Suede headliner

[mefloump]

So I am starting to put some info together on replacing the headliner on my SLE. I have read the write up and feel this is an easy repair. My questions are; Has anyone done it in suede? Is it harder? Opinions?

I have already ordered some color samples to see if the colors match close enough to go with suede over cloth.

Charcoal http://www.yourautotrim.com/suhec.html
Beige http://www.yourautotrim.com/suheb.html

[redzmonte]

should be just like any other material, just more $$. we have them on the new Lexus at work. stuff is sweet (alcantara)

S

[1oldman]

The inserts of the wife's CTS are "suede". The "suede" is a fabric. I actually like it. I didn't think I would at first, but have changed my mind. - BC

[mefloump]

should be just like any other material, just more $$. we have them on the new Lexus at work. stuff is sweet (alcantara)

S

Believe it or not, but the cost is the same. $14.95 a yard plus adhesive. A kit runs $50. My car is a non sunroof car. I'm just not sure how the sun visors will look and I don't know how to recover those.

[nos4blood70]

Do it! Should be amazing. Although I feel ya on the visors. I think you'll get used to it as long as you get the color the same.

[mefloump]

I think I will order extra material and have a local shop redo the visors.

[2003 SSEi]

yes, and good Trim shop will be able to do the Visors

[redzmonte]

x3 the the visor will need to be stiched. i would think a shop would do it for 50-100 for the pair.

[yourgrandma]

I did a few headliners back in highscool for mine and some friends cars. They were too cheap to do the visors but I tried having someone sew up covers with my fabric. Turned out okay but I'd rather spend the money and get them done right if I were to do it now.

[1oldman]

x3 the the visor will need to be stiched. i would think a shop would do it for 50-100 for the pair.

When I had a new headliner put in the ole '92 (7 years ago), sun visors were $100/pair with the head liner, $100 each without the head liner. - BC

[Oldman]

Visors on my '01 are pretty simple. No stitching required. The material is applied with adhesive just like the headliner, but material is pulled over the headliner and tucked in around the edge. With a screwdriver or putty knife, you can slide it in the groove and get the old fabric out. The body of the visor is plastic and it basically wraps around the bar that it swivels on and snaps together along the edge. The fabric is stretched around the side where the bar is and across the visor and tucked in at the other edge.
Pretty basic. When I have re-covered visors, I simply scrape the padding off of the headliner material and install just the fabric over the existing material (if it's not in bad shape) and tuck it in nice and tight and they have turned out great. I'm not sure of your model, but mine have no stitching. Not even on the originals.

[mefloump]

What you describe sounds the same. I might have to look at them harder to determine if I want to tackle recovering them myself. The suede should be here this weekend. Pictures will follow when I'm done. I chose the charcoal suede as it matches the dark gray color of the steering wheel and trim around the dash.

[mefloump]

So over the weekend I got the headliner removed, prepped, and recovered. Not exactly the easiest thing I've ever done and from the pictures in the write up, much harder to do on a non sunroof car. I have the overhead console that made forming all the contours difficult. Once the adhesive really takes hold, you have no chance of smoothing out all of the wrinkles. I'd say I did alright for my first go around but it is definitely not a show winner. I'll try to get some pictures later today to show you all.

[redzmonte]

Nice! i dig it.

[mefloump]

Nice! i dig it.

Thanks! I'll try and get some more shots and I think it will look better when the visors get done. The contrast of the charcoal and tan is surprisingly pleasant.