Dark oak leather

J

jhumphrey

New member
Hey all,

First post :). I recently acquired a 97 Runner limited with leather seats and factory diff lock. Anyway, the seats are like typical Toyota and is showing its age. While the cushions aren't shot, there is the typical rip in the driver side. I also have a small rip in the backseat.

So does anyone know of a good place to get OEM (or OEM quality) upholstery for the seats? Ideally, I'd like to "restore" this runner to its factory glory, so I want to have OEM if I can. Keep in mind that I don't need a new seat, just upholstery.

Thanks!
 
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I've been looking into the same and wanting to keep it original.
Having custom leathers done is expensive and difficult to match the color or texture without doing all the seats
You can buy just the leather covers from the Toyota but it's not a whole lot more to replace the cushions as well which is what I'm doing.
Then I don't have to get to right tools and fight to remove & replace the clips that hold the skin on.
Besides, if I'm replacing 17 year old leather, I may as well replace a 17 year old cushion.
 
You can get custom fitted leather seat covers for the 3rd gen that will match the color and quality quite well. Thats going to be cheaper than getting your seat re done.
 
Shane at Metric TLC has been making leather replacement covers for the 80 series and 100 series land cruisers for many years. When I got my 98 I asked if he had a pattern for the 3rd gen and he had done one prior, so I had him whip me up a set of covers in a dark brown with tan stitching. He has a light leather that matches the stock color pretty closely, but I wanted to go darker to help hide stains and such.

See what you think of the finished product.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k8/mrtucker80/IMG_3591_zpsc9af9a61.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k8/mrtucker80/IMG_3592_zps55b7c797.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k8/mrtucker80/IMG_3596_zpse2d9c1bc.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k8/mrtucker80/IMG_3603_zpsf21d63e8.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k8/mrtucker80/IMG_3602_zps34b43d15.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k8/mrtucker80/IMG_3601_zps2ade8f40.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k8/mrtucker80/IMG_3594_zpscedc73d1.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k8/mrtucker80/IMG_3605_zps4832bb92.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k8/mrtucker80/IMG_3597_zps723fcf84.jpg

http://s84.photobucket.com/user/mrtucker80/media/IMG_3602_zps34b43d15.jpg.html

They are awesome. I tried to get the pics using the natural light so you can see how well the color actually matches the dark brown of the stock interior. I also replaced the DS bottom foam and installed a set of Carbon seat heaters, all from Him.

Here is a link to the full thread, and I believe he is actually going to start making them to sell. I sent him a bunch of pictures this weekend because he has had some interest.

Metric TLC 96-02 4Runner Leather Seat Covers (Picture Heavy)

You can email him for pricing, but I can tell you that it is top quality leather and it may be more than most folks want to drop on a set of replacement leather, but as I outline in the thread above, he includes everything to make the install as painless as possible and while it may look intimidating, it only took me a few week nights at my leisure to finish all 4 bottoms and backs.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Matthew
 
Thanks for the info, tucker. I did find a website that appears to allow you to order OEM parts, down to the warning labels. That's good, I have a few odd and ends I'd like to fix (dash cupholder, etc).

I saw on Shane's site that he sells his covers for around $800, so I'd imagine his runner covers would be in the same ballpark. On the OEM site, I can order the covers cheaper than that, but I'm not sure if its leather or cloth. I'll have to do some more digging to see.

I may end up, for now, getting a set of wet okole covers or something. I'd prefer the leather, but the budget won't allow $800 for that right now.
 
I swapped my driver and passenger base around then dropped the old driver side butt cushion and cover off at an upholstery guy. I also gave him a patch panel that i cut out of a picknpull seat. Perfect match and only 60 bucks. The other option is to find a complete passenger seat and swap cushions and covers onto the driver seat. I recommend passenger seat for a donor because they are typically in better condition.
 
2fas2c said:
I've heard lots of good things about these :

96' 2002 Toyota 4Runner Tan Leather Seat Covers 1 Back Rest and 1 Bottom | eBay

Somewhere on here there is a great write up on them, apparently the color is bang on and the price point is nice, pretty sure this is where I will buy them.
Click to expand...

If I read that ad correctly you get 1 complete seat (1 back and 1 bottom) for $400. Is that correct? The ad for 2 complete seats was nearly $800 (2 backs and 2 bottoms) I am pretty sure that I didn't pay that for my complete set of new covers front and rear. Plus I didn't see that you got the headrest(s) to go with it.

Someone correct me if I am reading that wrong.
 
mrtucker80 said:
If I read that ad correctly you get 1 complete seat (1 back and 1 bottom) for $400. Is that correct? The ad for 2 complete seats was nearly $800 (2 backs and 2 bottoms) I am pretty sure that I didn't pay that for my complete set of new covers front and rear. Plus I didn't see that you got the headrest(s) to go with it.

Someone correct me if I am reading that wrong.
Click to expand...

ya I think it is $770 PAIR or something, pretty reasonable. Doesn't come with headrests from what I can tell. If you paid less than that for fronts and back and it is quality leather you have done really well. I like the pattern on your seats nicer color too. If someone needed just a bottom or a back or something apparently the color matches really well.
 
I have a 1997 4runner limited and was considering the same thing. I went to an upholstery shop and they also suggested buying these prefab covers also. I just need to two front seats done. The back seat is fine, just needs cleaning.​
 
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