Ever repaired a sagging headliner?
Question:
I have a 1989 GMC Safari and the entire headliner is sagging. It’s a good thing I have the upper center console as that’s what holds it up off my head. I expect the fabric was originally glued to foam rubber which is now dust. I doubt any get-rich-quick-fix would work. I did wonder if I removed the liner and separated the fabric if the foam rubber could be rubbed off and the fabric reapplied with spray adhesive.
Response:
Yes, it can be done, results vary from excellent to sucky. Remove the headliner shell carefully, it’s made of paper plate class plastic foam. Pull fabric off shell. Clean remaining area of adshesive / foam residue by putting shell on a pillow, and gently attacking foam with wire brush. A little at a time, and it comes right off. Be sure to use a padded fabric. Tricky part is getting foam to stick to fabric, forget trying to glue down foam, than gluing fabric * to * foam. Looks like s**t Apply at least four layers of spray on glue prior to applying fabric. Allow first couple layers time to dry, and soak into shell. Test glue around dome light area, make sure shell doesn’t melt. Some glues attack plastic. Place aprox. 6 4" wide strips of wax paper down on shell after last coat of glue is applied. Lower fabric down on shell, and gently slip away wax paper as fabric aligns itself, remove all air pockets with gentle rolling, or push with dry sponge. Should you break shell, use Duct Tape on side without fabric. Good idea to look at sheetmetal while headliner is out, and blat around primer if rust is spotted.
Response:
>I have a 1989 GMC Safari and the entire headliner is sagging. It’s a >good thing I have the upper center console as that’s what holds it up >off my head. I expect the fabric was originally glued to foam rubber >which is now dust
Chrysler products are notorious for this. Much less common in GMs.
Response:
Obviously you have not owned many 1980’s era GM’s. I have seen very few Cutlass, Regal, Grand Prix, or Monte Carlos that did not have a headliner sagging somewhere. Headliners coming down was just as common as a GM losing its paint in that decade. (And for some reason I still drive GM’s!!) John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I have a 1989 GMC Safari and the entire headliner is sagging. It’s a >good thing I have the upper center console as that’s what holds it up >off my head. I expect the fabric was originally glued to foam rubber >which is now dust > Chrysler products are notorious for this. Much less common in GMs.
Response:
> I have a 1989 GMC Safari and the entire headliner is sagging. It’s a > good thing I have the upper center console as that’s what holds it up > off my head. I expect the fabric was originally glued to foam rubber > which is now dust. I doubt any get-rich-quick-fix would work. I did > wonder if I removed the liner and separated the fabric if the foam > rubber could be rubbed off and the fabric reapplied with spray > adhesive.
My solution in my ‘88 paintless Celebrity Wagon was a stapler. Sure, it’s ugly, but at night it has this nifty tufted look that makes it look expensive. Hehe. -Sam
Response:
i think it tends to be more of a "i drive with my window down" problem then related to a make/model automobile 
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I have a 1989 GMC Safari and the entire headliner is sagging. It’s a >good thing I have the upper center console as that’s what holds it up >off my head. I expect the fabric was originally glued to foam rubber >which is now dust > Chrysler products are notorious for this. Much less common in GMs.
Response:
I have driven my Camry with the window down and it doesn’t have a sagging headliner. I think it is a poor design not attributable to the user. Barry – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >i think it tends to be more of a "i drive with my window down" problem then >related to a make/model automobile >:) > >I have a 1989 GMC Safari and the entire headliner is sagging. It’s a > >good thing I have the upper center console as that’s what holds it up > >off my head. I expect the fabric was originally glued to foam rubber > >which is now dust > Chrysler products are notorious for this. Much less common in GMs.
Response:
Barry, In my ‘83 Olds, the headliner fell down and I couldn’t find a replacement for it at the wrecker or a dealer. I got some thread the same color as the fabric on the headliner, took the headliner out, set up a pattern, and stitched it up every 3 inches or so. When I was done I had to look to see the thread. I was getting tired of being electrocuted every time I got out of the car. D
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a 1989 GMC Safari and the entire headliner is sagging. It’s a > good thing I have the upper center console as that’s what holds it up > off my head. I expect the fabric was originally glued to foam rubber > which is now dust. I doubt any get-rich-quick-fix would work. I did > wonder if I removed the liner and separated the fabric if the foam > rubber could be rubbed off and the fabric reapplied with spray > adhesive.
Response:
I took my Olds to a local body shop. The headliner was replaced for $80, & I watched them do it. When I needed a new headliner for my Chevy, I took it out myself & they did it for $45. It is a little fragile. Pull the visors, coathooks, & all of the trim off one side, drop the console & mirror, & using some help, lower one side of the headliner & ease it out one of the doors. Be sure to take your visors for a good color match. The body shop will throw it on a couple of sawhorses, rip off the cloth, attack it with some wire brushes, then spray the glue on with a paint sprayer. Once it dries, they put on the foam-backed cloth & trim it with razor blades. Takes less than a half hour & has a lifetime guarantee. HTH, Robert >I have a 1989 GMC Safari and the entire headliner is sagging. It’s a >good thing I have the upper center console as that’s what holds it up >off my head. I expect the fabric was originally glued to foam rubber >which is now dust. I doubt any get-rich-quick-fix would work. I did >wonder if I removed the liner and separated the fabric if the foam >rubber could be rubbed off and the fabric reapplied with spray >adhesive.
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Response:
Mine has come loose 24 inches from the rear window. I’ve got 3 aluminum bars about an inch wide. I bent them to conform to the roof shape and slipped them into the side roof mouldings. The look like covertible top bows. Mines a 91 Bonneville, black that runs with the windows open alot. This is the first car I’ve owned that did this harryface
Response:
Sounds like what they did is what I was thinking of trying. Sounds like you got a good price on the work at your local shop. Thanks. Barry – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I took my Olds to a local body shop. The headliner was replaced for $80, & >I watched them do it. When I needed a new headliner for my Chevy, I took it >out myself & they did it for $45. It is a little fragile. Pull the visors, >coathooks, & all of the trim off one side, drop the console & mirror, & >using some help, lower one side of the headliner & ease it out one of the >doors. Be sure to take your visors for a good color match. The body shop >will throw it on a couple of sawhorses, rip off the cloth, attack it with >some wire brushes, then spray the glue on with a paint sprayer. Once it >dries, they put on the foam-backed cloth & trim it with razor blades. Takes >less than a half hour & has a lifetime guarantee. >HTH, Robert >I have a 1989 GMC Safari and the entire headliner is sagging. It’s a >good thing I have the upper center console as that’s what holds it up >off my head. I expect the fabric was originally glued to foam rubber >which is now dust. I doubt any get-rich-quick-fix would work. I did >wonder if I removed the liner and separated the fabric if the foam >rubber could be rubbed off and the fabric reapplied with spray >adhesive. >Posted Via Binaries.net = SPEED+RETENTION+COMPLETION = http://www.binaries.net
