I n s t r u c t i o n s f o r I n s t a l l a t i o n o f a M i a t a C e n t e r C o n s o l e C o v e r Materials Used: Spray Adhesive Glue Latex work Gloves Leather glue (Preferably one with brush applicator) Utility knife Flat head screw driver Painter s tape Scissors
I m p o r t a n t b e f o r e y o u b e g i n : M a z d a d e s i g n e d t h e i r c o n s o l e l i d c o v e r s t o f i t w i t h o n l y a s m a l l g a p s e p a r a t i n g i t f r o m t h e r e s t o f t h e c e n t e r c o n s o l e w h e n i t s i n. T h e l e a t h e r c o v e r a d d s a s m a l l a m o u n t o f l e n g t h t o t h e s t o c k c o n s o l e l i d o n c e i t s a d d e d. I t w i l l s t i l l f i t i n t h e s p a c e p r o v i d e d, b u t i t m a y b e t o o t i g h t f o r y o u r l i k i n g. I f y o u p r e f e r t o n o t h a v e y o u r n e w l i d s o t i g h t y o u w i l l n e e d t o s a n d o f f t h e f r o n t a n d b a c k o f t h e p l a s t i c l i d a s l i g h t a m o u n t t o c o m p e n s a t e f o r t h e a d d e d w i d t h o f t h e R e d l i n e G o o d s c o v e r. I t f i t s w i t h o u t d o i n g t h i s m o d if i c a t i o n a n d o p e n s f i n e, b u t i t m a y b e a s t e p y o u w a n t t o c o n s i d e r b e f o r e s t a r t i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g. 1. Trim foam padding to size. It was slightly too large as is to allow the leather cover to come down enough and overlap the bottom edge of the console lid. I took approximately ½ off the length and bottom, and then bevel cut the top edges again using scissors. The amount you trim will vary depending on the size and thickness of the foam pad you use. [ Marked pad for trimming down photo here]
2. Use a cleaning product to take off any unwanted finish protection you may have applied to the plastic console lid for better adhesion, and wipe dry before proceeding. Cover sides of console lid first with painter s tape to keep sides from getting spray glue where the foam pad won t be. In a w e l l v e n t i l a t e d work area spray glue/adhesive on console lid and on the bottom surface of foam padding. Place padding on plastic lid, making sure it s positioned correctly, press down firmly, and let dry for 5-10 minutes or so, depending on the directions of the glue you use.
3. Wearing latex gloves apply leather glue to the four exposed sides of the console lid and then to the four inside sides of the leather cover. I didn t feel it was necessary to apply glue to top of foam pad and inside top of leather cover because it would have made it more difficult to reposition the cover, but that option is up to the individual. Carefully place leather cover on foam padding and console lid making sure it s centered and that the seams are positioned where you want them, and then press the leather firmly to the glued sides of the plastic console. Look specifically at this point for wrinkles and other unwanted surface irregularities so you can reposition and fix any bad spots while the glue hasn t set. Once the top and sides look right apply pressure with your hands around the entire outer surface until the glue has some time to set, checking that you have positioned the leather cover correctly so that o t e : I t there is some overlap available around the bottom of all four sides of the lid. N i s v e r y e a s y t o a c c i d e n t a l l y g e t s o m e o f t h e l e a t h e r g l u e o n y o u r l a t e x g l o v e s a n d t h e n t r a n s f e r i t t o t h e e x p o s e d f i n i s h e d o u t s i d e o f y o u r l e a t h e r c o v e r. I t w i l l l e a v e a s h i n y s p o t a n d i s v e r y d if f i c u l t t o r e m o v e, s o b e c a r e f u l d u r i n g t h i s s t e p! A s a p r e c a u t i o n y o u c a n p u t p a i n t e r s t a p e o n t h e o u t s i d e l e a t h e r c o v e r s i d e s a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f s t e p # 3 t o h e l p a v o i d t h i s h e a d a c h e.
4. Allowing some time for the freshly glued sides to set the next step is to trim the o t e : I f y o u h a v e a s t a p l e g u n t h a t i s overlap off the bottom of the console lid. N p o w e r f u l e n o u g h t o p e n e t r a t e t h e h a r d p l a s t i c b o t t o m o f t h e l i d a n d w a n t t o s e c u r e i t t h a t w a y t h e n y o u l l n e e d t o l e a v e m o r e l e a t h e r o v e r l a p p i n g t h e b o t t o m. M i n e w a s u s e l e s s o n t h e p l a s t i c s o I t r i m m e d o f f m o r e e x c e s s l e a t h e r t h a n I w o u l d h a v e u s i n g a s t a p l e g u n a n d r e l i e d o n t h e l e a t h e r g l u e t o s e c u r e t h e b o t t o m e d g e s. You can use a utility knife or good quality scissors to trim off the excess leather. I used both depending on what worked best for the particular place I was trimming. You will need to cut the leather around the lid hinge that sticks out to have it fit properly. 5. Once all sides are trimmed the final step is to glue down the loose bottom edges of the leather cover. To avoid getting the leather glue on the exposed outside surface I once again used painter s tape around all sides of the cover. Using the brush provided with my glue I carefully applied it to the plastic edge and to the inside of the leather one section at a time. Using my fingers and the flat edge of a screw driver I pressed the leather to the plastic bottom edge and held it firmly in place for a minute or two until it set, and then moved on to the next section.
6. While it s handy give it a good treatment of your favorite leather conditioner, then install back into your Miata. Looks great, feels great, and your right arm will thank you!