YACT: Reattaching the ceiling liner

[Kyteland]

The cloth ceiling liner has come unglued in my car. It started with a small leak in the passenger door that got the ceiling wet, ungluing that corner. It was mostly fine, just a small bubble under the cloth, until I drove down the interstate with the windows down. The wind flapping that bubble made it expand all the way across the roof. So now I have a liner hanging down when I drive that touches my head and partially blocks the rearview mirror.

The suggestions I've had so far about reattaching it are these:
1) Just cut it off and expose the ceiling. I don't really like this option.
2) Use liquid nails to reattach it at various points. This will get it off my head, but the glue spots will be visible through the cloth.
3) Cut along two sides and get some 3M glue from a car store and reglue it on. The cuts will be visible if you look closely, but there won't be glue spots.

The car is an '89 Buick Park Avenue, and while it is an older car it is not a $100 car that I don't need to worry about. I plan on driving it for a number of years still.

Any other reattachment suggestions from you car folks around here?

 

[amdskip]

1) Just cut it off and expose the ceiling. I don't really like this option.

We did this to our 79' monte carlo when we had it.

 

[RayH]

Get spray adhesive with a straw attachment for the nozzle. Cut a small slit in the fabric, insert straw, spray away and push liner back up.

 

[Kyteland]

That could potentially work. Any other suggestions?

 

[Mr N8]

Another option is to make some aluminum strips and run 2-3 of them across the ceiling. Insert the ends into the molding, and it should hold the cloth up pretty well.

I had a similar problem when I had an '84 Buick Skyhawk. I sold it and let that guy worry about it.

 

[teckmaster]

its a couple hour project but the way it should be done is to take the trim pieces off of the front, back, and one side. apply adhesive and stretch the fabric back into place. Cut off the excess and put the trim pieces back on.

 

[Banana]

Reminds me of my 84 VW GTi (ahhhh--the good ol' days . . . )

Anyway, I used pushpins in a diamond pattern. Eventually, the ceiling looked like ugly furniture

 

[Quixfire]

You can use upholstery tacks, corkscrew style, to hold the headliner up. You can even paint them to match the color of your fabric.

I did this on my Dad's Corsica.

 

[DrPizza]

ditto the spray adhesive available in hardware stores. About 5 bucks. I wouldn't use a straw attachment though - If there's a location along the edge where you could insert the top, go for it. Otherwise, cut a slit small enough to stick the sprayer through. Then, spray all over the place above the fabric... it's a fairly fine mist. If you use a straw, it won't be much different than seeing the lines from liquid nails.
With a razor, you should be able to cut a clean enough slit that it'll be unnoticeable. You may have to put in a 2nd or 3rd slit to touch up a few areas that didn't get enough adhesive.

 

[Thegonagle]

Spray adhesive won't work. There is (was) a layer of foam between the fabric and the backing. That layer of foam has disintegrated over time, and what's left of it will not take adhesives. Mechanical fasteners, such as tacks or aluminum strips are your only option unless you buy a new headliner. (Maybe 1 inch wood veneer strips would also work. Hint: Soak the ends in water before you bend them.)

 

[Kyteland]

Hmmmm, any other suggestions?

 

[StageLeft]

I have the same problem. I've left it in the sentra, but the best idea I've heard was from my father in law who said to take a needle (mrsskoorb got one from the hospital), fill the reservoir with glue (not sure what type would be ideal - probably superglue; not because it sticks well, but it's very good with flowing and you could likely fill a needle with it), and poke it through various spots in the ceiling. This will let you stick whereever you want, with minimal work, and almost no noticeable holes or anything.

 

[calpha]

Interested too as my truck's liner is raining on top of me. I bought the cheap Shyte @ Autozone and it works for like a day. I had the same prob. with the liner above being foam and not very good at holding a seal. Guy at autozone said that Carquest had some specialty spray adhesive designed esp. for headliners in cars, but I've never checked it out. Thinking about just getting my interiror redone b/c the headliner and the door panels and seats are all pretty ragged.

But the headliner is the only thing that annoys the ever living crap out of me.

 

[Kyteland]

Yeah, it really bothers me too. Iit lays on my head when I'm driving and that gets old after a while.

Skoorb, the needle/superglue thing is basically liquid nails. All of the glue spots would show through the fabric. Maybe if I do it in a nice pattern it will look ok.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Quixfire
You can use upholstery tacks, corkscrew style, to hold the headliner up. You can even paint them to match the color of your fabric.

I did this on my Dad's Corsica.

Yes....also known as "curly pins". they never fail.

 

[NokiaDude]

I know how it looks. My friend's custom ford bronco has a ceiling that looks like one bid "pillow".