3rd Gen driver's seat wear - FIXED for free!

[MTD]

I figured someone else would have done this too...

I can't believe the wear came back that fast - I guess the vinyl is old...

Unfortunately I think I/we are going to have to face the fact that our trucks are 15+ years old and that the seats are just getting old. I am looking into wet okole seat covers now to cover the ugly..

 

[MONTYMTB]

Unfortunately I think I/we are going to have to face the fact that our trucks are 15+ years old and that the seats are just getting old. I am looking into wet okole seat covers now to cover the ugly..

If you don't do something to properly address the missing/old foam before installing the seat covers, you will wear a hole in them in those spots. Ask me how I know.

 

[MTD]

If you don't do something to properly address the missing/old foam before installing the seat covers, you will wear a hole in them in those spots. Ask me how I know.

Good to know. Frankly for the price of this seat covers I know an apohlstry shop that could fix the foam and bad panels.

 

[angus]

Good to know. Frankly for the price of this seat covers I know and apohlstry shop that could fix the foam and bad panels.

How do we keep coming up with the same ideas?

I am thinking that if I removed the cover, I could have them done for about $75 or less per seat.

 

[MTD]

How do we keep coming up with the same ideas?

I am thinking that if I removed the cover, I could have them done for about $75 or less per seat.

Because I'm in your head. Oooooooooh spooky!!!! Jk not sure lol

 

[Jason B]

Any pics?

 

[DocW8494]

Not that I like spending $$, but I took mine to get new leather on it. Fits perfect, put some new cushion stuff on it, color match. $200.
*Maybe expensive, but I got what I paid for and I like it!

 

[fourfive]

The only hiccup in my project was my '99 had the weight sensor on the pass side to cancel the airbag if you put less than a certain weight on it -

I started to remove all the hog rings to pull the leather off as I was going to swap the covers, then I realized the sensor was just a ribbon cable glued to the seat. So what I did was carefully peel it off (with aid of a razor blade) You want to be extremely careful not to cut or rip the cable - I then peeled back the drivers side leather (pulled a few big rings) just enough to expose the part where the sensor sits - the foam in the driver seat is even indented in the spot where the sensor goes. As I said the L/R parts are identical!

I used some 3M 90 spray to glue it back in place and buttoned everything up!

If I understood you correctly, you did not have to remove the hog rings or seat covers correct? Just wondering what tools I need besides a socket set.

[MENTION=115590]StreetCreeper[/MENTION], I think I remember you mentioning that you swapped your front driver/passenger seat bottoms. I've removed my seats before & unbolting the seat back from the seat bottom seems pretty straight forward from what I've read but wasn't clear on what else was involved regarding sensors, plugs, etc & if any special tools were needed. Do you have any pics or tips if you did this?

 

[octanejunkie]

If I understood you correctly, you did not have to remove the hog rings or seat covers correct? Just wondering what tools I need besides a socket set.

[MENTION=115590]StreetCreeper[/MENTION], I think I remember you mentioning that you swapped your front driver/passenger seat bottoms. I've removed my seats before & unbolting the seat back from the seat bottom seems pretty straight forward from what I've read but wasn't clear on what else was involved regarding sensors, plugs, etc & if any special tools were needed. Do you have any pics or tips if you did this?

I did it, swapped seat bottoms, but opted to swap them back and install a passenger foam sans sensor in the driver seat - unfortunately my first effort used a non-sport seat foam, so the profile is off, but yes, I cut all the rusty hog rings and resealed with zip ties :rofl:

Thanks to another forum member, I will get a passenger sport foam via FedEx tomorrow and will swap grade the driver side once again but this time with the correct foam.

I wrote a thread about it once > http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/238956-seat-foam-swap.html

 

[Puddles09]

Its amazing what you guys come up with!

 

[fourfive]

I did it, swapped seat bottoms, but opted to swap them back and install a passenger foam sans sensor in the driver seat - unfortunately my first effort used a non-sport seat foam, so the profile is off, but yes, I cut all the rusty hog rings and resealed with zip ties :rofl:

-When you say you swapped the seat bottoms, you mean you just unbolted the entire passenger seat bottom switched them from passenger to driver's side correct?

-Do you know if the airbag sensors are side specific or did you have to remove and swap driver/passenger sensors?

-Am I correct in thinking that if the seat cover and foam are not being removed, there's no need to cut the hog rings?


I've been getting a little confused on what people meant when they said they swapped seat bottoms. I initially thought they meant they literally removed both front passenger & driver's side seats, unbolted the seat bottoms & switched the entire seat bottom from one side to the other. But as I kept reading, it seemed like since there are airbag sensors in each seat bottom it would result in the airbag stuff/lights not working properly so they ended up re-cushioning & replacing the seat covers.

What's a sans sensor?

 

[phattyduck]

-When you say you swapped the seat bottoms, you mean you just unbolted the entire passenger seat bottom switched them from passenger to driver's side correct?

-Do you know if the airbag sensors are side specific or did you have to remove and swap driver/passenger sensors?

-Am I correct in thinking that if the seat cover and foam are not being removed, there's no need to cut the hog rings?

What's a sans sensor?

On the '99/'00 trucks, the passenger seat occupancy sensor does not connect to the airbag system and can be left unplugged/unused.

It looks like on the '01/'02's the airbag system does connect to the occupancy sensors and will need to be swapped between the seat bottoms so the sensors remain in the correct position.

I would suggest swapping as much as you can L-R to even out the wear...

-Charlie

 

[83wonder]

I posted a separate thread asking this but didnt get any responses.

My driver seat is thrashed and I was thinking about just taking it to an upholstery shop and having them cut some of whats left and shape a new bottom seat cushion to just glue on top, then getting some wet okoles for the driver/passenger to put over the top.

Anyone foresee any issues with that?

 

[tystaco]

I posted a separate thread asking this but didnt get any responses.

My driver seat is thrashed and I was thinking about just taking it to an upholstery shop and having them cut some of whats left and shape a new bottom seat cushion to just glue on top, then getting some wet okoles for the driver/passenger to put over the top.

Anyone foresee any issues with that?

Better off getting a less thrashed cushion from the junk yard, not spend the couple hundred bucks on the upholstry place and put it towards your Wet Okoles.

 

[83wonder]

Better off getting a less thrashed cushion from the junk yard, not spend the couple hundred bucks on the upholstry place and put it towards your Wet Okoles.

Thanks I considered that too and was wondering if it'd end up being worth it with all the time spent finding a yard and doing the work myself. I'm kind of contemplating how hard it'd be to just buy a block of foam and shape it myself.

I figure it doesn't need to bee to pretty if its getting covered right?

 

[tystaco]

Thanks I considered that too and was wondering if it'd end up being worth it with all the time spent finding a yard and doing the work myself. I'm kind of contemplating how hard it'd be to just buy a block of foam and shape it myself.

I figure it doesn't need to bee to pretty if its getting covered right?

I have been accused of being a perfectionist, and I believe that would be a lot of work. My seats aren't that bad, and just to get new vinyl sewn in and touched up I was quoted a couple hundred.

The junkyard issue really depends on where you are. I have a bunch in the Wilammette Valley with a lot of 4runners, so I wouldn't be out much time getting to one, and would view taking one out as free practice to not mess up my own rig.

 

[Jidaran]

[MENTION=116877]fourfive[/MENTION] Did you end up doing the swap? Seems like there's some conflicting information in this thread about whether or not it's possible on an 02.

 

[APhelps]

Thanks I considered that too and was wondering if it'd end up being worth it with all the time spent finding a yard and doing the work myself. I'm kind of contemplating how hard it'd be to just buy a block of foam and shape it myself.

I figure it doesn't need to bee to pretty if its getting covered right?

You can easily source the foam from either toyota or ebay. (perferably toyota foam)

The leather seat covers are easy to swap and only require a bit of time and dedication. I'd personally spend the money over some crappy looking seat slip on covers. Pull the leather off, install seat heaters and admire your work.

 

[fourfive]

[MENTION=116877]fourfive[/MENTION] Did you end up doing the swap? Seems like there's some conflicting information in this thread about whether or not it's possible on an 02.

I did not mainly because from what I've read it wasn't a straight forward swap & didn't want to risk messing with the airbag sensors. I will most likely recushion down the line.

 

[Jidaran]

I did not mainly because from what I've read it wasn't a straight forward swap & didn't want to risk messing with the airbag sensors. I will most likely recushion down the line.

Yeah, that was a bit of a concern for me as well. The seat itself is easy enough to remove, I may just pop out the passenger side and see how complicated it looks. If it's too much, it's reupholstery time. Thanks for the response!