Recovering knee pads - remove old vinyl?

[RobFrost]

Amy views or experiences on whether it's better to go over the top of the old vinyl or to strip it back first?

Mostly it's worn where the bonnet pull is.



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[kitesurfer2]

Best strip it all off and start again

[coomo]

needs coming off really.I just stripped mine.I had 2.Its a matter of luck how well the substrate has held up.One was like new,one no good.Its a horse hair type looking padding,on the early cars.Later is foam I believe.Best way is to renforce with fbireglass gel, and use filler for a nice base for new vinyl.

[RobFrost]

Thanks. I think mine are foam. I don't know if that affects things. I don't want them to disintegrate into nothing!

[deano]

I havent re-covered my knee pads but I repaired and re-covered both my door caps (made from the same materials) without removing the old vinyl.

The old vinyl provides a nice smooth surface for the new vinyl cover to stretch across. It is perfectly possible to leave the old vinyl in place as long as the new vinyl is glued down well with contact adhesive to the (roughened) back of the pad (the glue will not stick to the old vinyl, but it will stick well to the foam on the back).

I used (and highly recommend) a Unibond 2-part epoxy to make my repairs (cracks and a missing chunk off one end). Roughen surfaces before, sand smooth after.

[Silver911SC]

Is that the original covering? I was talking to David at Southbound about his earlier today in regards to a dashboard (which is made the same way).

Those kneepads aren't wrapped from factory. If there is a wrap on yours then it's been done afterwards. The original finish is foam over metal, and a thin layer of textured vinyl type material is cut to shape and stretched over the foam and almost melted in to the foam, so non of the edges would ever peel up or come loose. Looks like yours have been wrapped once upon a time to tidy them up, as so many are.

However, if it's original finish and the bonnet pull is the only bit lifting, I'd leave it and epoxy the loose edges down.

Any pictures of the back of it?

[RobFrost]

Is that the original covering?

Any pictures of the back of it?

Apologies, I missed the notification of your reply.

Based on the replies here I'd say it's original. There aren't much in the way of edges folded over, as you say welded tight to the edge. Only the area around the bonnet pull has come away.









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[JSM1965]

Dash, knee pads, door tops, ashtray are all vacuum sealed. I sent all mine to 'The Dash Doctor' in Australia to get done. Came back perfect

[Silver911SC]

Yes, that is the factory finish where its almost bonded in to the foam. Recovering will never be as good and will have glue and/or staples securing it. I've also had about 6 or 7 recovered knee pads and at first glance they look genuine finish/texture, but every single one was slightly different to the other, depending on what material was sourced for it.

Given it's just when the bonnet pull is, I'd try and salvage it. I'd try and bond/epoxy the loose bits back, and if there is a bit of foam not covered, maybe just put some black silicon or leather filler over it; you'll hardly notice it I assume with the pull handle obscuring the view.

Other option is to just rebuy a new set of knee pads, but you might then need an ashtray front as that will then not match fully - randomly design911 are over £400 but a seller on Easy sells sets for £250, no idea if any good. Otherwise hold out for a good used example. I may have a near mint spare but I won't know for another couple of months if I need it, otherwise I can keep an eye out for one for you.

[deano]

Given the alternatives, I agree with the salvage it comment. If this doesn't give you the results you want, then buy a used one...

This process will give you a decent enough repair I think for this hidden area: cut off the flaky bits of vinyl, clean thoroughly with rubbing alcohol, masking tape 1mm back from the edge (to save clean up later), spread on some black vinyl repair compound on the vinyl-less repair area nice and thick. Leave overnight at least. Once set, sand (e.g. 500 grit) to shape and remove the highs then rub the vinyl repair area smooth with some rubbing alcohol on cotton wool. The rubbing alcohol stage is equivalent to the polishing compound stage for paint - removes the sanding scratches. Rub until you can see the original vinyl edge. Obviously, try this process first and see what you think e.g. on the back. I used it to repair a small area of missing seat vinyl.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384832699707 (I used this and it worked well)