Homemade Arm rest for BZ - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Metallic BRZ · 08-05-2012, 02:59 PM

So I got tired of not having an Arm rest in my BRZ so I decided to fab up my own. I'll likely get the OEM once released, but decided I needed something now.

I'm no pro, nor did I do a DIY write up since I'm sure there are those better at these things than am I. Regardless, I thought I'd share. The materials cost me less than 25 dollars and it took about two hours.

Materials:
Hardwood board
Carpet foam pad
Black Suede to match Limited trim
carpet nails

I simply cut out then sanded the hardwood board, then covered the top and sides with the carpet foam using a spray on adhesive. Lastly, I covered the board with the black suede. The trick is to stretch the material over the foam, rounding the edges and securing underneath using the carpet nails.

Pics are bellow - sorry for the crappy iphone photos I took at night. It is very comfy with the carpet bad. It adds a nice feel to the armrest and doesn't leave any indentations.

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russv · 08-05-2012, 03:09 PM

Nice job!

ngabdala · 08-05-2012, 03:21 PM

Love your motivation and creativity but damn that looks mad ghetto

Metallic BRZ · 08-05-2012, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ngabdala

Love your motivation and creativity but damn that looks mad ghetto

Yep - but I'm a tall guy and was tired of not having a comfy arm rest. This will just hold me over till one is released.

ngabdala · 08-05-2012, 04:34 PM

True that. I'm picking up my BRZ in a week as it arrived at port yesterday. I'm also tall so if I have the same issue as you I'll feel like an ass

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metallic BRZ

Yep - but I'm a tall guy and was tired of not having a comfy arm rest. This will just hold me over till one is released.

BRZranger · 08-05-2012, 09:27 PM

I was thinking something similar... You have it hinged or just on top of?

AndreaCristiano · 08-05-2012, 09:46 PM

That's pretty good man as a hold over way to be productive!

Dadhawk · 08-05-2012, 09:58 PM

Not bad. When I first got the car I thought about doing the same thing, but what I've found in practice is I don't need it as an armrest. I tend to either keep both hands on the wheel (paddles).

pinoyplaya · 08-05-2012, 10:00 PM

I'll just keep my hands on the stick. Love to touch that round thang.... oh shiz... did I say that outloud.

Phaedrus29 · 08-05-2012, 10:31 PM

The ebrake works as a pretty good armrest for me when my hand isn't on the knob.

MannyO · 08-05-2012, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phaedrus29

The ebrake works as a pretty good armrest for me when my hand isn't on the knob.

That's what she said.

In all seriousness, I use the ebrake as my armrest also.

@Metallic BRZ, the final product looks great. I created a cardboard template for mine within the first week of owning the car, but never got around to finishing the project.

Kudos to you for fabbing up a nice product in a short amount of time

. (I think it took me 2 hours to make my template

)

Laika · 08-05-2012, 10:48 PM

Nothing about that looks "ghetto" to me...add the red stitching and it'd look OEM. Great job man!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Not bad. When I first got the car I thought about doing the same thing, but what I've found in practice is I don't need it as an armrest. I tend to either keep both hands on the wheel (paddles).

Agreed on everything except I have a 6MT and I still drive with my hands at the 9 and 3 position. Never consistently did this in any car before but it works well in the BRZ for dodging pesky potholes.

Metallic BRZ · 08-05-2012, 10:57 PM

Thanks guys. The suede matches the seat inserts real well. I was going to make it hinge(bought the parts) but didn't end up going that route. Right now there is a smaller cutout on the underneath side that holds it snug in place. Red stitching would be neat but beyond my skill. I don't think it looks too getto either but different strokes I guess.

BRAWL · 08-05-2012, 11:10 PM

I am tall, but have no need for an armrest. I tend to keep both hands on the wheel when I can and I prefer the drink holders anyway.

Looks good for a temporary unit though

08-05-2012, 02:59 PM	#1
Metallic BRZ Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 1992 Corvette Z07 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 77 Thanks: 13 Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Homemade Arm rest for BZ So I got tired of not having an Arm rest in my BRZ so I decided to fab up my own. I'll likely get the OEM once released, but decided I needed something now. I'm no pro, nor did I do a DIY write up since I'm sure there are those better at these things than am I. Regardless, I thought I'd share. The materials cost me less than 25 dollars and it took about two hours. Materials: Hardwood board Carpet foam pad Black Suede to match Limited trim carpet nails I simply cut out then sanded the hardwood board, then covered the top and sides with the carpet foam using a spray on adhesive. Lastly, I covered the board with the black suede. The trick is to stretch the material over the foam, rounding the edges and securing underneath using the carpet nails. Pics are bellow - sorry for the crappy iphone photos I took at night. It is very comfy with the carpet bad. It adds a nice feel to the armrest and doesn't leave any indentations. __________________ 1992 Z07 Corvette 2008 Odyssey 2013 BRZ

08-05-2012, 03:09 PM	#2
russv First 86 Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: Scion FRS Argento Automatic Location: Northern California Posts: 1,127 Thanks: 1,069 Thanked 544 Times in 232 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Nice job! __________________ Life is short...NO BORING CARS

08-05-2012, 03:21 PM	#3
ngabdala Vortech Supercharged Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: WRB BRZ 6MT LTD Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,447 Thanks: 1,897 Thanked 467 Times in 283 Posts Mentioned: 14 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Love your motivation and creativity but damn that looks mad ghetto __________________ Powered by Vortech, ECS Tuning, and JDL Auto Design

08-05-2012, 09:58 PM	#8
Dadhawk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: '13 FR-S (#3 of 1st 86) Location: Powder Springs, GA Posts: 20,103 Thanks: 39,658 Thanked 25,434 Times in 11,599 Posts Mentioned: 187 Post(s) Tagged: 4 Thread(s)	Not bad. When I first got the car I thought about doing the same thing, but what I've found in practice is I don't need it as an armrest. I tend to either keep both hands on the wheel (paddles). __________________ Olivia 05/03/2012 - 01/06/2024. 231,146 glorious miles. Visit my Owner's Journal where I wax philosophic on all things FR-S Post your 86 or see others in front of a(n) (in)famous landmark. What fits in your 86? Show us the "Junk In Your Trunk".

08-05-2012, 10:00 PM	#9
pinoyplaya Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: WRB MT-BRZ LMTD Location: Maple Grove, MN (Minneapolis) Posts: 355 Thanks: 4 Thanked 64 Times in 34 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'll just keep my hands on the stick. Love to touch that round thang.... oh shiz... did I say that outloud. __________________ BYE: WRB MT-BRZ LMTD Drove the car off the lot at 8/6/12 @ 8:06 PM Traded for Black 2013 Camaro 2SS RS

08-05-2012, 09:27 PM	#6
BRZranger Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: BRZ Location: Everett, WA Posts: 736 Thanks: 996 Thanked 268 Times in 180 Posts Mentioned: 15 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I was thinking something similar... You have it hinged or just on top of?

08-05-2012, 09:46 PM	#7
AndreaCristiano Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: Honda CR-V Location: NJ Posts: 55 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	That's pretty good man as a hold over way to be productive!

08-05-2012, 10:31 PM	#10
Phaedrus29 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ Location: PA Posts: 683 Thanks: 106 Thanked 248 Times in 133 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The ebrake works as a pretty good armrest for me when my hand isn't on the knob.

08-05-2012, 10:57 PM	#13
Metallic BRZ Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 1992 Corvette Z07 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 77 Thanks: 13 Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks guys. The suede matches the seat inserts real well. I was going to make it hinge(bought the parts) but didn't end up going that route. Right now there is a smaller cutout on the underneath side that holds it snug in place. Red stitching would be neat but beyond my skill. I don't think it looks too getto either but different strokes I guess. __________________ 1992 Z07 Corvette 2008 Odyssey 2013 BRZ

08-05-2012, 11:10 PM	#14
BRAWL Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: Toyota 86 GTS Velocity Orange Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 447 Thanks: 74 Thanked 102 Times in 64 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I am tall, but have no need for an armrest. I tend to keep both hands on the wheel when I can and I prefer the drink holders anyway. Looks good for a temporary unit though

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