[How To] Restore Leather Seats $120

Hotrodhendrix

New member
I decided to give this a try after many hours of research on the matter. My budget build didn't include $500 to $1000+ for new leather so here is my fix for the problem at hand. Total price came to just under $120 shipped for everything.


This supplies came from http://www.leatherworldtech.com/
Color prep spray (Leatherworld)
Black dye (Leatherworld)
Leather protect (Leatherworld)
Sponge (Leatherworld)
Lint free rags (Leatherworld)
Scuff pad (Leatherworld)
Permatex Leather repair kit (Oreillys)
Pre bent needles (walmart)
Heavy duty string (walmart)
Leather brush (walmart)

Hairdryer
Screw drivers
14mm and 12mm sockets

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Hotrodhendrix

New member
This is what I started with. The leather was in fairly good shape for being 20 years old
Drivers seat had a stain which I couldn’t remove for the life of me with cleaners, cracks in the bolster and a seam coming apart.
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Passenger seat was in better shape and only had minimal cracking
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Rear seats were the worst off. The drivers side rear had 4 rips in the leather and both were very brittle up top.
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Hotrodhendrix

New member
So of course to start off you have to remove the seats. The seats are held down by 4 bolts 14mm covered by slips which can be removed with a screw driver. On the drivers seat you will need to remove the hatch and gas lid unit held in by two screws. Make sure to unplug the power drivers seat
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Rears will need to be laid forward. Pull the carpet flap up and you will notice two bolts in the center and one on the outside. 12mm. Remove these and the seats will fall free. Lower unit has two tabs which you pull and pick up on the cushion.
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Hotrodhendrix

New member
Now you need to repair any damage to the seats. I started with the seam on the drivers seat.
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Open the seam up until you get to where the stock string is still tight. Get your string and needle ready.
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Start from one side making sure to give yourself way more than you will need. DO NOT be stingy. You are better off having too much than too little. Work back and forth to the adjacent hole in the leather. Only go down under the layer of leather. Leave loops as you go every 6 so that you are able to tighten them all down easier. Tighten together as you go. Once your all the way across work your way across tightening the leather together.
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end on a further down knot to the stock string
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Hotrodhendrix

New member
I then moved on to the rear seat. Back the rips with the cloth from your leather repair kit.
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Clean with color prep
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Scuff up with scuff pad
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Use filler as glue to hold leather down to the cloth underneath it. Tool in pic is in the leather repair kit.
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Follow the instructions on the leather repair kit and fill the cracks. This will take 2 or 3 coats. You may need some light sanding to get it smooth.
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I then used some finish filler to get it as smooth as I could. You just dab it on and run it smooth. Let dry
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Hotrodhendrix

New member
Time to take apart front seats.
The lumbar support is held on with a pin which requires a pick to remove.
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Unplug seat belt underneath drivers seat (passenger doesn’t have this.
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Remove all screws holding on side plastics
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Headrests are easy. Pins hold the rubber covers down. Just slip a screw driver underneath and pop them out.
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There is two screws holding the rear piece to the headrest
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Hotrodhendrix

New member
Now we need to prep to dye the seats.
First is a good cleaning with the color prep and a leather brush.
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Second is a nice scrub down with a scuff pad.
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Once again give a good wipe down with color prep
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Repair any damage to the backings. Fill areas with the same leather filler. Use the color mixing paints in the kit to match the stock color.
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Finished result
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Hotrodhendrix

New member
Time for the fun part. Dab some dye onto the sponge and blot on the seat. First layer is not to cover but focus on keeping an even coverage. Second coat will come out MUCH better. Some areas will need up to 4 coats. Pay extra attention to the high use areas.
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The drivers seat before and after
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Now put it all back in and ENJOY. I will update with those pics once the rest of my interior restoration is complete. More interior How To’s on the way!
~James
 

Hotrodhendrix

New member
bombton_gt4":30kwhpuo said:
thaxs alot imma do this to my seats but imma choose the Porche black :D

Awesome. Post up some before and after pics on here
Feel free to add any tips you find relevant.

~james
 

Hotrodhendrix

New member
Well it has been more than a year. The color is still as dark as it was then. The leather is no longer as plush as it was just after I completed but some nice leather care products help. Over all I still say it was well worth the money. They dont look brand new but I would say 5 year old leather is the best match. No where near the 20 years it actually is.
 
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