Seat Referbishment Phase 2

[SwissSteve]

Following the geat instructions from VMad, I have restored half my seat. The seat base has new diaphram, foam and cover and looks the bis!

Now I have to start on the seat back. I currently have the front seat in two parts. My first question is if I should reattach the front seat back together or recover it whilst seperate?

The second question is are there any tips on the best steps to add the new foams and new cover for the seat back?

Any suggestions are welcome.

[Greenstag]

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Definitely do the back separately using the same trick that I told you about with the fabric straps.

Also make sure you have the seat cover fitting perfectly and fully retensioned before you even think about cutting a hole for the head restraints. Be careful cutting this hole, try to cut a small oblong hole rather than a straight cut as this could extend into a tear when under tension.

After you put the foams on, do a quick dry runwith your seat backs to see if they fit snugly in the recess and make sure you have access to the screw holes in the seat frame for fastening the seat backs on later.

Best of luck

David

[V Mad]

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Hi Steve

This is a tricky job but if you are brave enough to have a go, here are my tips.

If you are fitting a new cover and new (Aldridge) foams, then these are the steps:

STRIPPING AND REMOVING OLD COVERS AND FOAMS

1.Remove the seat back from the seat base.

2.Remove the fittings (levers etc) and the rear panel four screws(two screws hidden inside pocket). Retain the two internal clips. Remove the headrest (note catch inside).

3. Remove all clips holding the cover to frame (note where they go; take pictures!)and remove cover. Remove covers from two anchor arms onlyif bad (refitting new ones is abittricky)

4. Clean old bad foam away. Central foams can remain if good.

5. Check frame and de-rust/repair as necessary.

FITTING THE NEW FOAMS

6. Fit/glue central foams, Feed tabs though to back.

7. Fit side bolster foams and note where two frame strips touch on the back. Trim the foam so itgoes right over straps andinto the frame recess. Lightly glue foams into place.

7. Fit and glue in the top centre foam.

FITTING THE COVER; the main cover is retained only by clips,not glue

8. Fit the two small covers to the anchor arms and glue into place.

9. Put cling film over the top and side foams and fit the new cover. Pull the top and sidesback into position.

10. Put in a few clips at top and sidesto hold in place. Pull the cover down and back until the cover fits neatly over the bottom of the frame at sides (trim foam as necessary). Pull centre section down and clip at the back.

11. Check shape of the cover and adjust tension to remove any creases. When shape is approx correct pull all tabs lightly and clip into place. Check shape and adjust again as necessary.

12. Mark position of headrest hole in cover; remove top clips and fold back cover; cut hole and fit bezel; replace cover, fit clips and then fit headrest.

13. Mark position of side catch and cut small slit in cover. Fit escutcheon and knob.

14. Fit the back panel with clips and screws.

15. Stand back and admire your work!

[SwissSteve]

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Thanks guys. I hope to start this weekend.

Will let you know how it proceeds.

[SwissSteve]

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A couple of further questions.

1. The kit from Aldridge came with two large peices of thin 2 - 3 mm foam approx 1M x 1M, for what is this required?

2. There were no rubber straps in the kit for the back of the seat. Do you normally replace these straps are just reuse the originals?

[V Mad]

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SwissSteve wrote:

A couple of further questions.

1. The kit from Aldridge came with two large peices of thin 2 - 3 mm foam approx 1M x 1M, for what is this required?

2. There were no rubber straps in the kit for the back of the seat. Do you normally replace these straps are just reuse the originals?

The thin foams are optional: you can fit them over the sides bolsters if you wish.

The straps are normally serviceable and dont need replacing.

[SwissSteve]

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Optional then I dont thinkI will bother. Probably quite difficult to keep it in place.

My straps are ok but was not sure if new ones were worth fitting.

Thanks again for the advice

[SwissSteve]

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Eventually found the time to start this job again.

Regarding the besel for the headrest hole, a new one did not come with the kit from Aldridge, can I buy a new part and if not is it feasible to reuse the old one? Tried to get my old one off this morning and cannot open the clips at the moment.

What did others do?

Did a trial run fitting the cover by first clipping the bottom and the tried to pull on the top without success. The instrucitons above say fit top first then bottom and then release the top to cut and fit the headrest besel.

Once fitted is it going to be possible to pull the top of the cover off to fit the besel?

Thanks again in advance for the advice.