DIY Carpet replacement
Discussion
About to start the process of replacing the carpets. Wondered what pieces of wisdom people can impart before I start or if is there any literature floating around from somebody else’s experience?
Main questions are around:
1) Roof.... I’m hoping I don’t need to take the whole thing off, only had a new one fitted last year.
2) The door cards - am I right to get in there you need to undo the reflector at the back? Obviously the speakers will need to come out.
3.) Centre console - door mechanism, again don’t want to have to undo this if I can get away with it. But if I can’t I assume the only way to undo it isn’t from underneath? As you lift the piece up?
Cheers,
Daniel
Main questions are around:
1) Roof.... I’m hoping I don’t need to take the whole thing off, only had a new one fitted last year.
2) The door cards - am I right to get in there you need to undo the reflector at the back? Obviously the speakers will need to come out.
3.) Centre console - door mechanism, again don’t want to have to undo this if I can get away with it. But if I can’t I assume the only way to undo it isn’t from underneath? As you lift the piece up?
Cheers,
Daniel
I re-carpeted mine several years ago and opted to buy carpet and cut it to size myself, then get the edges bound--Big Mistake.
Buy a carpet set ready cut and bound to save a lot of work and get a better result. And not much more expensive.
Removing the roof is simple just a few allen headed bolts and Velcro.
You will need to remove the central whale tail, again not difficult just a bit awkward. Note how the door cables connect to the levers before removing.
Special glue remover I found useless, white spirit was far more efficient, it pongs a bit but the smell soon goes.
My door cards were OK so I left them alone, but obviously the new carpet has to be a good match.
Best of luck
.
Buy a carpet set ready cut and bound to save a lot of work and get a better result. And not much more expensive.
Removing the roof is simple just a few allen headed bolts and Velcro.
You will need to remove the central whale tail, again not difficult just a bit awkward. Note how the door cables connect to the levers before removing.
Special glue remover I found useless, white spirit was far more efficient, it pongs a bit but the smell soon goes.
My door cards were OK so I left them alone, but obviously the new carpet has to be a good match.
Best of luck
.
Edited by Loubaruch on Wednesday 13th February 11:11
Thanks for the reply. I’ve already bought the carpet set from Central (it looks great btw)
So it’s just a case of getting it all in.
Yea so on the roof and the Velcro - that’s kind of what I am concerned about i’d like to see some pictures of the roof coming off to fully understand how it fits together. Ie. What job is the velcro actually doing?
The roof has been fitted so well that I fear undoing the Velcro is a risk to it not being as sharp when I put it back. Can I not get away with just undoing the 2 folding roof supports, the 2 bolts on the side pillars and the trim piece around the back? The trim piece around the back I assume is just hiding the join of the roof to the body - in my mind this what the velcro is doing? Am I right? Sorry if this appears to be a dumb question.
Thanks
So it’s just a case of getting it all in.
Yea so on the roof and the Velcro - that’s kind of what I am concerned about i’d like to see some pictures of the roof coming off to fully understand how it fits together. Ie. What job is the velcro actually doing?
The roof has been fitted so well that I fear undoing the Velcro is a risk to it not being as sharp when I put it back. Can I not get away with just undoing the 2 folding roof supports, the 2 bolts on the side pillars and the trim piece around the back? The trim piece around the back I assume is just hiding the join of the roof to the body - in my mind this what the velcro is doing? Am I right? Sorry if this appears to be a dumb question.
Thanks
danieljg said:
........... I’ve already bought the carpet set from Central (it looks great btw)
So it’s just a case of getting it all in.........
When you come to do it number or label each bit as you remove it. Take plenty of photos in particular where the sewn edges are as it will not be easy to remember later. I've done this myself and still not been sure but fortunately I normally have other cars in the workshop I can crib off. Also write down the sequence you remove each piece as there are places where 3 or 4 pieces overlap.So it’s just a case of getting it all in.........
Then get out your box of carpet pieces and identify/label each of them, which is not easy as most of the un-sewn edges will have been left oversize (well over in some cases).
Then take your dismantle sequence and reverse it ready for the refit.
Steve
Steve_D said:
When you come to do it number or label each bit as you remove it. Take plenty of photos in particular where the sewn edges are as it will not be easy to remember later. I've done this myself and still not been sure but fortunately I normally have other cars in the workshop I can crib off. Also write down the sequence you remove each piece as there are places where 3 or 4 pieces overlap. Then get out your box of carpet pieces and identify/label each of them, which is not easy as most of the un-sewn edges will have been left oversize (well over in some cases).
Then take your dismantle sequence and reverse it ready for the refit.Steve
Very good advice.Then take your dismantle sequence and reverse it ready for the refit.Steve
IMHO you are far better removing the roof completely with the over centre supports, also the whale tail, everything is then clear to do the job.
Steve_D said:
When you come to do it number or label each bit as you remove it. Take plenty of photos in particular where the sewn edges are as it will not be easy to remember later. I've done this myself and still not been sure but fortunately I normally have other cars in the workshop I can crib off. Also write down the sequence you remove each piece as there are places where 3 or 4 pieces overlap. Then get out your box of carpet pieces and identify/label each of them, which is not easy as most of the un-sewn edges will have been left oversize (well over in some cases).
Then take your dismantle sequence and reverse it ready for the refit.Steve
Very good advice.Then take your dismantle sequence and reverse it ready for the refit.Steve
IMHO you are far better removing the roof completely with the over centre supports, also the whale tail, everything is then clear to do the job.
Hi there
I replaced my carpets last year using a carpet set from DC Trim which fitted perfectly,
By far the most difficult job - for me anyway - was fitting the two big bits of carpet on the sides of the gearbox tunnel.
I found it incredibly difficult to get everything lined up correctly particularly on the drivers side because of the pedals.
I would suggest that you don’t use an impact adhesive for these bits or you’ll have a nightmare.
Evo stick and get your carpet in place before it goes off so you can still move it around.
Spray glue - Trim Bond for everything else
Oh and take your steering wheel off so you can get into the footwell!
Good luck - Andy
I replaced my carpets last year using a carpet set from DC Trim which fitted perfectly,
By far the most difficult job - for me anyway - was fitting the two big bits of carpet on the sides of the gearbox tunnel.
I found it incredibly difficult to get everything lined up correctly particularly on the drivers side because of the pedals.
I would suggest that you don’t use an impact adhesive for these bits or you’ll have a nightmare.
Evo stick and get your carpet in place before it goes off so you can still move it around.
Spray glue - Trim Bond for everything else
Oh and take your steering wheel off so you can get into the footwell!
Good luck - Andy
You may already know this but to remove the whale tail you will need to slack the handbrake right off, there is a knurled nylon nut under the car on the handbrake cable to expedite this. A bit awkward if you do not have a lift.
To remove the steering wheel just remove the 8 ( 6?) small bolts, the boss usually requires a puller so leave that in place.
To remove the steering wheel just remove the 8 ( 6?) small bolts, the boss usually requires a puller so leave that in place.
Edited by Loubaruch on Sunday 17th February 21:41
Have used several of the D&C trim packs and very happy with them.
Put it into place and hold it there with heavy weights, clamps, bits of stick etc. Using masking tape mark where the top edge comes to on the top of the tunnel and then mark somewhere to locate it fore/aft. Take it back out and apply a vertical strip of glue about 3 inches wide to both surfaces. Leave until no longer tacky.
Lay a piece of rag over the glue strip on the tunnel so that the carpet cannot stick to it. Reposition the carpet using your masking tape guides. When you are happy it is in the right position gently pull the rag out and push the carpet onto the glue. Now you have it located you can fold it back and glue the forward and rearward sections one at a time.
Steve
andyy said:
......
By far the most difficult job - for me anyway - was fitting the two big bits of carpet on the sides of the gearbox tunnel..........
You need to use the strongest glue here due to the weight of that panel.By far the most difficult job - for me anyway - was fitting the two big bits of carpet on the sides of the gearbox tunnel..........
Put it into place and hold it there with heavy weights, clamps, bits of stick etc. Using masking tape mark where the top edge comes to on the top of the tunnel and then mark somewhere to locate it fore/aft. Take it back out and apply a vertical strip of glue about 3 inches wide to both surfaces. Leave until no longer tacky.
Lay a piece of rag over the glue strip on the tunnel so that the carpet cannot stick to it. Reposition the carpet using your masking tape guides. When you are happy it is in the right position gently pull the rag out and push the carpet onto the glue. Now you have it located you can fold it back and glue the forward and rearward sections one at a time.
Steve
Ok so I started to remove the roof today. Note i’ve got a 1992 4.3 car, so I haven’t got the 5 alan bolts across the trim piece on the back like the later 500s. I have three bolts which are underneath the trim and aren’t visible from the inside, you get to from inside the boot.
2 of them (the centre and the offside) have been very easy to loosen (thank god) but the bolt on the third one (nearside) is turning with the nut. Trouble is you can’t actually hold the bolt still from inside the car because it is underneath the leather trim. So I don’t know how I am going to get that off. If I could get a second hand in there I could hold the end of the bolt...so this is going to prove fun.
2 of them (the centre and the offside) have been very easy to loosen (thank god) but the bolt on the third one (nearside) is turning with the nut. Trouble is you can’t actually hold the bolt still from inside the car because it is underneath the leather trim. So I don’t know how I am going to get that off. If I could get a second hand in there I could hold the end of the bolt...so this is going to prove fun.
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