arm rest repair
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Senior Member
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 512
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From: Mattoon Il.
Car: 1989 IROC-Z / T-Top -1987 GTA
Engine: 305 (LO3) _350 (L98)
Transmission: 700R4 _ 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 L.S. - ???
arm rest repair
the covering on both of my arm rests are coming off, and the look as if they are about 8" thick. anyone know of a way to get them to stick back down?
Member

Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
Car: 1988 IROC-Z
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.45
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
From: Mattoon Il.
Car: 1989 IROC-Z / T-Top -1987 GTA
Engine: 305 (LO3) _350 (L98)
Transmission: 700R4 _ 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 L.S. - ???
Re: arm rest repair
thank you, not sure why it didn't come up when i did a search for armrests, must be because i had it as 2 words
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Erlanger, KY
Car: 1989 Iroc-z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Auto 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt - 2.77
Re: arm rest repair
I used a heavy duty staple gun and stapled the fold over edge of the vinyl to the edge of the plastic structure under the vinyl. Worked out great and haven't had any problems with it in 17 years. Can show pics if you want.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
From: Mattoon Il.
Car: 1989 IROC-Z / T-Top -1987 GTA
Engine: 305 (LO3) _350 (L98)
Transmission: 700R4 _ 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 L.S. - ???
Re: arm rest repair
would you please ... sounds like a good plan, as long as no staples show
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Erlanger, KY
Car: 1989 Iroc-z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Auto 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt - 2.77
Re: arm rest repair
Here's what I did and how I did it. I used a heavy duty staple gun like the one in the first pic. Make sure the arm rests are warmed up so it makes the vinyl soft and pliable. Start in the center. Push down on the vinyl and shoot a staple or 2 or 3 next to each other in the edge plastic while folding over the vinyl. Might help to have a friend help while doing this. Once you got the first set of staples in so the vinyl stays in place, move over about half way to either end of the arm rest and shoot a few more staples in next to each other while pushing down on the vinyl. Then do the same on the other end. So now, you will have 3 sets of staples on the top edge of the arm rest and all you got to do is push down on the remaining vinyl that's sticking up and staple it in place. Do it this way so you don't have a bunch of vinyl sticking up on either end as if you started on one side and went straight across. Do the same procedure on the bottom of the arm rest. When done, it should look the next pics. When all is done, your arm rests should look something like the last pic when installed. There will still be a little waviness to it but it will look a lot better and you wont have to worry about the big bulge when resting your arm on the arm rest. Just be careful when lining up the staple gun to the edge so you don't shoot a staple thru the plastic and out the other side thru the vinyl. Then you will have the tips of the staple sticking out.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
From: Mattoon Il.
Car: 1989 IROC-Z / T-Top -1987 GTA
Engine: 305 (LO3) _350 (L98)
Transmission: 700R4 _ 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 L.S. - ???
Re: arm rest repair
Here's what I did and how I did it. I used a heavy duty staple gun like the one in the first pic. Make sure the arm rests are warmed up so it makes the vinyl soft and pliable. Start in the center. Push down on the vinyl and shoot a staple or 2 or 3 next to each other in the edge plastic while folding over the vinyl. Might help to have a friend help while doing this. Once you got the first set of staples in so the vinyl stays in place, move over about half way to either end of the arm rest and shoot a few more staples in next to each other while pushing down on the vinyl. Then do the same on the other end. So now, you will have 3 sets of staples on the top edge of the arm rest and all you got to do is push down on the remaining vinyl that's sticking up and staple it in place. Do it this way so you don't have a bunch of vinyl sticking up on either end as if you started on one side and went straight across. Do the same procedure on the bottom of the arm rest. When done, it should look the next pics. When all is done, your arm rests should look something like the last pic when installed. There will still be a little waviness to it but it will look a lot better and you wont have to worry about the big bulge when resting your arm on the arm rest. Just be careful when lining up the staple gun to the edge so you don't shoot a staple thru the plastic and out the other side thru the vinyl. Then you will have the tips of the staple sticking out.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 653
Likes: 5
From: Long Island, NY
Car: 87 Trans Am, 99 WS6, 16 Mustang GT
Engine: LB9, LS1
Transmission: 700R4, T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Posi, 4.10 Posi
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,041
Likes: 8
From: West of Toronto
Car: 89 IROC
Engine: 305 TPI / ZZ4 cam
Transmission: Stage 2 700R4, LS1 driveshaft
Axle/Gears: Strange 3.42 w/ Auburn
Re: arm rest repair
I switched to 86 arm rests. no more sag
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