Adhesive for headliner reattachment?

[larry_g]

I have a 93 chevy pickup that I use around the farm. The headliner cloth is seperating from the foam backer and sagging down. What is a good spray adhesive to use to reattach the fabric to the backer foam? The wife bought some Elmers spray and it specifically says in the small print 'not for headliners'. Roll on adhesive may also work.

Thank you in advance.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[The Cobbler]

I used silicone in my 96 Chevy van . scraped off the foam with probably a scotchbrite pad and smeared silicone around. it held up for several years before the van was scrapped

 

[nadogail]

It has been years since I had to deal with a Headliner; I was able to get some 3M adhesive from a Paint & Body Shop supplier.

 

[Speed-Racer]

The headliners I have comes already attached with the foam, so, it’s not glueable. Either get new headinder at an interior shop to replace or remove. Sorry, but trying to glue is a waste of time as I found out.

 

[BillK]

3M makes a spray adhesive just for this purpose. Dont plan on reusing the old material, it wont work. After doing two of them myself I would take the headliner out and take it to an upholstery shop and let them redo it

Check with LMC truck parts. They might have a complete headliner for a lot less money than you would think.

 

[InjectorService]

3m Spray Adhesive

 

[dogdog]

There are many brands, the one you want specific for headliner are the HHR,( high heat resist) type spray glue and make sure you flash them properly according to instruction.

*DAP Weldwood hhr contact adhesive is what pro uses with spray gun,I think they have a spray can version. loctite also have a version 3m is the 90 version

 

[whateg01]

I've always used 3m. The stuff comes out like lace. The stuff that just looks like runny contact cement never had worked well. Add others have said, new fabric.

 

[mcj115]

Specifically I use 3m super 77 spray adheasive

 

[HannibalLecter]

Thats a tricky. I have used spray adhesive, wasn't optimal. The best I believe is technicol 9145. I've used permatex, not impressed. But I didn't use a foam backed cloth, which made things considerably more difficult

 

[Qualitytools]

DAP Weldwood Contact Adhesive, check this out:

hope this helps you out!

 

[Bert_]

The foam is turning to dust. Spraying glue up there won't really fix it. It has to come out. For a farm truck I'd either get some upholstery tacks or just leave the headliner out

 

[mikedodge]

The foam is turning to dust. Spraying glue up there won't really fix it. It has to come out. For a farm truck I'd either get some upholstery tacks or just leave the headliner out

Yep. Once the foam goes gluing won't work. Either buy new fabric to replace it with or be creative pinning it back up.

 

[bonneyman]

There's this cobbler on YouTube who does shoe and all manner of leather goods repair. He uses Master All-Purpose adhesive. I know most of his usage is leather to leather, but he does suede, rubber, Vibram, nylon fabric, and plastic with it too. FWIW

Adhesive - Petronio’s - Master - All Purpose Cement

Petronio’s Master All Purpose Cement has been used by the shoe repair industry since the 1950’s. It is a quick drying cement popular for its fast set up and strong waterproof bond. Size: 4oz, Quart Made in USA *Make sure to use in a well ventilated area. DIRECTIONS:1. Clean your materials before...

www.mzztrzz.com

 

[ctandc72]

Depends on how the original headliner is made. Some are hard plastic / cardboard boards covered with a foam backed fabric for the headliner. Usually what happens is the foam detaches from the fabric in spot. So the foam is still technically attached to the board, just not the fabric.

If it's a farm truck and you're just tired of the fabric drooping on your while in the truck, take the whole thing out. If you want some form of headliner in there, take it out, pull the fabric off, clean the old foam off the board and get some foam back material (hobby shops usually carry it and you can get it on Amazon too) and order some 3M spray adhesive. The cheap stuff won't work...it'll just droop again. Buddy of mine was tired of the headliner drooping in his old roll back, so he pulled the old one out one day (in pieces - he got mad at it dropping into his face).

 

[Wrench97]

The problem with these GM headliners is the foam has deteriorated it's stilled glued to both the fabric and the hardboard backer but it's turning to dust no amount of glue can stop it from continuing to break down.
The hard board can probably be saved pull it out clean all the old foam off with a scotch brite pad and glue your choice of fabric to it with a can of 3m spray adhesive.

 

[kabinenroller]

DAP Weldwood Contact Adhesive, check this out:

hope this helps you out!

The Weld Wood contact adhesive is by far the best available, my automotive upholstery guy uses it exclusively for all his interiors. His work has been showcased in numerous award wining vehicles so he knows his stuff. One of his latest was on the show field at Pebble Beach last month.

 

[Qualitytools]

The Weld Wood contact adhesive is by far the best available, my automotive upholstery guy uses it exclusively for all his interiors. His work has been showcased in numerous award wining vehicles so he knows his stuff. One of his latest was on the show field at Pebble Beach last month.

I tried to back up my suggestion with a couple of videos from some well known upholsterers

 

[K13]

No upholster would use rattle can spray adhesive. They are very prone to letting go when they get hot so not a great choice for a headliner.

 

[Meursault74]

repeating what other have said, can't really reglue what you have and have it last. Don't ask how I know

I've redone headliners a couple of times on different cars. It's been so long I don't remember what glue I used, but it was from a rattle can. I know I had to remove the headliner backer from the car and sand off all the foam/dust stuck to the backing. I went to the local fabric store and bought a piece close enough in color to what I needed. That fabric store is no longer in business. Maybe it'll have to be online next time.

 

[mikedodge]

The problem with these GM headliners is the foam has deteriorated it's stilled glued to both the fabric and the hardboard backer but it's turning to dust no amount of glue can stop it from continuing to break down.
The hard board can probably be saved pull it out clean all the old foam off with a scotch brite pad and glue your choice of fabric to it with a can of 3m spray adhesive.

This is it..it's not just GM but all headliners of the era. You can glue all you want but it's deteriorated foam causing it, not glue giving way, so it's not going to work until you get the foam put of there and put in new material.

 

[428PI]

No upholster would use rattle can spray adhesive. They are very prone to letting go when they get hot so not a great choice for a headliner.

I had no problem using the 3m spray and it held in hot summers. It went through 2 hot summers than sold vehicle.

 

[larry_g]

Gentle men I thank you for your guidance. I'm believing that the foam deteriorating is the problem and adhesive will probably fail as the foam continues to degrade. I will pursue another avenue probably just removing it.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Bert_]

I pulled the headliner out of my '93 Chevy pickup. The roof is smooth and painted, looks fine. Mine is a Cheyenne so not much plastic trim around the headliner anyway

 

[mikedodge]

Gentle men I thank you for your guidance. I'm believing that the foam deteriorating is the problem and adhesive will probably fail as the foam continues to degrade. I will pursue another avenue probably just removing it.

lg
no neat sig line

Truck headliners are usually pretty easy to deal with. It shouldn't cost much to buy the material from a local place and try re covering it on your own if you felt like trying to do that in general.

 

[dnschmidt]

For interior work I take it to the pros. Here in Phoenix that's Manny. You can **** headliners up faster than a speeding bullet. As Clint once stated: "A man's got to know his limitations."

 

[bwringer]

There are high heat potions in rattle cans from 3M, Permatex, etc. specifically for headliners.

3M 77 and similar "regular" spray adhesives won't hold up.

In any case, as noted above you can't re-glue failed headliner fabric anyway. Depends on the vehicle, but usually the best course is to take the whole headliner board out of the car, clean it thoroughly, and glue on new material.

In some vehicles, removing the headliner is such an incredible asspain that it's easier to just get one of those kits full of tiny screws and buttons and do the best you can to secure it out of the way.

 

[rust in the eye]

For an amateur upholsterer such as myself contact adhesive is difficult and unforgiving to work with. It's called contact adhesive for good reason. I'm comfortable using it on small projects but a headliner? Hell no.
The rattle can 3M 77 is more forgiving allowing some repositioning when I make the inevitable mistakes in placement. I've successfully used it several times and not had any problems with it not adhering over time.
NOTHING will stick until all the old deteriorated foam is removed. Be forewarned that this is a messy business and that foam is now goo that balls up and clings to everything.

 

[mjdarg]

I've used the 3M headliner adhesive with good results on a BMW E46 headliner. Follow the directions especially allowing it to sit on the material before sticking it to the headliner. I picked up 2 cans at my local Walmart and used a little over a can for the headliner.

 

[jacked_72]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092NJH6XL/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This is the stuff. Last time I bought it, I had to buy a gallon. Nice that it is in a spray can now since it is near impossible to clean unless you have MEK or toluene or whatever solvent it requires. It will outlast the foam in the headliner material. I'm sure you know that it is the foam that degrades and causes the sag. I've used it on a 92 2500 and 96 S10 with new headliner material. Haven't tried to patch what is falling down.

 

[ChevyEFI]

The 80s headliners are easy once out. Steel brush wheel in a drill to clean off the foam, new material, follow the instructions for the (right) adhesive and get it done.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Metal thumb tacks, properly arranged, look rather dapper.

 

[428PI]

The 80s headliners are easy once ou

The one on my 83 Ranger diesel only lasted 3 to 5 years. Replaced material with vinyl but didn't like look so bought new headliner. Lasted until I sold it 20 years later.

 

[mervyn]

Rip it out. Problem solved.

 

[Bubba Fett]

You could pull it out and line it with Velcro. This just stick stuff to it.

 

[Buck_nekid]

I've done hundreds of headliners. In the upholstery world this is the industry standard

 

[Doug]

I use this and it works great, even in the heat of the South: