Leather dash anti-shrinking tricks

I can't sleep at night worrying about shrinking leather. Any tips to delay what appears to be the inevitable? (2002 456M GT)

 

Don't park in the sun alot and condition the leather often.

 

It is not the leather that makes the incredible shrinking dash. It is the result of the foam underneath the leather degrading and breaking down. Once the foam padding degrades, there is nothing to hold the leather in place which causes the "bubbles" in the leather and the front defrosting vent to break free.

Yes, keep it out of the sun and a moist environment would also keep the foam from drying out. It is a polyurethane foam which dry rots.

I just did my dash last year, and the car looks great - worth the $4,500.

 

+1

 

The leather also shrinks.

It will pull away from where it's glued and pull staples out where it's secured. The best evidence of this is usually the instrument pod: staples will start to creep out from underneath as the leather shrinks. I have some cars where they have moved as much as an inch inwards.

Also on door panels and headliners where the leather is directly glued to the substrate, it will usually pull away from the convex middle first as the leather shrinks, because it is the weakest point.

 

whats wrong with fixing it when it happens? not something you shld stress over

 

This will help: UVS100 Custom Sunscreen - Covercraft

These guys often have the best prices: Discount Car Covers | Big Sky Car Covers

 

Nourish, protect, and good parking screens, visors. Think about window tint.

 

I've had shrinkage with the car just sitting in A/c heated garage