Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen941
Has anyone ever tried any of the leather seat replacement covers found on eBay, and had a good outcome or a poor outcome?
Also, if you have done it, was it relatively easy? Did you need special tools? How long did it take to do?
Thanks in advance!
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I have replaced both front seat bottom covers probably 5 years apart, but bought both from ebay seller "hot-rod-upholstery"
Toyota 4Runner Drivers Seat Upholstery 1997-1998-1999-2000-2001-2002 Limited | eBay
Ideally, you want a set of hog-ring pliers (I believe the seller provides hog rings - if not hardware stores usually carry them). If you don't have those pliers, I'm sure it can be done with channel-locks. Also "side cutter" pliers to cut the old hog rings off. Beyond that, just 12mm wrenches/socket and a phillips head to remove the plastic trim.
It is easy - my rig is an SR5, so no power seats. Not sure if power seats make it more challenging.
The job might take a 2-3 hours including seat removal / install.
One thing to pay attention to is on the drivers side, under the outboard seat bottom plastic side cover, I recall there is some sharp metal which is where the seat cover usually starts to come apart. Compounded by how people usually side in/out. I rounded the sharp edge with a file as best I could and then applied some gorilla tape over the metal edge....it's been at least 8 years since I recovered the drivers seat bottom and it still looks new.
Also, you can swap seat bottoms...I got away with this for a few years when I came across a set of Tacoma cloth seats (the bottoms are the same). So, I put the good (at the time) passengers leather bottom on the drivers side, and the Taco cloth bottom on the passengers side....
Eventually bought leather cover #1 and put it on the original ripped bottom I saved, removed the cloth bottom and sold the set of Taco seats, and put the original good pass. bottom back on the pass side. In 2019 bought a new cover for the pass side to match.