Headliner removal

[MattHarrell]

Not really sure where this question belongs since it's not quite an audio question but I would like to pull down the headliner some so I can get access to the ceiling to tighten down an antenna mount. Can someone fill me in on the procedure to get it down without damaging it - at least far enough that I can squeeze my arm in there? This is for a 99 XLT by the way. Back when I had the 91 Navajo I was able to get my arm in behind the sunroof and didn't damage anything but unfortunately the sunroof cover on the XLT slides back in the ceiling so it's probably not going to work

If I get it down alright do I need glue or something similar to hold it in place?

 

[DeRocha]

The headliner is not held in by glue. It is held in place by the push pins and trim pieces along the perimeter of the roof. Where is the antenna mount which needs to be tightened down? You may luck out and only need to remove the trim panel(s) near it.

 

[MattHarrell]

I haven't actually installed it yet and I'm just ensuring that I can get in there to finish it once I do. I'm thinking about putting it roughly where the middle overhead light cluster is - probably a little before that. More or less a comfortable distance behind the rear edge of the sunroof when it retracts.

I'm hoping I can just pull down the edges some and reach it that way but wanted to make sure first.

 

[MONMIX]

I had my headliner out Friday. Well partialy.

It is not glued in but if you care about the apperiance and longevity of your headliner try to minimize how much you bend the head liner.

The best bet is to flat out remove the whole thing.

DeRocha is correct. Push pins, **** handles, visors, over head lamps, and the side trims all work together to hold the head liner in place.

 

[MattHarrell]

ok, great. Thanks

 

[MattHarrell]

While poking around a bit planning what to do I notice there is a metal "bracket" down the centerline of the roof above the headliner. I figure this contains the wires for the overhead lights in addition to probably supporting the lights so they don't move. Can anyone who has taken down the headliner confirm what this might be?

This kind of puts a damper on putting an antenna on the centerline of the truck

 

[jimbo74]

mattharrell, you are right... give me a minute or 2, i have pictures of the headliner removed... you can see in some of the pics that the roof is actually cut off, potentially right where you want to mount that antenna, if you look at the shape of my cut, i cut around the dome light bracketso an antenna would have to be rignt in front of the bracket, or further behind it....

www.explorerforum.com/data/showgallery.php?cat=3118&ppuser=4019&page=1
www.explorerforum.com/data/3113/4019threequartere.jpg

if you look in this one, you can actually see the domelight bracket still protruding forward
www.explorerforum.com/data/3113/4019roofline.jpg

 

[MattHarrell]

Thanks. I'm not sure if yours was a sunroof model or not - do you know if there is a gap between the sunroof and that bracket? Also if there are wires under that bracket are they coming from the front or up something like the B pillar?

I guess this means I'll definitely have to take down the headliner to see what's going on