[ray34]

I just did it and it is easy and works great!!!!!

1. Remove the armrest from the vehicle.
2. clean the leather with water and soap.
3. In your kitchen, prepare a large enough container with water and alcohol (about 80% water and 20% alcohol).
4. Heat the water mixture to a boil.
5. Turn off the heat.
6. Place the armrest upside down in the water for 15min.
7. Pull the armrest out of the water and re-heat the water.
8. Turn off the heat again.
9. Place the armrest again in the water for another 10min.
10. Take the armrest out of the water and dry it with a towel.
11. After it cools down and dries for about 20min.apply leather conditioner spray of cream.
Done!!!

 

[Skylaw]

Wow, thanks for that - it is going into our FAQ/DIY stickies Here !

The last step - using a conditioner - will be important, because alcohol tends to dry leather and make it brittle.

 

[regnant]

That's look like new , great job
Thanks for posting

 

[Arlind86]

How is it lasting so far? Mine looks just like yours.

 

[ray34]

Thanks guys for the replies! I did this yesterday so its too soon to tell if it will stay that way but I researched this method in the internet, it is a proven method. It just that so far, I guess no one had tried it with a car part. So far, it's looks and feels great!

 

[ray34]

How to remove the armrest cover.

1. Go to the passanger side and open the cover.
2. Remove the 2 torque screws (front and back).
3.Remove the springs and put the metal arms back where they suppose to go without the bolts.
4.Close the cover.
5.Open the cover from the driver side and should come off entirely.

 

[ray34]

last 3 steps here. Good luck fellas!!!

 

[bhatt]

Ray, thanks for the photos. Didn't realise you could just unscrew 2 screws (plus 2 springs) to get the lid off.

Was able to swap my new (wrecking yard) lid with my existing one in the car.

My old lid looks like your "before" pic with probably 30-50% more wrinkles. So I'm going to use the old one to try out your 'boiled egg' method of fixing it.

 

[G-AMG]

The key word in your post is "Heat"...

You could save yourself alot of effort, and mess, by simply applying Heat to the Leather, via a Hot Air Gun or "Hairdryer".

Just don't overheat/burn the hide. Having a lightly dampened towel to "Cool" the leather is often helpful.

 

[bhatt]

The key word in your post is "Heat"...

You could save yourself alot of effort, and mess, by simply applying Heat to the Leather, via a Hot Air Gun or "Hairdryer".

Just don't overheat/burn the hide. Having a lightly dampened towel to "Cool" the leather is often helpful.

I tried the earlier fix that was posted, and used a bowl of ice water with a rag, and also a heat gun. Alternated between heating the leather then cooling it with an ice cold wet rag.

Didn't do a thing. Armrest looked exactly the same. This was a 750/1500w heat gun so it was defintely heating up enough. I am sure I was almost at the point of burning the leather.. it was too hot to touch with my fingers after each heating cycle with the heat gun.

So I had no luck with the heat method at all. I'm guessing Ray's solution uses long steady enough heat to slowly shrink the leather. Kind of like washing clothes in hot water and putting them in the dryer.. everything shrinks uniformly.

 

[ray34]

Cool! I'm glad I was able to help you out. Let me know how it works out for you. Good luck!

 

[Jason B]

Anyone else do it? Worked good.

 

[doni01]

Anyone else do it? Worked good.

Hi Jason, sent you a message...

 

[Jagpilot]

I did it a couple of years ago and it works great. I had it in an aluminum catering pan. Note to self: do not weigh it down while submerging and let it contact the bottom of the pan. If you do, you will permanently emboss the bottom of the pan into the armrest and lose some of the leather texture. See attached photo below-