2008 Denali steering wheel swap

[Ponchonutty]

Well I finally finished my project. I’m very savvy and I have to say this was way more effort than I expected. I was thinking as long as I picked another wheel that was the same design I’d be fine. That wasn’t the case. These wheels are designed completely different inside. I had serious modifications I had to do. This project is in no way for the faint of heart.

First pic is of the original wheel. Personally always thought the fake wood on these were ugly.

Second pic is the dismantling of oem wheel.

3rd pic is showing the donor wheel and new wheel. Old wheel was from a 08 Silverado with only cruise. The new wheel was from a 2017 Acadia with heat and audio controls. The center hub on these are totally different. So are the way the buttons and airbag mount. I had to cut the center hub out from donor wheel and tig weld it into the new wheel. The new wheels hub was about 1/4” larger in diameter than the original.

4th picture is of the donor wheel with hub cut out.

5th is measuring the difference on how the hub is between wheels

 

[Ponchonutty]

6th picture really pissed me off. No one fessed up but my wheel was dropped and chipped the clear real bad. I wasn’t sure if I could fix it myself but after getting a quote from one of those online wheel reconditioners for $275, I decided to try it out myself. I took a little black with a fine brush and laquer thinner and made a “stain” to darken the wood. I then wetsanded it with 400 grit until the chip was smooth, filling in color as needed.

7th pic is after masking off the leather and using automotive clear to clear the wheel. I used some clear melter on the edges to make sure the new clear bonded well with the old.

8th and 9th pic is after a few coats of clear on the repaired area.

10th is with multiple coats of clear to make the depth match what it originally was like. Last coat of clear I mixed a little dark argent metalflake with the clear so as to have the wheel match closer to the trucks exterior color is.

 

[Ponchonutty]

On the home stretch now. Thought I was gonna just slap this on but was wrong. The entire inside wiring isn’t the same. Same plugs but different colors and pin placement so I had to modify the original harness.

10th pic is the bag mount from old wheel. You can see it’s shaped much different than the next picture. I had to modify the center opening so the bag plugs would fit inside.

Last pic is he finished product. I changed the fillers next to the switches. Luckily the switches from old wheel mounted ok in new wheel. The filler color I plan on painting all the trim that color. The blue carbon fiber although extremely pretty when sun hits it is sort of odd looking at the same time

 

[swathdiver]

So the replacement wheel has wood only at the top and that's what you were looking for?

 

[Ponchonutty]

So the replacement wheel has wood only at the top and that's what you were looking for?

Yes and the color to me is better than what originally was there

 

[swathdiver]

Got it. It sure is nice to accomplish something so unique when you have the right tools and know how! I've considered putting a heated wheel on mine but am chasing part numbers for one without wood at all, and plug and play! I've not got your talents!

 

[Ponchonutty]

Thanks. Not sure if you could convert to heat if you didn’t already have it. You might get lucky if you change the clock spring but not totally sure. On these the heat control is inside the shroud so as long as you get power to it you should be fine

 

[calif phil]

That was a lot of work. I think I would have gave up. It does look much better now. Great job!

 

[Rocket Man]

So much work but the satisfaction of doing it must be nice. Good job.

 

[adventurenali92]

Wow that’s a ton of work. Lol. I always assumed the Acadia and Yukon steering wheels were the same because they look the same! Looks really clean in your truck man!