Headliner Falling Down

[NewLeSabreOwner]

Good Day All,

Well it seems the heat has really done its toll this summer on the headliner. It seems to be falling down mostly on the front driver side over the seat and just a tad on the front passenger side / middle over the seats.

Does anyone have any fixes for this other than like a removal and a re-glue? I know this may sound cheap, but I was thinking to stretch it back and then use a couple of thumb tacs to hold it in place. But I think I remember seeing somewhere there is wiring on top that goes to the back and would really not want to hit that by accident. Does anyone know where the wiring runs or any another ideas?

Thanks.

 

[silverbullet04]

Good Day All,

Well it seems the heat has really done its toll this summer on the headliner. It seems to be falling down mostly on the front driver side over the seat and just a tad on the front passenger side / middle over the seats.

Does anyone have any fixes for this other than like a removal and a re-glue? I know this may sound cheap, but I was thinking to stretch it back and then use a couple of thumb tacs to hold it in place. But I think I remember seeing somewhere there is wiring on top that goes to the back and would really not want to hit that by accident. Does anyone know where the wiring runs or any another ideas?

Thanks.

Very common on the lesabre. Mine was the same way when I bought the car from the original owners. The car only had 48k miles on it when I got it and the headliner was sagging bad! I was gonna get it re-done, but its not that important to me, at least right now. I ended up buying a pack of 100 twist on pins with clear flat tops on amazon and used them. They work great! Not the prettiest, but the headliner isn't sagging anymore.

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

Very common on the lesabre. Mine was the same way when I bought the car from the original owners. The car only had 48k miles on it when I got it and the headliner was sagging bad! I was gonna get it re-done, but its not that important to me, at least right now. I ended up buying a pack of 100 twist on pins with clear flat tops on amazon and used them. They work great! Not the prettiest, but the headliner isn't sagging anymore.

this isnt related to headliner, but if youre still experiencing a harsh garage shift

 

[RD_Atlanta]

Some folks use mechanical fasteners to tack it up but I prefer to replace it. There are two layers, the outer cloth which matches the interior color and an underlayer of foam. The underlayer of foam breaks down with time and detaches from the outer cloth. I used to do them but a local upholstery shop has a limber 18 year who does it well. I think the liner material they install is better quality (more of a woven outer cloth that looks nice) and the foam 'appears' to be a little thicker and hopefully will outlast the OEM. If your willing to DYI it, you can save a lot & order some cloth online.

As for the sun visors, there is a how-to video on You Tube Link .
I've accumulated a few extra sun visor pairs and hope to try my hand at it once the cold settles in.

 

[silverbullet04]

this isnt related to headliner, but if youre still experiencing a harsh garage shift

View attachment 49261

Interesting. The only occasional hard shift I get is from a stop once in a while when the car is warmed up. Im beginning to think I need to replace my rear tranny mount, its starting to break down.

 

[jotzgr]

Again, very common Lesabre issue. You see them all over the place with headliners sagging and flying everywhere. I’ve only had one that I purchased that didn’t need a headliner (and usually the visors are also in bad shape). I take everything out myself. Not that bad of a job, IMO, and I know that if something gets broken or damaged, it’s my fault. I have a mobile headliner guy that comes to my house and strips the board and replaces the material in my garage. Never had a problem matching colors.

 

[JGBuick]

Good post OP. The headliner is sagging badly on my '01 just like yours. I was going to try and experiment with injecting some type of adhesive glue and spreading it around. No one makes a spray that can be injected vs. "sprayed" I may just cheap-out and buy a pack of this clips. Were they difficult to install?

 

[silverbullet04]

Good post OP. The headliner is sagging badly on my '01 just like yours. I was going to try and experiment with injecting some type of adhesive glue and spreading it around. No one makes a spray that can be injected vs. "sprayed" I may just cheap-out and buy a pack of this clips. Were they difficult to install?

Not at all, they twist on. Here is the link..

https://a.co/d/hpVKE2u

 

[NewLeSabreOwner]

Not at all, they twist on. Here is the link..

https://a.co/d/hpVKE2u

Thanks!

Question, do you think I should just install them where I have the problem currently or just do the whole headliner?

 

[JGBuick]

Not at all, they twist on. Here is the link..

https://a.co/d/hpVKE2u

Thank you for the link! I must ask... what are the pins screwing into? Is there a substrate or material that allows the pin to fully engage past the fabric?

 

[DrivenDaily]

There are 3 layers that make up the headliner:
Top: cardboard, plastic, or some other inexpensive and light backer material
Center: foam, with adhesive on both sides
Bottom: very thin, light fabric

Those pins screw into the thin Top layer.

 

[HotZ28]

Thanks!

Question, do you think I should just install them where I have the problem currently or just do the whole headliner?

Yes, do the whole headliner! All those screw in (pins) quick fixes will destroy the cardboard upper liner! Do it right the first time, it's not that expensive!

 

[silverbullet04]

Thanks!

Question, do you think I should just install them where I have the problem currently or just do the whole headliner?

I did almost the whole headliner because almost all of it was sagging.

 

[silverbullet04]

Thank you for the link! I must ask... what are the pins screwing into? Is there a substrate or material that allows the pin to fully engage past the fabric?

They screw into the material under the sagging fabric.

 

[silverbullet04]

Yes, do the whole headliner! All those screw in (pins) quick fixes will destroy the cardboard upper liner! Do it right the first time, it's not that expensive!

I wasn't worried about messing up the material under the fabric. I just wanted to fix the sagging quickly. When the time comes that I have the headliner redone, I'll deal with the pins and remove them or the guy that my co worker knows who does new headlines will remove them. I doubt they will cause much damage since they only leave a small hole and I'm sure when the new fabric is laid down, the layer of adhesive will fill the holes and any imperfections.

 

[lilpoindexter]

Just use the pins. Its just an old car, you got better things to do

 

[NewLeSabreOwner]

Thank you everyone for the help and input! I just used all 100 screw pins, did the whole headliner and not one area is sagging at all. It is a great fix!

 

[murat]

I had the same issue when I bought my car in 2020. I consulted the dealer and they informed men of a shop run by an older gentleman. I had the entire headliner replaced and I think this is the proper way to go. Back in 2020, the total cost (including doing the visors) was $250 in Arkansas.

 

[HotZ28]

Some people like a cheap quick pin fix, others choose to do it right the first time!

 

[NewLeSabreOwner]

Some people like a cheap quick pin fix, others choose to do it right the first time!

I am the type that if it involves safety or mechanical parts that matter ( Brakes, Engine, A/C, Tires, Bulbs, Fluids, Etc ) then I buy quality and invest in it. If it is about looks or does not serve a huge purpose, then I will do the band-aid or cheap fix. I am always the last owner of the cars I own, so I never think about resell value because it's gonna end up on its final drive to the scrap yard with its title when the time calls with me behind the wheel.