My fallen headliner

vwdsmguy · Sep 8, 2017

My headliner is connected on the sides, front and back but it hangs loose down 3 to 5" and blows with the wind. What is the easiest way to reattach it to the ceiling above? Can it be done without removing it?
I did a search with no luck, but I am probably not the only one with this issue.

Sky King · Sep 8, 2017

Take it to an upholstery shop and have it redone.

Genesis · Sep 8, 2017

There isn't a good way to fix it without removing it from the car and having it redone (or re-doing it yourself.)

vwdsmguy · Sep 8, 2017

headliner

I had thought of taking a piece of clear plastic about 3' by 4' and screwing it thru the fabric into the roof. Would this work? Somebody also suggested heating the liner to soften the glue above it, assuming the glue dried out. I'm looking for good-cheap ideas here.

Sky King · Sep 8, 2017

The fabric is coming apart from the foam backing. There is no good way to fix it. It was not expensive to have the headliner redone.

Rrusse11 · Sep 8, 2017

The REALLY cheap fix is to get a box of pins, and they make plastic headed upholstery pins that have a spiral screw pin. Dig around Ebay or Amazon, you can get a 100 for about $10. Create a nice regular pattern every 3-4" and it'll look fine. {) Custom buttoned!

Once pinned up, it won't flap in the breeze. Mine was so bad when I got my car that it was interfering with the rear view mirror line of sight. My first safety inspection my trusted mechanic noticed it. He said "I would have failed you if it was blocking vision." A year later I don't even notice the fix, mind you, I don't look up. Don't point it out, and it's unlikely passengers will either.

The contact glue just lets go over time, it's not a good bond in the long run. The solvents eventually leach out of the crap. Quick and dirty IMO, used to hate finding it when I was restoring antiques.

Now if you could turn the car over and work downhand, I'd consider
a real fix, lol.

mrseadog · Sep 9, 2017

I bit the bullet and had the headliner redone. Check Craigslist in your area and you will find an advertisement for those services. Should run about $200 depending where you live. Only a phone call away to see if it is worth your while to get it done...or pin it a the poster above suggests.

TDI_Michael · Sep 9, 2017

Its not that bad of a job to do yourself especially if you don't have a sunroof.

rocketeer928 · Sep 9, 2017

I've been contemplating what to do about mine too.

taaffenelson · Sep 9, 2017

Unconventional fix that worked without expense

Hate to write this but I stapled my 2001 Golf TDI (304500 mi.) headliner back up three years ago and haven't given it a thought since. This is a daily work ride for me only so aesthetics were not a concern. Just make sure you use soft staples and don't slam the arm upward denting the roof.

ghohouston · Sep 9, 2017

I stapled mine all the way around the perimeter while holding pressure/keeping it pulled tight. It has held up very well suprisingly.

vwdsmguy · Sep 9, 2017

Headliner

It would nice to know just what the structure is like above the headliner. I don't want to screw, staple etc. making a hole in the roof. I can't tell by feeling from the bottom. Anyone know?

Rrusse11 · Sep 9, 2017

vwdsmguy said:
It would nice to know just what the structure is like above the headliner. I don't want to screw, staple etc. making a hole in the roof. I can't tell by feeling from the bottom. Anyone know?

It's a hard foam moulded to give the interior contours. Using straight sewing pins I just angled them. It's highly unlikely you'll put a hole
in the steel roof. Guessing here 3/8" staples will be just fine in something like an Arrow T50 hand powered staple gun.

ghohouston · Sep 9, 2017

I used a regular office stapler, not one of the larger ones for trim and whatnot.

vwdsmguy · Sep 10, 2017

headliner

Whats above the fabric took 1/4" staples just fine. Trouble is there are some drooping areas between staples, but at least it's up there. I wish I'd taken more time to do a better job.

Shenandoah · Sep 10, 2017

Those spiral pins with the clear plastic heads that Rrusse11 mentioned work great. It's what I used on the last one with a sagging headliner.

I've done four headliners on VWs (removed the board, wire brushed the old foam/adhesive off, and put new fabric on). It's more of a pain to take the trim off to get the headliner board out than doing the job.

Genesis · Sep 10, 2017

Yep -- I did my car (before giving it to my kid) the same way -- pulled it, removed the old, and applied new with headliner contact adhesive (it's a spray.) It's not hard really; taking it out (and removing the stuff you have to take off to get it out) is a bigger pain in the neck than anything else.

TornadoRed · Sep 10, 2017

Shenandoah said:
Those spiral pins with the clear plastic heads that Rrusse11 mentioned work great. It's what I used on the last one with a sagging headliner.

That's what I used. I bought 100 upholstery pins for about $10 from Amazon, then installed them about 5" apart in rows that were about 5" apart. It looks okay. At the back, right above the hatch, I had to use an adhesive spray.

flashmayo · Sep 20, 2017

I tried reupholstering my door cards and decided I wasn't meant for that kind of work. My headliner is sagging now as well, so I'll likely do the R n R on the headliner and take it to the same place that did my doors cards.
Using staples or even those trailer pins with the clear plastic heads is temporary and will put a bunch of holes in the backing. Best to put in the effort and do a better job.

hskrdu · Sep 21, 2017

Genesis said:
applied new with headliner contact adhesive (it's a spray.)

Gen- do you remember what product you used? 3M has three different types, and competes with at least 10 others- none of which seem to have positive reports in the DIY's at the Vortex.

Celco · Sep 21, 2017

I've done a few head liners because of the sag in the past. Wagons/hatches/no sunroof are easier. Take headliner shell out, remove old material, super 77/super 90 spray adhesive, lay new material down in stages, reinstall. <$40 job with JoAnn coupons.

I've used the foam backed headliner stuff from Joann's, but I'd like to source a better headliner material. Recently noticed rubbing head on the area right at drivers door is kind of pilling. I tried with black suede, but I ruined that fabric with too much wet glue (do light coat both sides and wait few mins to tack), and because it had no stretch to hit compound curves.

I'm sure you could use what even fabric you wanted, i would advise something with a bit of plush thickness, and a bit of stretch so you can round corners.

Genesis · Sep 21, 2017

hskrdu said:
Gen- do you remember what product you used? 3M has three different types, and competes with at least 10 others- none of which seem to have positive reports in the DIY's at the Vortex.

I MAY have part of a can left... will look when I get home (on the road right now.)

It's held up well for ~3 years so far, so that would be positive in my book. No problems, no sags.

Genesis · Sep 21, 2017

hskrdu said:
Gen- do you remember what product you used? 3M has three different types, and competes with at least 10 others- none of which seem to have positive reports in the DIY's at the Vortex.

I MAY have part of a can left... will look when I get home (on the road right now.)

It's held up well for ~3 years so far, so that would be positive in my book. No problems, no sags.

Hint on application: Do it from one end to the other, not all at once. Spray a small section, adhere the headliner, do the next section (starting from one end), and so on. Make sure you have appropriately oversized the headliner you're applying. The sunroof opening is tricky to get right; I got it 99% and it's ok, but I came close to blowing it.

hskrdu · Sep 22, 2017

Genesis said:
I MAY have part of a can left... will look when I get home (on the road right now.)

It's held up well for ~3 years so far, so that would be positive in my book. No problems, no sags.

Thanks!

My fallen headliner

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