How Can A Sagging Truck Headliner Be Repaired

By Tsukasa Azuma

Last updated Jan 29, 2021

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What could make the headliner to sag? It could be an old car, poor maintenance, or that long trip you took in the sunny (aka HOT) southern California. Yes, overheating, just like lack of upkeep and dampness, can make the fabric slump by dissolving the glue that holds it to the roof frame. Is there any way to avoid these hassles? How to fix sagging headliner without removing? Let's find out!

What Is A Headliner?

A headliner, or headlining, is a fabric that is secured to the roof framing. It gives the car's roof a smooth texture, absorbs noises, and keep a pleasing interior temperature by buffering the outside cold and heat.

Over time and due to extreme weather conditions, the fabric may become loose and get separated from its backing board. This condition is known as 'sagging headliner', which you sometimes cannot avoid repairing because it gets in the way.

Poor maintenance can make the headliner saggy. Source: Gumtree

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How To Fix Sagging Headliner Without Removing It?

Replacing the headliner with a new one is financially impractical, especially in an old car, because the expenses will be almost equal to the value of the car! So, how to fix sagging headliner without removing it's the most budget-friendly way? You can apply these tricks:

1. Use The Old-fashioned Gluing

One of the easiest ways to put the headliner back into its place is to use glue. It will best work if the fabric is sagged partially, like in a corner or around the edges. To fix headliner in car without removing, you have to apply a special headlining adhesive because the ordinary glue will be of no use. A spray can adhesive is likely to be the best solution to apply and distribute the glue evenly.

2. Pin It Down

It's another quick fix that won't require much time and money. The method is quite effective and you can push back the headliner to its place even if half of it is coming off. Use sequin pins or anything that serves your purpose. Push the pins through the fabric to the foam backing board. You can arrange the pins in a pattern to make the headliner looking visually pleasing.

3. Clear-headed Twist Pin

These are called saggy stoppers, and rightly so because they are an absolutely no-fuss and inexpensive means of putting the headliner to its place. How to fix a sagging headliner?You can fix even if the entire headlining is sagging and about to fall on your head.

You can quickly repair the headliner with these pins. Source:HealthyCar.Org

These clear-headed pins can won't damage the thin headlining board with any hole. It's a better option than glue or tacks because the latter things may leave you with more expensive problems (they can damage the fragile fabric if you are not careful with the repair).

4. Use The Steam Cleaner And Paint Roller Combo

The steam cleaner will melt the glue in the headliner and help it to reattach to its frame. After that, the paint roller will assist the fabric to set up evenly without any crease or wrinkle. This trick works best when the fabric sags around the edges.

Check out the video to see more details:

Hopefully this article will be useful for you. If you have any question, leave us a comment below, our auto experts will answer it for you on how to fix headliner without removing it.