Hi everyone, I'm slowly working my car toward perfection, but the one thing I can't put off is the airbag, those damn bubbles are taunting me! Does anyone have any tips for eliminating the bubbles without completely replacing the airbag (and without risking the airbag not deploying in a collision [knocks on wood])? I was thinking about getting some painters tape, laying it over the bubbles, then taking a syringe with a little super glue, injecting it through the painters tape into the bubbles and then sucking out the air through the same hole. I figure this will remove the bubbles, re-glue the leather to the surface of the airbag and once it's dry, it would be no match for an airbag deployment. Thoughts? Suggestions? Previous experiences I could draw from? Thanks! Also, if anyone has a spare LH seat back control switch for a 360, 550 or 575, I'm looking for one.
You should be able to remove the leather, stretch, and reglue. You always want to use the battery disconnect switch first and then disconnect the airbag before doing any work on it. Should be some threads on doing that here. If uncomfortable with doing that, one of the steering wheel companies would probably do it for you for a nominal charge. Passenger side requires removing pieces so you can disconnect the airbag and recover.
I used a hair dryer and a plastic body filler spreader to smooth out the bubbles. Gently heat, lower temperature, the area around the bubble and use the plastic spreader to remove the air like you were hanging wall paper and smoothing out air pockets. The heat seemed to energize the old glue, perhaps it is similar to a hide glue, and the car pocket has not resurfaced in two years.
Thank you everyone! I just tried a hair dryer on low and it worked!!! A few spots were stubborn, but persistence seems to have paid off. I'll check the car tomorrow morning, if it worked I owe all of you a round!
Awesome and cheap solution... in my experience new leather always has a slightly different look to it, so I hope it works out for you! Ruben
Any update on if it stuck? My interior is for the most part in great shape but the airbags are loosey goosey and I would love to avoid redoing the dash for as long as possible.
So It seemed to work, checked it the next day and saw a definite difference in the steering wheel. It's been a few weeks and took a trip to the shop, so I will check back in to see how it worked over time
I've had bubbles in the leather in my steering wheel since I bought it. I knew of this trick from an earlier FChat post, and finally did it. I bought a drywall edge smoother at Lowes and got out my ex's hairdryer. I applied the heat and rolled the leather smooth. I was careful about the heat since I didn't want to damage the leather. The leather is smooth now, it'll be interesting to see how long it lasts.
Got the control from an A8, it’s identical (going to paint it shortly) Image Unavailable, Please Login Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
Good find! Does the audi switch panel fit or just the tilt back bar? Those things get broken off by the parking brake handle. I have my parking brake set up to activate low to try and help prevent that.
The back and seat bars are the same, the panel itself is different. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
I just purchased a 599 and have bubbling on the dash and instrument pod. I think I will try the heat gun trick in those areas. They should be glued in back like the steering wheel?
I imagine it would work. I'm waiting for the weather to cool down to have another go at it. I figure that way the glue will cure more quickly and increase the likelihood for a good end result.
Heat gun treatment really worked on my passenger airbag cover. Used a Milwaukee heat gun on the second lowest setting (350 deg F), held about 12" away and working over one small area at a time with a soft plastic decal blade. Might go over it again to get out the few remaining bubbles, but it turned out pretty well and only took about 15 minutes. Here's a before & after shot: Before: After:
I’ll be working on it again tomorrow. Will do before an after photos and report back. It does work though. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
I did the same thing on my 550 about 2 years ago and it is still perfect.. i just heated the area in place with a hairdryer and worked the bubbles out with a plastic body filler squeege and in 5 minutes it looked like new the process is so easy it is hard to believe it would work....but it did for me.