DIY: Suede Headliner

[Simplyclean_]

Hey guys I'm back with a new project. I bought a new a4 and I'm going to end up redoing the headliner since its sagging here are pictures of the sagging headliner

I previously did my headliner from my old a4 here are pictures of the finished product

I'm doing this diy to help those of you who have a sagging headliner or just want a luxurious look to compliment the black interior 🏽
I will start on this thread once it cools down in Georgia because this humidity and heat is no joke haha.


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[7speed]

good luck

[g huns]

Tagged

[lyates1987]

Sueeeete!!! Good luck with the project. This is something I want to do very badly.

[blitz2190]

Hey guys I'm back with a new project. I bought a new a4 and I'm going to end up redoing the headliner since its sagging here are pictures of the sagging headliner

I'm doing this diy to help those of you who have a sagging headliner or just want a luxurious look to compliment the black interior ��
I will start on this thread once it cools down in Georgia because this humidity and heat is no joke haha.


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where did you get the material? I'm going to be doing this sooner rather than later as i pulled down my rear light and most of the liner came with it.

[elatt]

interested. cant wait to see the DIY

[g huns]

where did you get the material?

How about Amazon? They got everything else...

Black Suede Microsuede Fabric Upholstery Drapery Fabric

[blitz2190]

How about Amazon? They got everything else...

Black Suede Microsuede Fabric Upholstery Drapery Fabric

hmm, that royal blue almost matches my car ha. Any idea what the width of our headliner is? I'll be measuring anyways but just so I can look for material.

[Simplyclean_]

where did you get the material? I'm going to be doing this sooner rather than later as i pulled down my rear light and most of the liner came with it.

I get the material from joann fabrics it's really cheap I used 6 yards of velour black I get usually for $36 it's easy to work with and has the characteristics of suede


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[lyates1987]

That's the place my 67 year old female co worker suggested when I asked about suede fabric. Officially legit

[Simplyclean_]

That's the place my 67 year old female co worker suggested when I asked about suede fabric. Officially legit

Yeah man they have some good stuff, the have actual suede but it looks greenish and it's really stiff so it will make it harder to apply it. I really love the velour it's amazing stuff


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[Simplyclean_]

good luck

I'm sure I'll need it


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[Spike00513]

Yeah man they have some good stuff, the have actual suede but it looks greenish and it's really stiff so it will make it harder to apply it. I really love the velour it's amazing stuff


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Suede means nothing more than a type of leather with a napped finish. What to use, why, and how, goes beyond that.
Assuming the $13/yd OP's fabric is better, JoAnne's also has a $3-$7/yd one I recommend against. It's thin, not backed, and doesn't stretch. It doesn't come with UV rating or anything, which is important in a car to prevent fading, especially on the pillars where the sun hits. Glue bleeds through, especially silly-string 3M Aerosol adhesive sprays, which I recommend against.

Professionals use DAP Landau Top/Trim adhesive, which is strong. You can buy it from them. You spray it through a Harbor Freight paint-gun hooked up to an air compressor.

Ultrasuede is the trade name for a synthetic microfiber fabric invented in 1970 by Dr. Miyoshi Okamoto, a scientist working for Toray Industries. In Japan it is sold under the brand name Ecsaine. It's an ultra-microfiber. It is often described as an artificial substitute for suede leather. The fabric is multifunctional: it is used in fashion, interior decorating, automotive and other vehicle upholstery, and industrial applications, such as protective fabric for electronic equipment.

Alcantara is a tradename given to a composite material used to cover surfaces and forms in a variety of applications. It can be described as an artificial substitute for suede leather. The material was developed in the early 1970s by Miyoshi Okamoto, a scientist working for the Japanese chemical company Toray Industries, and was based on the same technology of their other product Ultrasuede, produced around the same time. Around 1972, a joint venture between Italian chemical company ENI and Toray formed Alcantara SpA in order to manufacture and distribute the material. The company is now owned by Toray and Mitsui.
The appearance and tactile feel of the material is similar to that of suede, and it may be incorrectly identified as such.
Some versions are designated as flame retardant in order to meet certain fire standards for both furnishings and automobile applications.

Whether a Lamborghini steering wheel, Ferrari seat, or BMW M5 headliner, it's probably Alcantara.
GulfFabrics is an authorized distributor of both. They are probably expensive. At $60/yd, people choose cheaper alternatives.

"Suede" can vary. Some is made with a UV-protectant. Some has a higher double-rub rating, which is irrelevant here unless you make your seat from it.
Auto-grade is supposedly 1/8" foam-backed as standard, and somewhat stretchy. The foam helps adhere. The factory fabric probably had foam too, which I assume is the orange fuzz left behind on the headliner board when you remove it.

In the US, some have chosen yourautotrimstore, since it's $8-$20/yd, wide, and looks/feels good. 65vetteC6 did his headliner board and runroof in it (B6S4). I'll be doing that, and pillars. I bet if you take the same color, next to a genuine Audi S6 headliner, it may look different in texture. But to me it doesn't matter. Anything is better than 100k mi sagging.
I imagine a quality window tint film to reject heat, extends headliner life, but I hope DAP glue is strong enough anyway.

The pillars are adhered differently, and stronger. You rip off the fabric, singe the "yeti hair" with a torch, and dremel it off.


Matt Easom (UK) gave me a ton of advice on his re-trim, found on his blog: Clicky
"Alcantara" headliner, dash, center console, and shift knob.

[lyates1987]

OP, did you ever get around to doing this?

[andrew96]

I just bought the Velour today. Looks great and so soft! Gonna start the project tomorrow I hope! What adhesive spray should I use?

[lyates1987]

I just bought the Velour today. Looks great and so soft! Gonna start the project tomorrow I hope! What adhesive spray should I use?

I've heard the 3M headliner adhesive is good. I think you can get it at autozone, o'reilly's etc. crazy timing on my post

[ZERO FRAME GRAB]

Waiting on the D.I.Y ripped out my avant headliner while drinking of course. Wrapped everything with suede. Nowwwww I have 2 bags of screws and don't know which is what. I'm a idiot

[fR3ZNO]

Waiting on the D.I.Y ripped out my avant headliner while drinking of course. Wrapped everything with suede. Nowwwww I have 2 bags of screws and don't know which is what. I'm a idiot

[lyates1987]

Waiting on the D.I.Y ripped out my avant headliner while drinking of course. Wrapped everything with suede. Nowwwww I have 2 bags of screws and don't know which is what. I'm a idiot

I stopped having extra screw bags after I quit drinkin lol

[andrew96]

3M headliner adhesive is great! I did my headliner today

[andrew96]

Oops, meant for only one reply... I used the 3M adhesive and it was great. The Velour is awesome too. Feels like suede but it actually stretches, it's also cheap. I spent about 35$ for 7 yards and $20 for the adhesive. Just be patient, I spent 2 days and probably 12 hours total. Great mod! Love the looks and feel!

[lyates1987]

Oops, meant for only one reply... I used the 3M adhesive and it was great. The Velour is awesome too. Feels like suede but it actually stretches, it's also cheap. I spent about 35$ for 7 yards and $20 for the adhesive. Just be patient, I spent 2 days and probably 12 hours total. Great mod! Love the looks and feel!

Pics of final product? Also, did you put over the existing fabric or did you rip out the existing headliner fabric?

[andrew96]

Pics of final product? Also, did you put over the existing fabric or did you rip out the existing headliner fabric?

I ripped out the existing headliner. The headliner is covered in a sticky orange glue. You could probably use a sander but I'm on a college student budget and don't have access to many tools so I used a course sponge. I should also say I spent 35$ on the velour but it was on sale...

[lyates1987]

I ripped out the existing headliner. The headliner is covered in a sticky orange glue. You could probably use a sander but I'm on a college student budget and don't have access to many tools so I used a course sponge. I should also say I spent 35$ on the velour but it was on sale...

That's not a bad deal. That orange crap is my main concern. That shit sticks to everything!!!

[fR3ZNO]

Bump... I wish there was a DIY for headliner removal on the B6 that has working pics...