[rec.autos.tech] What kind of glue for headliner?

3M spray adhesive should work. Part # 08088

It will work, but not for long, because it doesn't solve the problem.

You have to actually pull that cardboard piece down, scrape off all the headliner and the deteriorating foam underneath, then use the aforementioned

3M spray adhesive to put new foam headliner (available from a fabric store) on it.

If you spray the old deteriorating headliner back up, the foam backing will continue to deteriorate and it'll continue to get worse.

--scott

This.

nate

Yep. The foam backer is shot. Pull the backer scrape it, glue on new. It is possible to do it in the car but not real easy.

Or pull the old off, scrape it clean and use a roller and dye/paint to color the backer.

That's what I did, and it was a PITA. Foam all over the place. Bring your shop vac. I used blue latex house paint and a brush. Blue interior. The car wasn't long for the world anyway. I think I priced getting a new headliner professionally done, and it was less than $200, so if the car has some legs that's how I'd go.

My neighbor's car's headliner is hanging down in long strips, some touching the back seat and the headrests! Following him down the street it looks like he's growing SEA WEED inside there, lmao!

Been that way for at least 5 years, and knowing this neighbor, I think it will stay that way. He drives a limo for a living and likely makes grocery stops with that, so his personal ride- the seaweed garden, stays parked 90% of the time. :D

Oh what fun this'll be. Just the kind of thing I really don't like working on.

I would probably destroy it removing it though.

I like the idea of painting the backer then there's no liner to come off. This is what you mean right?

Yep. Recline the seats back. Toss an old sheet in there and start stripping the old fabric off. To remove the old foam I use a cheap wire brush. One of the ones that has the wide spaced bristles. Doesn't plug as easy and you can get them for a buck! Once you have the foam off a cheap foam roller and some cheap thin latex paint. You want it to soak into the backer not lay on top.

Maybe I won't even paint it, just strip it. I hate doing tasks like this, can you tell.

Why do carmakers even bother with this garbage.

Easy & cheap way to cover the roof structure. Plus it acts as a sound deadener and insulation.

Get creative with it. Paint it with stripes or stars. I know one person who went a bit overboard and had a blue sky painted on the backer. Looked nice and he said it actually helped him stay in a better mood.

I know the purpose and goals but the choice of materials is the part that I don't like.

Maybe I'll paint one of those designs that looks 3d. Make it look like a control panel with lots of dials/switches. Or maybe

It's not the car I drive so my motivation is fairly low.

The painting is the easy part.