F-015: Heavy vs the arm rest.
#1
F-015: Heavy vs the arm rest.
Okay guys as promised I tackled the hated arm rest "pleather" peeling issue.
Here is my situation before, I am just shy of 85k on my 05 and these are the original parts.
Now I pulled the armrest off and here is the back side:
Here is my situation before, I am just shy of 85k on my 05 and these are the original parts.
Now I pulled the armrest off and here is the back side:
#2
And the shitty pleather removed...
With that out of the way, I had a local shop that used to do my stereo installs wrap it with real leather and added a little piece of foam.
Note this is NOT the original junk nor a dealer solution... this is actual leather off of a roll used to do head rest and custom stereos.
With that out of the way, I had a local shop that used to do my stereo installs wrap it with real leather and added a little piece of foam.
Note this is NOT the original junk nor a dealer solution... this is actual leather off of a roll used to do head rest and custom stereos.
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253RL (06-05-2012)
#4
Now the install pics, there are a few screws on each side that have to be taken out in a particular order.
Note that they are all the same so no worries with mixing them up:
Insert the metal frame on the bottom and line it up, start with 4 screws and mount it to the hinges
Then pull up the plastic cover and install the lock/release
line up the plastic bottom and start the screws
tighten the screws and install the cover (it pops on and off)
Now install the other 3 screws. I didnt reinstall these little caps, but with some glue its an easy thing to do if you care to have them on.
All done, now rinse and repeat
Note the plastic cover stays on because I did not remove the hinges, just the top cover.
Note that they are all the same so no worries with mixing them up:
Insert the metal frame on the bottom and line it up, start with 4 screws and mount it to the hinges
Then pull up the plastic cover and install the lock/release
line up the plastic bottom and start the screws
tighten the screws and install the cover (it pops on and off)
Now install the other 3 screws. I didnt reinstall these little caps, but with some glue its an easy thing to do if you care to have them on.
All done, now rinse and repeat
Note the plastic cover stays on because I did not remove the hinges, just the top cover.
#5
And viola!
Hope this helps you guys, if you have access to the glue gun and material you can easily do this yourself.
I went to the shop because they had everything I needed and after the $$$ I've spend there this was a hook up.
Hope this helps you guys, if you have access to the glue gun and material you can easily do this yourself.
I went to the shop because they had everything I needed and after the $$$ I've spend there this was a hook up.
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253RL (06-05-2012)
#6
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#8
Indeed. That looks like a wiser course of action, and a better quality end product than paying north of $300 for the entire upper console lid assembly which Acura forces you to buy.
If mine does that again, I will go the upholsterer route and replace with real leather.
If mine does that again, I will go the upholsterer route and replace with real leather.
#9
Oh absolutely! If you are proficient with the glue and working with the material you could do this yourself.
Otherwise I would take the lids off yourself and call a few upholstery shops to do the wrapping.
Otherwise I would take the lids off yourself and call a few upholstery shops to do the wrapping.
#10
Excellent job! I went the $500 dealer part replacement, installed it myself, and after on 20K I'm starting to get wrinkles on the left pad.
I still have my old console unit. I may carry it by a local shop and see how much they would charge to do the whole thing. Replacing the console itself isn't that big of deal.
I still have my old console unit. I may carry it by a local shop and see how much they would charge to do the whole thing. Replacing the console itself isn't that big of deal.
#19
#20
Anyone here use the covers from this seller on eBay?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ACURA-RL...#ht_2063wt_958
I am thinking of buying those, where would I get the foam, my arm rest is actually not nearly as bad as the one Heavy has, mine has no rips just the vinyl came lose from the foam, but I would rather replace everything with new foam and new vinyl, looking for feedback, also if anyone knows a good cheap upholstery place in NYC area that would be useful.
Thanks
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ACURA-RL...#ht_2063wt_958
I am thinking of buying those, where would I get the foam, my arm rest is actually not nearly as bad as the one Heavy has, mine has no rips just the vinyl came lose from the foam, but I would rather replace everything with new foam and new vinyl, looking for feedback, also if anyone knows a good cheap upholstery place in NYC area that would be useful.
Thanks
#21
I've never seen this thread before. I am well aware of the armrest issue and it should have been a recall issue. I'm one of the few lucky ones who hasn't had it happen to them yet, but I also only have about 24k on my car. It is, however, flat so it is only a matter of time. I had no idea it was pleather though. I've always been surprised that the dash trim is plastic and not leather. My S2000 has a nice leather console.
I guess you can't win them all but for a 50k car, you would expect more.
I guess you can't win them all but for a 50k car, you would expect more.
#22
Anyone here use the covers from this seller on eBay?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ACURA-RL...#ht_2063wt_958
I am thinking of buying those, where would I get the foam, my arm rest is actually not nearly as bad as the one Heavy has, mine has no rips just the vinyl came lose from the foam, but I would rather replace everything with new foam and new vinyl, looking for feedback, also if anyone knows a good cheap upholstery place in NYC area that would be useful.
Thanks
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ACURA-RL...#ht_2063wt_958
I am thinking of buying those, where would I get the foam, my arm rest is actually not nearly as bad as the one Heavy has, mine has no rips just the vinyl came lose from the foam, but I would rather replace everything with new foam and new vinyl, looking for feedback, also if anyone knows a good cheap upholstery place in NYC area that would be useful.
Thanks
The foam can be bought at any craft store or you might even get a piece from an upholstery shop.
#23
I followed the instructions for taking off the arm rest pads....THANKS a bunch because it save me the headache of having to remove the entire center console!!
Took it into a local trim and upholstery shop on Monday.
On Tuesday picked them up and put them back on.
Total $80 and they even stitched the edges to make it look like the original!
Took it into a local trim and upholstery shop on Monday.
On Tuesday picked them up and put them back on.
Total $80 and they even stitched the edges to make it look like the original!
#25
Thanks for posting this up! I haven't had this happen yet, but it's good to know there is a cheap, solid fix out there. Seems it's a common enough problem I just might get it done for the extra foam padding you can add
#26
Anyone here use the covers from this seller on eBay?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ACURA-RL...#ht_2063wt_958
I am thinking of buying those, where would I get the foam, my arm rest is actually not nearly as bad as the one Heavy has, mine has no rips just the vinyl came lose from the foam, but I would rather replace everything with new foam and new vinyl, looking for feedback, also if anyone knows a good cheap upholstery place in NYC area that would be useful.
Thanks
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ACURA-RL...#ht_2063wt_958
I am thinking of buying those, where would I get the foam, my arm rest is actually not nearly as bad as the one Heavy has, mine has no rips just the vinyl came lose from the foam, but I would rather replace everything with new foam and new vinyl, looking for feedback, also if anyone knows a good cheap upholstery place in NYC area that would be useful.
Thanks
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HEAVY_RL (09-03-2012)
#28
[IMG]<a href="http://www.freeimagehosting.net/4xhhb"><img src="http://www.freeimagehosting.net/t/4xhhb.jpg"></a>[/IMG]Thanks Heavy. Here is my result. I paid $38 total at a local car upholstery shop here in PA. The nice lady cut me a break because she had similar vinyl in stock so while it's not an exact match it looks wayyyyyyy better. I also opted for no stitches because at her $35/hour rate it would double the cost for something I don't really care for. Very happy with the end result. Now, the driver side arm rest is left, but I'm opting to just let that go.
Last edited by pimpjuice; 09-12-2012 at 12:15 PM.
#32
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HEAVY_RL (11-03-2014)