upholstery over these spokes.

Now if we're referring to VT/VX or previous models, then yes they are NOT.

[arrow]

yea i was indeed talking about the vz wheel off an exec
so that sounds like i can replace the spokes with satin chrome ones..eeexcellent

[PaulSV6]

Ummmm - are we talking about a VY/VZ wheel?? Indeed the spoke trims ARE removeable, whether Exec, Acclaim, SV6, SS, Calais, Berlina, Monaro, etc. in fact, about the only ones that truly are not, are the Grange or Senator wheel - they have leather upholstery over these spokes.

Now if we're referring to VT/VX or previous models, then yes they are NOT.

Im proven wrong

[Phreddy]

Heh - just reading my post above, it kinda looks like I was coming across as a bit of a smart-ar$e...

Sorry guys, that wasn't what I intended...

Just wanted to clear up what seems to be a bit of confusion. I'm only talking from experience, I've had a LOT of these wheels in pieces...

Oh, and back to the subject of the thread - - painting is OK, but you need to make sure your prep is spot-on - and preferably some good quality clear coat or something over the top. You'll be amazed at how quickly your thumbs will rub through painted plastic if it's not prepped properly.

(I went carbon fibre cloth over mine - genuine stuff, laminated over with epoxy - not that stick-on ricer rubbish! Looks tits!)

[Calaber]

Ummmm - are we talking about a VY/VZ wheel?? Indeed the spoke trims ARE removeable, whether Exec, Acclaim, SV6, SS, Calais, Berlina, Monaro, etc. in fact, about the only ones that truly are not, are the Grange or Senator wheel - they have leather upholstery over these spokes.

Now if we're referring to VT/VX or previous models, then yes they are NOT.

Phreddy

My daughter's VY 2 Exec definitely has a one piece moulded wheel. I've noticed the same thing on other VY's too - we had a basic VY 2 Crewman at work and it also had the one piece wheel.

I looked at updating the daughter's wheel with satin silver spokes and found that it couldn't be done. The standard wheel spokes are soft and can be squeezed slightly.

[naf33n]

(I went carbon fibre cloth over mine - genuine stuff, laminated over with epoxy - not that stick-on ricer rubbish! Looks tits!)

ill back that one up. it does look like a good set of tits

[Phreddy]

Ah, gee whiz calaber - my apologies Mate - whilst I have worked on a number of these I obviously haven't come across this situation! It looks like I was indeed being a smart-ar$e!

I stand corrected Gentlemen, with my thanks. I'll keep my eyes very much open, and try and make sure I don't hand out bollocks info!

Thanks Naf33n - hey, if you like those I can do a set for you... I'm working on some other CF bits in my car very soon....

[PaulSV6]

My dads gotta '06 VZ Exec wagon, ill have a closer look at the steering wheel & will come back with an answer.

[Calaber]

I also remember the standard wheel on my son's VZ Acclaim was a one piecer. We replaced it with a leather wheel and I was surprised to see that the original wheel was moulded as one unit.

[jet-6]

SX6 Adventra's run a one piece wheel

[PaulSV6]

Well, the steering wheel spokes on the VZ Exec are one piece.

U can take the spokes off, but all 4 spokes come off as one piece, not individually like on SV6, SS Calais etc.....

[Phreddy]

Well there we go - what an oddball setup though! Paul, does the wheel casting itself appear to be the same?

I seriously can't understand why a relatively small scale manufacturer creates so much additional expense tooling up for more mouldings! Why the hell not use the same moulded spokes, but finished differently for ALL different model levels? They've gone half-way, with Tempest Grey spokes on lower end, satin chrome on sport or luxury models, and the "upholstered over" ones on some of the HSV wheels.... Why have they gone to the extra expense for a base model???

I guess there's logic in there somewhere, but it's got me knackered...

[PaulSV6]

Its got me beat to, Greg.
Y not just have the same wheel for all the models but use different spokes for each level of luxury:
Greyish silver - Exec, Acclaim
Satin chrome - Berlina, Calais, SS, SV6
Leather - Statesman, Caprice etc

Its does yeah, all that looks different is the 4 spokes are actually 1 whole moulded piece.
So when u take them off, they all come off together.
Ill take some pics when i get home, so every1 has a clear idea.

[PaulSV6]

I know a few of u guys have asked questions about weather the spokes on the exec steering wheel are interchangable with others, satin chrome etc...

Here are some pics, sorry if some are abit blurry

[Calaber]

Now I wish I had kept my son's Acclaim wheel instead of turfing it when he fitted his leather rim. However,I am certain that the spokes and rim were moulded to the alloy wheel "frame" and definitely were not removable, either separately or as one piece. If you look very closely at the first photo in Pauls last post, the spoke at six o'clock can be seen to be joined to the rim. Unfortunately, I didn't bother to look to see if the frame was the same as the multi-piece wheels, but I assume it probably would have been, and the holes for mounting the spokes would have been drilled into the frame.

I agree completely with Phreddy, What a crazy setup - one wheel for all the basic models, then at the very least, a separate moulding for the leather covered wheels. With the cost of manufacturing alloy components, you would have to assume that the wheel frame at least is common to every model.

As the rubber is moulded to the frame on the base wheel, you would wonder if you could cut the spoke covers back to the frame, then fit the separate spokes to it.