03-01-2010, 04:26 AM
|
#1
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Madison, Georgia
Posts: 1,012
|
Dreaded shrinkage
The leather on my dash and the top of the drivers side door has shrinkage problems. I can only imagine what a PIA it will be to pull the dash top off. Any suggestions about repair options? I have searched the web for tips but everything I find seems to be related to older 911s, I have not found anything Boxster specific.
__________________
2001 Boxster S 3.6L, Zeintop
"Calling upon my years of experience, I froze at the controls." - Stirling Moss
|
|
|
03-01-2010, 06:08 AM
|
#2
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: here
Posts: 244
|
|
|
|
03-01-2010, 08:24 AM
|
#3
|
07 Carrera S Cab
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,273
|
Has the car gone swimming in the pool lately?
__________________
Current: 07 Carrera S Cab in Midnight Blue
Previous: 01 Boxster in Arctic Silver, 86 944 in Guards Red
|
|
|
03-01-2010, 08:35 AM
|
#4
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Madison, Georgia
Posts: 1,012
|
As cold as it has been it could have swimming pool p-p.
I have a feeling that it sat at the beach a lot with the top down though, it is from Charleston and there was a decent amount of beach sand in the frunk from folding chairs if I had to guess.
If I could get the leather pliable again I might be able to stretch it back out. Water will only make it shrink more, I am thinking of using some neatsfoot or lanolin oil just like on a saddle. At this point I can't really hurt it because I will likely have to replace it anyway.
I was thinking of using some of that adhesive backed 3M carbon fiber material. It would look nice but I am still pondering it.
__________________
2001 Boxster S 3.6L, Zeintop
"Calling upon my years of experience, I froze at the controls." - Stirling Moss
|
|
|
03-01-2010, 11:38 AM
|
#5
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bothell, WA
Posts: 279
|
Would something like Lexol help? I haven't tried any of the oils before...
-james
__________________
'01 Boxster S, 51k miles
'05 Mazda 6 Grand Touring Wagon
|
|
|
03-01-2010, 11:47 AM
|
#6
|
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Madison, Georgia
Posts: 1,012
|
Lexol is mostly lanolin, that is what I was thinking of using.
__________________
2001 Boxster S 3.6L, Zeintop
"Calling upon my years of experience, I froze at the controls." - Stirling Moss
|
|
|
03-01-2010, 01:09 PM
|
#7
|
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Du Monde
Posts: 2,199
|
|
|
|
03-02-2010, 02:43 PM
|
#8
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Carlos, CA 94070
Posts: 1,450
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxtaboy
Has the car gone swimming in the pool lately?
|
ROFL, I had the same thought
__________________
I still wave at Boxsters, but they no longer wave back :-(
2002 Boxster S "Violet" (sold but not forgotten)
2009 Carrera 4S "Kelsey" (current ride)
2015 FIAT 500e "Nikki" my commuter car
|
|
|
03-02-2010, 04:05 PM
|
#9
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tustin Ca.
Posts: 449
|
Yes you can replace the leather. At this point no treatment is going to help unless it contains bovine stem cells.
I did it some time ago. Basically you have to remove the gauge pod and the dash. The gauge pod is really quite easy to remove and experiment with. You basically just peel the leather off the plastic and hard engineering foam body.
For ages they sold a contact cement that was great but full of VOC nasties. They can't sell it here any more but they might online or in your state. Forgot the name and don't know what they use now.
Basically you paint a good coat on the back of the leather and the surface of your dash, let the glue dry completely, and carefully stretch the hide over the dash. Sticks like 'ell. Worth doing some dry runs to find out where you need to stretch etc. I’d do the pod again but, shop for a junkyard dash, not real exspensive.
(Yes mine was parked a full year at the beach with the top down and most summers since (May-Oct.) ) UV's the killer.
Regards, PK
Last edited by pk2; 03-03-2010 at 02:59 PM.
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is On
|
|
|
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:20 AM.
| |