ebay leather seat replacement covers
 

Has anyone ever tried any of the leather seat replacement covers found on eBay, and had a good outcome or a poor outcome?

In searching older threads there was a fellow, whiskey something, that posted on here but that was several years ago and the page was not found on eBay.

We need new seat covers but if we can buy seat replacement covers and have a new look original style, that would be preferable to us over just covering the old seats. Prices seem reasonable, they say "leather" but I'm sure they are vinyl because real leather would be much more expensive. I looked on wet okole and they want like $353 just for covers, not replacements!

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!

I reupholstered mine using cloth seats from a 2nd gen, actually turned out great so long as you have the patience, i got both seats for 70$.


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Just did mine used Ebay supplier usautoseatcovers in Leather. Iam picky but was happy with results. I used zip ties instead of hog rings . On u tube hot rod upholstery has a good video on the job .


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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.

I went with US autoseat cover Oak leather in 2017 look like new stitching has held up well no wrinkles have developed. Their leather has a rougher texture than factory is a stiffer leather.

I'm picky I'm satisfied. I did call the place spoke to owner had no problems with questions.

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second hot rod upholstery, he does VERY good, detailed work. they're costly but totally worth it. i wanted to work on this with my dad for father's day, and was in town for a limited time and he expedited the shipping for me. great guy, great work. seats still look great.

I put in USAUTO replacement covers in oak, and they are genuine leather. Fantastic quality and the stitching and color are spot on to the originals. If you go for it, put in all new seat foam and might as well toss in some seat heaters while you're in there. Added bonus, the truck smells like new inside again. If your old covers are even in average condition don't chunk'em, I sold mine for around $100 each. Especially if you sell the passenger side to be used as someone's new driver side, it works.

Now if someone will start making a replacement carpet set in oak that looks oem.

Thank you, and everyone who has posted. Does US Auto also sell the foam? We already have the heated seats, it came with heated seats. I'm wondering how it would look just to do the bottom parts and leave the top alone for now, just due to the cost of this project? Tops are "ok", I would like to replace them, as they have minor tears, but the bottoms on both sides are really bad.

what is the budget?

I have done it 3x times now. new covers from both ebay and higher end. the ebay stuff is not as thick as OEM and it's ok.

this last time around I went with

Toyota 4Runner SR5 (Gen 3) 1996-2002 Leather Replacement Seat Covers | Ridies.com

super happy with the results, I did go with the Nappa and it's nice.

info about ebay covers here
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/2851244-post10.html

ridies here

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3726726-post347.html

the ridies leather smoothed out after a day or so... it's thick. Install both seats should take you maybe 2-3 hours per seat. doing the headrest is very easy and I wish I would have done it the first time around. as long as you have a zip loc bag big enough to go around the headrest and a shop vac, easy peasy lemon squeezy.