I used a fabric called microsuede. It is a synthetic but looks and feels just like suede. Has a real nice look. Not the same as OEM but as others have said, it's nearly impossible to match the original. I actually made two sets for my car. Front panels and speaker panels. Black and tan.

Be sure to remove the old padding. Usually it has disintegrated and that is why the panels failed. Replace it with new. Use spray glue to mount the new padding then use a light coating of spray glue to mount the fabric. Too much glue will bleed through the outside. Wrap it around the back side and staple it. IMPORTANT, you must use 1/8" staples or the points will come through the front side. The panels are very thin. If you can't find 1/8" staples, buy the shortest you can, put a group in a bench vice with the points up and grind them shorter.

The speaker panels are harder. The grills are held in with plastic welds. You have to break the welds to get the old fabric off and the new fabric on. I replaced the welds with rivets. I just drilled them out, fastened the fabric around the grill section only, peeled it back so I could get the rivets and grill installed, then layed the fabric down and did the outside edge. A little trick; if you use a synthetic fabric you can use a soldering iron to tack it to the plastic panel on the back side. A little heat melts the fabric to the plastic panel. Holds real well.

If your color match isn't perfect you can always have some dye made up. Any auto body supply shop should be able to mix you up some dye to match the color of your door panels. Some can even put it in a spray can for you.

posted by 169.226.99...

• interior panel fabric, ryoung, Fri, 23 Jun 2006 15:57:05
  • What I did (pic)........., nuysSAAB , Sat, 24 Jun 2006 08:35:17
    • nice seat restoration, Brownie, Sat, 24 Jun 2006 14:56:04
      • Re: nice seat restoration, nuysSAAB , Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:20:02
    • That's a great plan....., vsfoxe , Sat, 24 Jun 2006 10:34:32
      • Re: That's a great plan....., nuysSAAB , Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:21:51
  • Use vinyl., Ken , Fri, 23 Jun 2006 21:37:46
    • I used artificial suede on door panels, me like a lot, speegee n/m, Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:14:07
    • Re: Use vinyl., Timmydou, Sat, 24 Jun 2006 07:58:40
      • Re: Use vinyl....headliner question, steve in the burgh, Sat, 24 Jun 2006 11:37:01
        • Re: Use vinyl....headliner question, Timmydou, Sat, 24 Jun 2006 19:05:33
    • Pretty sharp, whitesaab, Sat, 24 Jun 2006 06:50:14
  • You are on the right track, whitesaab, Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:13:43
  • Re: interior panel fabric, DREWZ AIRFLOW SE, Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:13:40
    • Re: interior panel fabric, turbocon86, Mon, 26 Jun 2006 07:37:36 <-- Viewing This Message
      • Yeh, yeh, yeh - microsuede Me too, very classy, speegee, Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:16:49

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