Step 1. Remove Headliner From Car
To do the job right, you first need to remove the headliner from your car and place on a table. Don't let the idea of removing the headliner scare you -- it's actually a surprisingly simple and straight forward task. The headliner needs to come down and be removed out one of the door openings. Some four-door cars can present more of a challenge. If lowering the seatbacks all the way down doesn't allow enough room to get the headliner out the door, you may have to remove one of the front seats (usually just four more bolts).

Start by disconnecting the battery to prevent damage to the dome light or other electrical accessories. Then remove the visors and all plastic or metal trim around the top of the windshield, above the doors and above the rear window that hold the headliner in place. If you don't see any screws, the trim is probably held in place by metal or plastic snap clips. Carefully pry and wiggle the trim with a flat screwdriver or putty knife and it should come off. Never pry on any glass. In some cases, you may need to remove additional trim along the windshield pillars, and between the doors.

Once the trim has been removed, remove the dome light, coat hanger and any other accessories mounted to the roof. Some screws may be concealed by plastic plugs which can be pried out for access. Carefully pry the dome light lens off with a small screwdriver to get at the dome light mounting screws. Remove any other retaining clips, screws or tabs that might be holding the headliner in place. At this point the headliner should practically fall down onto your head. The headliner backing material is very fragile. Take care and support it so it doesn't accidentally become cracked or damaged.

Lay the front seatbacks as horizontal as possible and carefully manipulate the headliner out the front driver's or passenger's side door opening.

Step 2. Remove Old Headliner Material
Lay the headliner assembly on a pair of saw horses or large bench facing up. Carefully pull away any remaining cloth fabric.

Headliners are foam-backed and very light and flimsy. A great way to work on them is to lay on a piece of plywood face-up. After removing the loose cloth fabric, run a couple screws through the headliner into the plywood at a couple points at it's edges. That'll prevent it from sliding around as you work on it.

Step 4. Position New Headliner Material
Once all the old foam has been removed, it's time to make repairs to the backing (see below) and position the new headliner material in place (See side panel for info on buying replacement headliner material). Lay the new fabric over the headliner backing and cut down to size if necessary. However, be sure to leave at least 2" - 4" overhang at all edges. Leave final trimming for the end. Also pay attention to the orientation of the fabric lines. Make sure the lines run laterally to the length of the headliner like original. Have some old newspaper nearby to prevent any adhesive overspray from getting onto the fabric side of the headliner material.

Step 5. Glue Down New Headliner Material
This step is the most critical. If you make a mistake here, it'll probably be visible. It's a good idea to take a scrap piece of headliner material and practice adhering it to a scrap piece of cardboard.

Start at the rear of the headliner backing (the part least visible -- just in case you goof up) Peel back a portion of the rear edge of the headliner fabric and spray adhesive along the entire rear edge of the headliner backing. Also spray the foam side of the fabric along it's entire rear edge. Do about 1 - 2-foot sections at a time. Allow a minute or so for the adhesive to tack up (follow instructions on the spray can).

It should be noted here that applying the foam to the backing is pretty much a one-shot-deal, it adheres quickly and is difficult to remove for repositioning. If you try to pull the foam/fabric back up, it may result in the foam separating from the fabric -- ruining the smooth look. Also, don't let sprayed sections of the fabric come into contact with itself -- you can't pull it apart very well with out damaging the foam backing.

Use care when applying the foam-backed fabric to the headliner backing. Start with the rear center section first. Place one hand on the fabric resting on the headliner backing and use the other hand to hold onto the folded back portion of the fabric that has been sprayed. Then, carefully slide the hand resting on the fabric towards the rear edge of the headliner. The material should lay right in place. Do the same for each rear corner working from the center towards the rear edges. This should allow the foam to lay well and assume a smooth contour at the curved corners on the headliner backing. Afterwards, gently run your hand along the adhered fabric with mild downward pressure to produce good adhesion to the backing.

Then do another section the same way. Fold or roll the unadhered portion of the headliner fabric back and spray a section of it and the headliner backing with adhesive. Remember to spray across the entire width of the headliner and take care not to get adhesive on the visible portion of the fabric. Apply adhesive to the foam side of the headliner fabric also, and allow time to tack. Perform the same technique of sliding your hand on the surface of the material (under the folded back section) gently laying the material onto the backing as you go. Start in the center and work to the edges.

Continue doing sections until all the fabric has been adhered to the headliner backing. Gently run your hand over the headliner surface to improve adhesion, particularly on countoured edges.

Step 7. Reinstall Headliner
Carefully insert the headliner back into the vehicle and reinstall to the roof in the reverse order of removal. Take care not to bend or crease the delicate headliner backing. Use an awl or sharp nail to locate screw mounting holes in the roof such as for the visors (the holes are now hidden by the new fabric) .