NashFX
Member
- Car
- 2012 FX35 AWD Tech-Premium Pkg
I've seen a few of the second gen FX35's have the vinyl crack on the center console arm rest, and wanted to share how to replace it yourself with leather. The leather can be purchased on ebay already cut to size, all that is required is taking apart the armrest and gluing the new one. Total repair time is approx 1 hour.
The only tools required for this is a flat head screw driver, a Phillips screw driver, and offset screwdriver. You can use a hot glue gun or 3m fabric adhesive. The advantage of using a glue gun is if you need to pull the leather tighter in places after the glue dries, you can heat it up using a hair dryer and re position the leather.
This is the cracked original vinyl arm rest.
Here are the steps that I used for the repair:
Step 1:
Unscrew the 6 Phillips screws under the center arm rest cover
Step 2: Using a flat head screwdriver pry the edges to pop out the plastic cover.
Step 3. Once the cover is off, you will see 3 screws that I used an offset screwdriver to unscrew to remove the armrest from the console.
Step 4: Here is the armrest fully removed. Next is to un-glue the existing vinyl by pulling it off gently from the sides, it comes off fairly easily.
After the vinyl is removed you can see the foam exposed on the arm rest.
Here is the old vinyl next to the replacement leather piece.
Step5. Pull the new leather tightly over the armrest, make cuts around the perimeter where necessary and apply glue while stretching the leather.
Finished product:
All in all it was very easy, even for someone that has not done this sort of work before, just need a little patience. Hope this tutorial helps to encourage others!
The only tools required for this is a flat head screw driver, a Phillips screw driver, and offset screwdriver. You can use a hot glue gun or 3m fabric adhesive. The advantage of using a glue gun is if you need to pull the leather tighter in places after the glue dries, you can heat it up using a hair dryer and re position the leather.
This is the cracked original vinyl arm rest.
Here are the steps that I used for the repair:
Step 1:
Unscrew the 6 Phillips screws under the center arm rest cover
Step 2: Using a flat head screwdriver pry the edges to pop out the plastic cover.
Step 3. Once the cover is off, you will see 3 screws that I used an offset screwdriver to unscrew to remove the armrest from the console.
Step 4: Here is the armrest fully removed. Next is to un-glue the existing vinyl by pulling it off gently from the sides, it comes off fairly easily.
After the vinyl is removed you can see the foam exposed on the arm rest.
Here is the old vinyl next to the replacement leather piece.
Step5. Pull the new leather tightly over the armrest, make cuts around the perimeter where necessary and apply glue while stretching the leather.
Finished product:
All in all it was very easy, even for someone that has not done this sort of work before, just need a little patience. Hope this tutorial helps to encourage others!
