my lwb 911 arm rests are 'losing their shape'

Hi,

The armrests of my 911 69 targa are loosing their shape. Around the door handle it is getting out of shape (too wide compared to the handle). Nu clue what's causing this besides age. Just wondering...is this fixable? For instance by applying heat, or gluing something? If not, I need to buy new ones. But I would love to fix them myself.

Did some searching but could not find any tips/solutions.

Your help is very appreciated.

Regards, frank

Frank:

Please post a photo or two.

Hi Alan,

You are right...A photo tells it all.

I would like the trim to fit better around the handle of the door. The lower side is fine but the top side not as seen on the photo.

Regards, frank

Always thought that was a southwest thing? Apparently it's just a 50 year old thing. Most of the armrests out here look like that.

We've removed the handle and re-shaped the opening with a C clamp but it's temporary. Heat makes it worse... which is what caused it in the first place.

Good luck.

I've been working on a solution to this problem for some time and I'm having some luck.

For armrests that are only mildly warped, I remove the plastic handle and tightly bind the opening with electrical tape. I then sit them in the Texas summer sun for several hours, bring them back inside my AC shop for a few hours, and repeat the process for 2-3 days. When the tape is removed at the end of the back and forth, the previously deformed opening is now warped in the opposite manner but with a little work by hand you can re-fit the plastic door handle which will force the opening back into shape.

This has worked for mildly warped armrests and seems to be holding up for the last year. The key seems to be the hot/cold repetition.

For armrests with more severe warping, I've been testing a similar process except that I've been injecting the inner foam of the armrest with a 2-part epoxy via a syringe to the back side. I've only tested this recently but the early results are good. Traveling now but I can post more later if anyone is interested.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LiveFromNY

For armrests with more severe warping, I've been testing a similar process except that I've been injecting the inner foam of the armrest with a 2-part epoxy via a syringe to the back side. I've only tested this recently but the early results are good. Traveling now but I can post more later if anyone is interested.

---

That's smart, and will probably work long-term as opposed to the sun-curing method. What epoxy did you use? I want to try this. My armrests are nice, but they have the typical warping around the handle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Noah

That's smart, and will probably work long-term as opposed to the sun-curing method. What epoxy did you use? I want to try this. My armrests are nice, but they have the typical warping around the handle.

---

Back at my shop this weekend and I'll post what I'm using.

Cool, thanks for the help. Please let us know what kind of stuff you have been using. I thought of using polyester to make it stronger, but injecting it is even better.

I will do some testing myself as well!!

Thanks

This is great information. Our ‘71T door panels/armrests show the very same issues.

Looking forward to the fix on these.

Thank you.

DJ.