Refitting seat covers

[barryr]

Hi chaps,

Having removed the drivers seat covers, had a trim shop repair the seams and pleats and hsving crafted new foams myself ... I am now
ready to refit the covers before refinishing.

I've trial fitted and it seems the best place to start re- gluing is at the top. I just wondered how this is best tackled and what kind of clamps or techniques you might have used?

It looks like you need octopus arms to get a grip on all the areas required!!

Best regards all

Barry

[petervdvelde]

Hi Barry,

I am not very experienced/knowledgeable in this area. I put the white straps threw the holes but didn't tighten these yet.
Then i fitted the edges of the cover but these were not so tight and then put a bit more tension onto the white straps to get the cover without wrinkles and then fitted these with the clips. It sounds like you have a too thick layer of foam but i am not very experienced in this area.

Peter

[velvet]

its all about feel,, hemming-pulling-tucking-stretching till its right. where you start is not important, and reglueing the piping to the edge of the latex is a complete waste of time and doesn't help anything, infact it hinders, (other marques dont do this).
I put a video up on youtube a while back, although its a rear backrest it might help you in how you approach it.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlBxQgl41F4&t=190s

[barryr]

Thanks velvet. Interesting stuff

In the video the rear seats covers appear clipped on. What I was hoping for was more info specific to the front where there are no clips, only glue.

I do see what you mean about feel. Working round the cover I could see how it will go and there are 2 screws at the top that help with initial alignment.
I won't glue the piping.

I just wondered how others have tackled. Will contact adhesive hold without slipping if you attack the whole thing at once?

Best regards

Barry

[barryr]

Thanks Peter,

Love how your car is coming along!

Barry

[petervdvelde]

Barry,

On my front seats there are a lot of small kind of teeth which hold the piping on the vinyl side pieces. If you first fit the sides and then pull the white straps you should be able to get it fixed. There should not be too much tension on it otherwise you should reduce the amount of foam.

Peter

[barryr]

Thanks,

I should have been clearer - I'm talking about the backrest part not the base that you sit on - there are no teeth, no clips, just a cover that is glued all the way round. It does need to be pretty well stuffed to give it the right shape. I'm pretty happy with the amount of foam applied although I will admit I'm going on instinct as there was very little of the original left !!

I'm ok with the tapes part Peter - I made that mistake to start with by pulling them too tight. I also noticed one was missing on return from the trim shop.

onwards and upwards!

Barry