Headliner Replacement step-by-step
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: sydney
My Headlining
Great thread.
I got mine out in 35 minutes. I am reasonably competent with tools etc...
Some things I think are helpful to know. The headlining backing board is a fiberglass sandwich . A very thin layer of fiberglass on each side of foam rubber.
Getting the head liner over the lip of steel at the rear of the vehicle requires a lot of bending down in the middle to get the room to lift it over.
The nuts that hold on the plastic things in the centre of the panel may not just spin off. Mine needed gentle upwards pressure with a screw driver under the metal plate while undoing the nuts.
Those fir tree plugs are very very long and take a powerful lot of pressure to get out.
The side covers around the Alpine windows are vinyl covered so will tear if you are rough with the screw driver levering out the fir tree plugs.
Some say use a wire brush to remove the old rubber from the lining...I used a stiff scrubbing brush..I think a wire brush might be a bit harsh. The surface remained sticky even when very clean.
Oh and it dosn't fit straight out the back door. Whoever said fold down the rear seats so you can put it on an angle was right.
I got my headlining from Daley's in Villawood for Sydney dwellers. 3 m at 63in wide was $80 and two cans of ADH No 76 spray glue cost me $60 .
I got mine out in 35 minutes. I am reasonably competent with tools etc...
Some things I think are helpful to know. The headlining backing board is a fiberglass sandwich . A very thin layer of fiberglass on each side of foam rubber.
Getting the head liner over the lip of steel at the rear of the vehicle requires a lot of bending down in the middle to get the room to lift it over.
The nuts that hold on the plastic things in the centre of the panel may not just spin off. Mine needed gentle upwards pressure with a screw driver under the metal plate while undoing the nuts.
Those fir tree plugs are very very long and take a powerful lot of pressure to get out.
The side covers around the Alpine windows are vinyl covered so will tear if you are rough with the screw driver levering out the fir tree plugs.
Some say use a wire brush to remove the old rubber from the lining...I used a stiff scrubbing brush..I think a wire brush might be a bit harsh. The surface remained sticky even when very clean.
Oh and it dosn't fit straight out the back door. Whoever said fold down the rear seats so you can put it on an angle was right.
I got my headlining from Daley's in Villawood for Sydney dwellers. 3 m at 63in wide was $80 and two cans of ADH No 76 spray glue cost me $60 .
Last edited by Gina Wilson; Jan 30, 2013 at 09:31 PM.
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: sydney
Ok more things to think about. The foam rubber in the fiberglass sandwich will dissolve if the glue gets on it .
35 mins to remove and eight hours later I am still trying to get it back in.
My opinion. It is incredibly hard to put down the head lining material without wrinkles and bubbles.....once you get it out see if you can get a professional to cover it for you.
Getting the damn thing back in is a really hard job. I started at the rear by fastening the two push studs in ...then the middle two push studs then around the edges to get the plastic securing gadgets engaged. The front overhead light and map holder is very very hard to align the screws. Even using a podger to find the holes it is incredibly difficult.
Given how hard it is to get back in I am very disappointed with the finish I have putting the lining on myself.
I will get back to it tomorrow morning ... absolutely exhausted.
35 mins to remove and eight hours later I am still trying to get it back in.
My opinion. It is incredibly hard to put down the head lining material without wrinkles and bubbles.....once you get it out see if you can get a professional to cover it for you.
Getting the damn thing back in is a really hard job. I started at the rear by fastening the two push studs in ...then the middle two push studs then around the edges to get the plastic securing gadgets engaged. The front overhead light and map holder is very very hard to align the screws. Even using a podger to find the holes it is incredibly difficult.
Given how hard it is to get back in I am very disappointed with the finish I have putting the lining on myself.
I will get back to it tomorrow morning ... absolutely exhausted.
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: sydney
Finally got it all back together .
The alpine windows surround is much easier to fit if you loosen of the back pillar cover. remove the speaker and it will come out enough so you can line up the two yellow fir tree plugs
Make sure you get the middle light the right way around or the lead wont reach to the socket on the light.
I used a steel scribe to find the holes and line them up before putting screws into them.
The plastic covered a lot of the wrinkles but the two dips for the sunrooves really need to be very well for it to look good...mine aren't
I think the suggestion to use ordinary thick stretchy material or felt of some kind might be a good one. The headlining crowd showed me some but I was too timid. On reflection I would have got a better finish and without the foam backing it would have lasted longer.
Michael The suppliers of the headlining recommended 3m 76 which I used...I think you could experiment with an off cut to see if other sprays are OK. The 3M stuff smells like quick-grip.
The alpine windows surround is much easier to fit if you loosen of the back pillar cover. remove the speaker and it will come out enough so you can line up the two yellow fir tree plugs
Make sure you get the middle light the right way around or the lead wont reach to the socket on the light.
I used a steel scribe to find the holes and line them up before putting screws into them.
The plastic covered a lot of the wrinkles but the two dips for the sunrooves really need to be very well for it to look good...mine aren't
I think the suggestion to use ordinary thick stretchy material or felt of some kind might be a good one. The headlining crowd showed me some but I was too timid. On reflection I would have got a better finish and without the foam backing it would have lasted longer.
Michael The suppliers of the headlining recommended 3m 76 which I used...I think you could experiment with an off cut to see if other sprays are OK. The 3M stuff smells like quick-grip.
Last edited by Gina Wilson; Jan 31, 2013 at 10:36 PM.
Rock Crawling
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 317
Likes: 1
From: Monroe, NY
If you're going to do this, go to Harbor Freight and get trim removal tools.
5 Piece Auto Trim and Molding Tool Set
5 Piece Upholstery and Trim Tool Set
I got the better set, bu I do quite a bit of repair/restoration work.
These tools also help prevent you from breaking the retaining hardware. Since the LR stuff isn't stocked at you local auto parts place, that could be worth it all by itself.
5 Piece Auto Trim and Molding Tool Set
5 Piece Upholstery and Trim Tool Set
I got the better set, bu I do quite a bit of repair/restoration work.
These tools also help prevent you from breaking the retaining hardware. Since the LR stuff isn't stocked at you local auto parts place, that could be worth it all by itself.
