No more shrinkage!!

Just completed the air bag shrinkage repair, about an hour to remove the airbag, an evening to condition the leather (while on the airbag) and about an hour to stretch, remove, clean and reinstall the leather.

The airbag now looks like new...
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Yes,

The leather shrinks and pulls away at the bond, then you get a bubble/distortion that becomes an eye sore. Mine pulled away at the bottom and looked terrible...

A few hours of work and now looks like new.

Unfortunately a common problem on our cars which is a pretty easy fix.

 

After removing the airbag, I treated the leather with Lexol leather conditioner. I probably applied at least a dozen applications rubbing it into the leather and then let it sit overnight. I then rubbed in a couple of additional applications the following morning and left for work letting it sit throughout the day.

The following evening I worked (stretched) the leather back into shape by hand by running my thumb from the top of the bag to the bottom (much like a massage) while also tugging on the bottom of the leather. I did this from the top down and also from the top diagonally. Took about 20 mins for the leather to stretch back to where it should be (Mine had shrunk a good 1/4 inch and had pulled completely loose from the bottom).

Once I had the leather stretched I removed the entire leather cover figuring that the other bond would probably not to far behind and fail. Once that was off I cleaned the plastic airbag module face and then trial fit the leather cover.

Once the cover was positioned correctly, I used 3 clips to temporarily secure the lower piece of leather to the airbag so I could bond the top without worry of loosing the alignment of the leather.

The glue I used was Weldwood contact cement, GEL. I applied 2 coats to the leather rim (the part without foam backing) and 2 coats to the back of the airbag. Waited approx. 20 - 25 minutes then stretched the top leather over the airbag module and rubbed/pressed the two areas together. (I did NOT apply glue to the foam back of the leather, nor did I remove any of the foam). Once I completed the top, I then removed my clips from the bottom and applied two coats to both the leather and the back of the airbag module face, waited 20 mins and then stretched the leather over and rubbed/pressed the two areas together.

Once the top and bottom had been bonded, I did both the sides using the same manner. I then let the airbag sit overnight and installed it the following evening. I have attached a picture of it installed and it looks awesome...

Just wish I had taken pictures throughout the process as I found very little on this subject while I was researching it.
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