Additional padding on door armrest?

[Pdpawlak09]

Has anyone successfully added padding to the driver door armrest? Or found an aftermarket part that has more padding while retaining the stock type r appearance?

I know it’s 100% a first world problem, but I rest my elbow on there and it’s quite hard lol

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[boosted180sx]

yeah the factory arm rest is bad. It's literally got no foam padding underneath.

i got mine done by sweidit.
Added sticthing, using real alcantara and not some cheap fake crap that honda uses, and added 1/8" (iirc) high density foam so it doesnt feel like my arm is resting on plastic.

you can see it here.

you can make it look factory if you just opt for the no stitching and just add foam and better materials. I never tried to add padding underneath myself so idk. If you are crafted enough, i'm sure its possible.

upholstery work isn't cheap though ...

 

[Alphaskoom]

is that 1/8" foam whatever enough padding / did the sweidit guy put that in for you? cause I really am considering getting a set of arm rests from em for that reason alone.. the coupe's arm rests are just leather covered plastic it feels like.

 

[boosted180sx]

is that 1/8" foam whatever enough padding / did the sweidit guy put that in for you? cause I really am considering getting a set of arm rests from em for that reason alone.. the coupe's arm rests are just leather covered plastic it feels like.

I can only speak for myself but i feel like it was enough for me. its much softer than just resting your arm on plastic.
not sure on the coupes but on the hatch/sedan, factory ones have zero padding. its literally just material covered over plastic.

i had sweidit do it for me. He put the foam inside and then reupholstered it with real alcantara.

 

[s2kdriver80]

yeah the factory arm rest is bad. It's literally got no foam padding underneath.

i got mine done by sweidit.
Added sticthing, using real alcantara and not some cheap fake crap that honda uses, and added 1/8" (iirc) high density foam so it doesnt feel like my arm is resting on plastic.

you can see it here.

you can make it look factory if you just opt for the no stitching and just add foam and better materials. I never tried to add padding underneath myself so idk. If you are crafted enough, i'm sure its possible.

upholstery work isn't cheap though ...

Can that armrest piece pop off easily? Or does the whole door need to be taken apart for access?

 

[Alphaskoom]

The door panel must be removed unless you want to break it. there should be 2 to 4 screws securing it from the backside / underneath. door panels are relatively easy to remove, just take it slow and watch multiple videos to get a good idea what your looking at and prepare for so you don't break anything.

 

[BrandonSmith]

door panels are relatively easy to remove, just take it slow and watch multiple videos to get a good idea what your looking at and prepare for so you don't break anything.

And it's worth the $10 to buy a set of trim removal tools to preserve as many panel clips as you can.

 

[Alphaskoom]

Even with panel trim removal tools which are worth the investment, even the cheap 5 pieces sets which I bought and would buy again. Be careful with prying cause I still see marks on our interior pieces that I had to pry against, use multiple layers of masking tape as a layer to protect your trim for prying and try to pull the panel vs pry when able if you must.

 

[boosted180sx]

Can that armrest piece pop off easily? Or does the whole door need to be taken apart for access?

panel has to be removed to get the arm rest out but its 1 screw and takes like 3 mins to remove the panel so its no big deal.

 

[s2kdriver80]

Thanks - have you guys thought of upgrading the cloth armrest and also the cloth insert on the rear doors as well? I assume the armrest and insert are removable? How about making the rear seats match as well, with black alcantara and red stitching? This stuff can get addicting lol.

 

[kevv_FK8]

Thanks - have you guys thought of upgrading the cloth armrest and also the cloth insert on the rear doors as well? I assume the armrest and insert are removable? How about making the rear seats match as well, with black alcantara and red stitching? This stuff can get addicting lol.

I want to do this too!

 

[s2kdriver80]

I want to do this too!

Just contacted Sweidit. Looking to do a pair of boomerang wings on the center console, a pair of front door armrests with cushion, a pair of rear door armrests with cushion, and a pair of rear door inserts. All black alcantara with red stitching. Also inquired about matching rear seat covers but he said they are still in development. I just got done installing his steering wheel so he does good work.

 

[kevv_FK8]

Just contacted Sweidit. Looking to do a pair of boomerang wings on the center console, a pair of front door armrests with cushion, a pair of rear door armrests with cushion, and a pair of rear door inserts. All black alcantara with red stitching. Also inquired about matching rear seat covers but he said they are still in development. I just got done installing his steering wheel so he does good work.

did he quote you on all of that? you can PM me if you'd like.

 

[s2kdriver80]

did he quote you on all of that? you can PM me if you'd like.

Sent!

 

[s2kdriver80]

Just wanted to follow up on this thread from before. I was pleased with the Sweidit steering wheel, so I also just had them do the center console rails, front door armrests with padding, rear door armrests with padding, and rear door inserts - all in alcantara. Was inspired by @boosted180sx and his upgraded armrest. The rear door insert is not a "user-replaceable part" and was a job and a half to change out, so will gladly give some pointers and tips if anyone is looking to replace that piece on each rear door. But everything else was straightforward. Might do the rear seat next, as Sweidit is currently developing a matching black alcantara seat cover (similar to the FL5 OEM option).