90 accord fabric door panels loose

The fabric door panels on my 90 Accord have come completely loose,
only held on by the arm rest. I've tried several adhesives to
reposition them and they fall right back down after a couple of weeks.
I've tried 3M super trim adhesive(90) and 3M general trim adhesive (77
I think). Neither worked for very long.

Any one got a suggestion about what would hold.

 

OEM clips? make some new panels using cloth, masonite, and foam?

 

The panel itself is staying on the steel door fine. It is just the
cloth insert that was originally glued to the molded plastic door
panel. I've not found an adhesive that will keep that cloth to the
plastic door panel. I've considered just taking them off but the
substrate area is not too attractive with old glue residue.

 

Find someone (a woodworker friend?) who has a hot melt urethane (moisture
cure) glue gun. You need a glue which has adhesive properties to plastic
(the door panel may be abs) AND good heat resistance.

If you don't have access to the hot melt, you might try Gorilla Glue,
Elmer's ProBond (I think that's the name), or something similar. They are
all moisture cure urethanes for wood applications and should be available at
any Home Depot, Lowe's or equivalent, any hardware store for that matter.

Use a very thin film, these glues can foam if a heavy layer is applied. To
speed the cure you can blow across the adhesive film before you press the
fabric down upon it. To enhance the adhesion of the glue to the plastic
(it should bond just fine to the fabric), you can try quickly waving a Bic
lighter across the suface of the plastic. BE CAREFUL NOT TO MELT THE FABRIC
OR SET IT ON FIRE, AS WELL AS AVOID MELTNG THE PLASTIC PANEL. The intent is
to flame oxidize just the surface of the plastic--it won't look any
different to the naked eye.

To summarize:

1. clean plastic surface with isopropy alcohol, volatile mineral spirits or
lacquer thinner (used sparingly and quickly as it could substantially
dissolve the plastic).
2. Optionall, flame oxidize the plastic substrate surface (AFTER ALL THE
SOLVENT IS EVAPORATED AND THE CANS REMOVED)
2. Apply a thin layer of adhesive, and blow on it (source of moisture)
3. Press fabric to adhesive.
4. Let dry. It will set up fairly quickly and completely cure in about 7
days.

Good Luck,

PS