Adding padding to front door armrest and center console

Definitely curious to see what you find out. Im sure a professional upholstery shop could add foam but at what cost is the question. Been wanting to do this since the day i drove my gen 3 home. My gen 4 hasn't seen enough miles to want it yet but im sure it will be the same.

 

This is what I use for a window armrest. You can get Armsaver on ebay for anywhere between $20.00 - $30.00 (I bought mine last year when it was going for about $35.00, so they have gone down in price somewhat).

As some of you are probably aware, the vinyl door trim panels used in the gen 4 Prius can be easily damaged. Constant pressure - such as when you rest your arm on the window sill - will cause the material to dimple over time. This armrest fixes that problem.

You will need to modify the Armsaver by cuting off approximately 3/4th of an inch from the armrest window well tab (about half of the tab) to make it fit in the Prius window well. The tab is the bare 1/16" plastic section (I believe it's 1/16" ABS), shown in the 2nd photo, below, which inserts into the window well.

I have test fitted the modified Armsaver on gen 2, 3 and 4 vehicles. It is simple but well designed, and it is easy to install (once modified), and easy to adjust and/or remove when necessary. There have been some reports of it rubbing against the window in some vehicles but this doesn't seem to apply to the Prius. I have window tinting and the Armsaver does not rub against or leave any marks on the tint film.

I have yet to find a satisfactory armrest for the center console, so I purchased some two way stretchable vinyl and intend to fabricate my own cover. However, I need to learn how to do upholstery first.

(I apologies for the dirty windows... ...the pollen here in the tidewater area is really bad this year)

 

I really like that armrest, @ice9. The trimming you had to do -- I don't think I quite get it. What are we seeing in that second picture?

The door handle arm rest is several inches too low for me, so I made this.

Not sure about the center console, but it shouldn't be hard. The door arm rest pad just pops off. Plastic pry levers help a lot with popping off panels and stuff in cars. There is one long keeper tab on the arm rest that will come right out of its slot if you move the tab all the way toward the door end of the slot. It's the long one in the picture below that looks like a broken arrow head.

 

I guess it depends on preference... ...You're either a "left arm out the window" kind of driver ("right arm out the window" in the UK) or you're not.

The center console ISN'T hard, in concept. I just don't know how to do upholstery. Heck. I don't even know how to use a sewing machine!

I'm a retired engineer.

 

I'm a variety kinda guy. I think I'll either make or buy one like yours to compliment what I have now. I used to be able to run a sewing machine, but for what I made, I did it by hand. My wife, who can make anything up to a wedding dress showed me how to do a whip stitch. Came out pretty cool if you don't look too closely. I don't feel to badly about the sewing disparity. She can't tig weld. LOL!

 

Sorry Jerry. I missed your first question.

If you look at the first photo, the interface where the armrest pile fabric grazes the base of the window is where the window-well tab is. You can't see it in the top photo because it is inserted in the window-well between the window and window seal. The tab is what holds the armrest in place. In the second photo, I stood the Armsaver on end so you can see the modified window-well tab. If you zoom in on it, you will see the word "PATENTED" stenciled in white lettering. The pink lighting is from a grow lamp that I was too lazy to turn off (I haven't moved my indoor plants outside yet). Unfortunately the camera overreacts and underexposes the subject with this type of lighting, making it difficult to make out details. The Tab is about 1 1/2" wide, as delivered. In the second photo, I have already cut it down to 3/4" so that it will fit in the window well.

 

I made it from stuff we had laying around. Here's a better explanation. See post #609. Jerry's Evolving Thoughts on "new-to-me" Prime Premium | Page 31 | PriusChat

That's what I should have done!! Thanks. Makes perfect sense now.

 

Looks great, but mine needed about three more inches on the driver's door arm rest.

 

I tried the armsaver in my 2017 Prius, however I thought it was a bit high, and not comfortable on longer rides. I am interested in a cover and/or more padding on the middle armrest, and am interested in what others may find.