Swapping Front Seat Cushion Bottoms?

00328

00328

Senior Member
I have an '05 LTD w/leather. As you can imagine, the seat bottom on the drivers side is showing some wear and the passengers side seat bottom looks new.
Obviously, I know I can't just swap the entire seats because of the air bags and seat controls on the side. That would probably be the easiest.
Wondering if anyone has done this? I guess you would have to remove both seats and then separate the bottoms from the seat backs.
Sounds like a real PITA, but wondering if it is doable without too much hassle. I need to do it if it can be done.
Anyone have any experience and/or insight or point me to a DIY that someone posted. I surely can't be the only one whose seats are showing some wear.
Thanks
 
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since no one has chimed in.... I think this can be done and i've actually contemplated doing it as well (if I wasn't afraid I'd get the shaping of the foam wrong).... you can search for DIY seat heaters and that should show you how to take the seats apart....
get a foam you like (shape it to your specs), get some spray on adhesive, reinstall the seat covering and staple it to the bottom of the seat pan/structure would be my guess on how it's done...
If you end up trying this please share your experience... I'm interested in it. I don't think the ABS sensors are a concern.. you can look under your seat and see those so they're not integral to the cushioning/ foam I don't think.
 
I dont know if it can be done but it looks like it would work at least taking the cover off and switching them, i have thought about doing the exact same thing on my Sequoia, the drivers has a crack on the side that would be hidden against the center console if i switched them to the passengers.......just one of those things thats at the bottom of my to do list.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I wasn't really planning on taking the bottom cushion all apart, like in swapping just the seat cover itself. But that is an idea. If you swap just the seat cover, then you probably could do it without removing the entire seat from the vehicle. I'll have to think about that, I hadn't considered swapping just the covers.
I was more planning on swapping the complete seat cushion. It seems to me that might be easier than removing the cover.
On the other hand, you would need to separate the seat back from the seat bottom so maybe it wouldn't be easier. Thats what I don't know.
Be nice if someone that has done this would chime in.
 
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[MENTION=4158]00328[/MENTION] - It seems like using a garment steamer on worn foam seats can restore them a good deal. You may want to try this method. You'll need to take off the leather and then steam the seat foam. Let them dry to ensure they maintain the 'puffed up' shape and if they seem to hold their form, then re-upholster and you should be good to go.

If that doesn't work you may want to drop by a car upholstery/interior shop. A lot of these places have foam for rebuilding and reshaping seat cushions. You could either buy a bit of foam and replace the originals or add a bit of foam to the existing seat. The foam is fairly easy to shape and then you'd just have to pull back the leather, re-foam it, and put it back.

I've actually been considering this on mine after sitting in the passenger seat of mine the other day. Made me realize how much my driver seat has degraded. I'm going to try the steam method first (youtube link below).

Restoring seat cushion foam

Open Cell Foam
 
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It's not really the seat foam, the foam seems to have kept its shape so far. It's really the leather itself that is showing wear and tear.
 
Trying to decide what I want to do. Either swap the front driver and pass seat bottom covers or swap the entire seat bottoms.

Thanks for the link, i'll check it out.
 
Any possibility of getting an OEM leather seat cover anywhere. Not really looking at getting an after market leather kit.
 
OK, read your DIY on swapping the seat covers/skins. Excellent write up. It helps alot. You obviously swapped the covers rather than locating a used seat bottom on ebay or the junk yard.
Also looks like you removed both entire seats to work on them, probably near impossible to do without removing them.
My seat cover is also worn on the left side like yours from sliding in and out and starting to crack. Your foam also looked messed up on the drivers side bottom. Did you do anything with it?
I most likely won't be doing anything with this until the weather warms up so I will try to locate a seat bottom either on ebay or a junk yard.
Thanks for the link, will check out some of your other mods.
 
I try and fix things myself before spending money. I didn't do anything with the foam. It's OK.

Removing the seats makes itmuch easier to work on.
 
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