Car is a XK8 convertible, 1997. Bought a replacement steering wheel for it and need to dye it. I bought the dye. What do I need to do to prep the wheel to be dyed? Clean, Scuff? Original wheel is dark grey and the replacement is black.

 

It's difficult to sand or scuff the leather without damaging the stiching. Acetone will remove the old dye, but might attack the lacquer finish on the wood. Maybe just use some paint thinner to clean the old finish. Black should cover grey pretty easy.

 

My first Jag had a worn drivers seat bolster, i ordered a matching color repair kit and the instructions said to use Methylated Spirits to "prep" the area......it did not attack the material buy cricky it did remove the dye out the seat !!!! Worth trying on a "not so obvious" place on your steering wheel....TS

 

I used lemon juice concentrate on a sponge. I had great results. Google it for others response.

 

if you don't want the added cost of buying the proper prep cleaner from an auto/paint store,then rubbing alcohol will do the trick.however the correct cleaner has addhesion promotors.make sure after cleaning that you let it dry so as to not have problems with the paint process.i've found a neat trick for the painting process over the years,put a dowel rod in a vise,slip wheel over it and you can spin and paint with eveness...steve.