Leather shrinkage problem where it meets the windscreen

[m4rk]

Hi,

I took my car to a hotter climate, permanently, and it seems it really prefers good old England. The leather in one corner at the top of dash, where it meets the windscreen, has started to pull away revealing the fibre glass beneath. I've tried re gluing it and softening the leather with leather cream but the problem came back after the first bit of serious heat. The tension is enogh to drag the air vent out too.

I'm not sure what to try next. Keep feeding it and hope it softens up eventually. It looks to be in good condition otherwise, no cracks, splits and not faded.

According to my mates at TVR its a windscreen out job and a new piece to fix it!!! I don't fancy that.

Any easier suggestions?

[aerospoke]

Hi
I still have the same problem even after a wellknown indy near LONDON tried to repair it. They put in a new windscreen but only reglued the leather. It didn´t look like new in the first place and 4 weeks later it was the same as before the repair. So if you do it, do it right.
You can get preshrunk leather nowadays i was told by somebody who knows.

Cheers Jens

[Monkey Boy]

I've got the same problem on the drivers side. I'm interested what's being used to soften the leather and how many applications are required to take effect, also any preference on what adhesive? This has been one little job thats gone undone too long that I've avoided but really annoys me! So if there are any upholsterers out there with some pointers their knowledge would be appreciated.

[S4CJO]

Same problem here, drivers side

Intrested to know what fabric you end up with, mines magnolia.

[m4rk]

I've been using Autoglym leather feed cream. I have been using it since last year but still have a problem. The glue softens with heat and then the tension in leather then pulls it away from windscreen. I have re-glued it once already which worked for a while until it got hot again.

Its a pitty TVR didn't use a bigger piece in the first place!!

I have a spare strip of leather in the correct colour which I got from TVR. It's about 4inch wide and the width of windscreen. I thoughht if I got the edge stitched neatly I could use it to hide the exposed fibre glass.

Not an ideal soloution I know.

[neejah]

Landrover had a similar problem with the last model of disco....

A firm came up with a 25-30mm wide finishing strip which could be screwed along the inside of the screen (on top of the dash)to cover it - think I'd be looking at RS Components or another trim supplier for something similar?

[MPETT]

I've tried using some softer thinner leather to repair mine. 12months later and thats peeling back too!

I'm going to try vinyl or maybe try alcantara. They won't dry out and should look OK.

[jackie broad]

hi jackie from krj trimmers unlesss u take out windscreen and use new leather or vinyl it will keep happening some people try to tuck it back but it doesnt work we always take out screen

[Monkey Boy]

How much does a windscreen out re-upholser of the dash cost?