Fix fora sagging headliner
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Registered User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 48
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From: Western PA
Fix fora sagging headliner
THIS WRITE UP IS BASED ON A JEEP XJ HEADLINER, BUT CAN BE USED FOR ANY HARD BACKED, ONE PIECE HEADLINER.
ITEMS NEEDED:
1 can, 3M #99 or Permatex Pro grade spray adhesive.
Sharp scissors.
Sharp utility knife.
Medium/Soft bristled fingernail brush.
New headliner cloth/vinyl of your choice.
Iron and ironing board (if using cloth)
2 or 3 helpers.
OPTIONAL (a few beers).
Most newer cars/trucks have one or two piece hard backed headliner. The backing is made of coarse fiber glass or styrene fiber board pressed and formed into the shape of the vehicle roof. The cloth/vinyl covering is glued on the backing. In the case of a cloth covering a thin sponge layer is glued between the cloth and hard backing to give the headliner a soft feel and add some extra sound deadening. After a few years of heat and cold the sponge layer deteriorates, causing the headliner to sag. This article explains how to do a professional looking headliner replacement.
A word or three on adhesives. There are less expensive spray adhesives available but, I recommend either 3M #99 or Prematex Pro Grade adhesive when re-doing a headliner or any other automotive upholstery. Both products are well known, designed for automotive/marine use and are designed for use on styrene. Use spray adhesives in a well ventilated area.
The trick to doing a professional looking upholstery job is the preparation. After you remove the old cloth from the backing, take a medium/soft brush, something like a fingernail brush and try to get as much of the sponge off of the backing as you can. The sponge backing on the old cloth is the main reason it sagged. The sponge deteriorates from heat and then separates from the backing.
Ironing the new cloth to get rid of any wrinkles or folds and will soften it up some.
Now you have the backing all cleaned up and the new cloth ironed, lay the new cloth over the backing and trim it so you have about 6" sticking out all around. After you trim it fold it in half and lay it out over the backing. Spray the exposed half of the backing and the exposed half of the new cloth using a right to left pattern with adhesive, wait 10 min or so and spray them again, this time in a front to back pattern, this will insure that you have full coverage and have not missed any areas. It is very important that both the backing and cloth are coated with the adhesive. After 10 min have two helpers lift the new cloth with the glue on it above the backing with the glue on it and pulling on the corners lay it over the backing. Starting from the center smooth the cloth over the backing working from the center towards the front and then towards the edges. At concave corners you may have to lift and stretch the cloth a few times to get any wrinkles out. Do the same thing on the other half.
WAIT, DON'T trim the cloth just yet. Flip the entire thing over and spray adhesive about 6" all around the edges of the roof side of the backing and the excess cloth, one coat will do. Stick down all the straight edges, on the corners cut a series of slits and glue them down. If there are any openings in the backing for things like dome lights or over head consoles, treat them the same as the edges. Spray the roof side of the backing about 6" around the opening, use the utility knife to cut the cloth from corner to corner in a X pattern and stick the cloth down.
WAIT AT LEAST 4 HOURS BEFORE REINSTALLING THE HEADLINER.
I have done quite a few headliners and vinyl tops this way back when I was restoring old cars. I did my XJ 3 years ago, including the overhead console and sun visors, and they are holding up great.
ITEMS NEEDED:
1 can, 3M #99 or Permatex Pro grade spray adhesive.
Sharp scissors.
Sharp utility knife.
Medium/Soft bristled fingernail brush.
New headliner cloth/vinyl of your choice.
Iron and ironing board (if using cloth)
2 or 3 helpers.
OPTIONAL (a few beers).
Most newer cars/trucks have one or two piece hard backed headliner. The backing is made of coarse fiber glass or styrene fiber board pressed and formed into the shape of the vehicle roof. The cloth/vinyl covering is glued on the backing. In the case of a cloth covering a thin sponge layer is glued between the cloth and hard backing to give the headliner a soft feel and add some extra sound deadening. After a few years of heat and cold the sponge layer deteriorates, causing the headliner to sag. This article explains how to do a professional looking headliner replacement.
A word or three on adhesives. There are less expensive spray adhesives available but, I recommend either 3M #99 or Prematex Pro Grade adhesive when re-doing a headliner or any other automotive upholstery. Both products are well known, designed for automotive/marine use and are designed for use on styrene. Use spray adhesives in a well ventilated area.
The trick to doing a professional looking upholstery job is the preparation. After you remove the old cloth from the backing, take a medium/soft brush, something like a fingernail brush and try to get as much of the sponge off of the backing as you can. The sponge backing on the old cloth is the main reason it sagged. The sponge deteriorates from heat and then separates from the backing.
Ironing the new cloth to get rid of any wrinkles or folds and will soften it up some.
Now you have the backing all cleaned up and the new cloth ironed, lay the new cloth over the backing and trim it so you have about 6" sticking out all around. After you trim it fold it in half and lay it out over the backing. Spray the exposed half of the backing and the exposed half of the new cloth using a right to left pattern with adhesive, wait 10 min or so and spray them again, this time in a front to back pattern, this will insure that you have full coverage and have not missed any areas. It is very important that both the backing and cloth are coated with the adhesive. After 10 min have two helpers lift the new cloth with the glue on it above the backing with the glue on it and pulling on the corners lay it over the backing. Starting from the center smooth the cloth over the backing working from the center towards the front and then towards the edges. At concave corners you may have to lift and stretch the cloth a few times to get any wrinkles out. Do the same thing on the other half.
WAIT, DON'T trim the cloth just yet. Flip the entire thing over and spray adhesive about 6" all around the edges of the roof side of the backing and the excess cloth, one coat will do. Stick down all the straight edges, on the corners cut a series of slits and glue them down. If there are any openings in the backing for things like dome lights or over head consoles, treat them the same as the edges. Spray the roof side of the backing about 6" around the opening, use the utility knife to cut the cloth from corner to corner in a X pattern and stick the cloth down.
WAIT AT LEAST 4 HOURS BEFORE REINSTALLING THE HEADLINER.
I have done quite a few headliners and vinyl tops this way back when I was restoring old cars. I did my XJ 3 years ago, including the overhead console and sun visors, and they are holding up great.
Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Western PA
Just did headliner for my kids Dakota, did it the same way I did my Jeep and many other cars/trucks in the past.
Champion
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,839
Likes: 5
From: Apex, NC
lol, this is a generic process that will work with most any headliner. I've done the same thing before. He was just saying he did it to his jeep and it has held up great.
fair enough, i figured as much, i just..... guess i dno what i was thinking. lol, i do that alot...
