Car Upholstery: car fabric repair, fabric repair, contact cement

Question
Hi Mark, I have a 1990 Saab 9000 and the fabric lining the roof interior is collapsing. I'm a student and I don't want to spend a lot of money repairing it so I thought I'd do it myself. How would you recommend repairing it?

Answer
Replacement is the only option. Remove trim. Remove headliner. Remove old pad with a wire brush, especially in bends and corners. Clean off all dust. Spread the new fabric over the clean board. Use a good quality trim adhesive or contact cement. Put a smooth, thin coat on each side and allow to tack. Start in the middle working to the outside stretching gently. Press firmly and evenly with a flat palm to join the surfaces. Cut around dome light. Replace headliner and trim. Hope this helps. Mark.