1998-02 Honda Accord Door Armrest Reupolstery Kit- Front

Step 1. Remove the door panel. Remove the mirror garnish. It is held in place with two clips. If you are familiar with removing the door panel, skip to Step #12.

Step 2. Remove the clip under the mirror garnish.

Step 3. Remove the screw in the door pull.

Step 4. Open the screw cover behind the door handle. Remove the screw.

Step 5. Push the door handle to the front of the vehicle.

Step 6. It is now possible to pull the door handle away from the door. Unplug the connector behind the door lock button.

Step 7. Push the clip holding onto the door latch rod. The clip rotates; rotate out of the way and lift the latch rod out.

Step 8. The door panel is held in place with 10 clips around the side and bottom edges. Pull out all clips. It's easiest to start at the front and work your way around. It is not necessary to use a door puller.

Step 9. The panel can be swung out a bit as it is held on the door by the top edge. From below, unplug all wiring harnesses. The driver's door has three harness connections in the window control area. The passenger's door has one harness connection in the window control area.

Step 10. On both doors, remove the door light from the panel. On the driver's side door for cars with factory security, unplug the security status light (near the door lock).

Step 11. Lift the door panel off the door.

Step 12. Remove the armrest from the door by unscrewing the seven screws holding the armrest on the door panel. If you are only replacing the door insert covering, you can skip to Step #20 at this point.

Step 13. Remove the door pull from the armrest.

Step 14. Remove the old material from the armrest.

Step 15. Temporarily tape down the leather on the armrest. You can make adjustments, as needed, at this point. Once you start gluing down, adjustments will be more difficult.

Step 16. A high-heat contact cement such as Weldwood HHR works well. It is intended to be sprayed but can be brushed easily enough. Spray adhesive may also work, but since only the edge is glued, brushing the cement on is more precise.

Step 17. Remove the tape you used to hold the leather one section at a time and glue down each section. Whether you're using spray or brush, the concept is the same. Apply cement to both the leather and the insert. Wait until dry, pull tight and press to lock in place. Ignore the aluminum brace; your armest will not have this. If the armrest is cracked, reinforce it (aluminum works) before installing the new leather.

Step 18. Use a roller to ensure a good joint. Continue around the armrest until complete.

Step 19. Finished gluing. If you are also replacing the material on the insert, continue to the next step. If you are only replacing the material on the armrest, you can skip to Step #26.

Step 20. Remove the insert from the door panel. This is accomplished by carefully bending the tabs.

Step 21. Remove the old material from the insert.

Step 22. Temporarily tape down the leather on the insert. You can make adjustments, as needed, at this point. Once you start gluing down, adjustments will be more difficult.

Step 23. A high-heat contact cement such as Weldwood HHR works well. It is intended to be sprayed but can be brushed easily enough. Spray adhesive may also work, but since only the edge is glued, brushing the cement on is more precise.

Step 24. Remove the tape you used to hold the leather one section at a time and glue down each section. Whether you're using spray or brush, the concept is the same. Apply cement to both the leather and the insert. Wait until dry, pull tight and press to lock in place. Use a roller to ensure a good joint. Continue around the insert until complete.

Step 25. Finished gluing; onto reattaching the insert to the door panel.

Step 26. Reattach the insert to the door panel by aligning the tabs, holding the insert firmly against the door panel, and bending the tabs back. The armrest is reattached using the seven screws removed earlier.

Step 27. Better than from the factory! REAR INSERTS INSTALLATION BEGINS HERE Note In order to remove the rear panel, it will be necessary to permanently break the factory "fasteners" (melted pegs). Plastic rivets and a matching rivet setter (for example Marson #48149 rivets with the #48000 setter) can be used to reattach the panel. You could probably use standard rivets, however, unlike standard rivets the diameter of plastic rivets does not increase. If you decide to use rivets, you can drill the holes before you remove the panel (assuming you don't care about the old material). This way, you know the holes in both the door panel and insert are aligned properly.