Upholstery seat pad restoration

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

I was talking with a Upholstery guy the other day about redoing my seats and was up in the air about replacing the foam.. Welp figured I'd share the love but there is a way to restore the foam padding without replacing it. U take a steamer and press it into the foam shooting the steam into the foam. Then allow the moisture to dry, I got to witness this and I was blown away... Figured it could save someone some $$$$
Here is a visual for anyone curious
https://youtu.be/5rndD6tzZPo

 

[jgue467]

Well that process might make it 'perky' again, for a while. Maybe.

But in my experience, new skin + new superior multi-stage foam is where its at. Better than new shocks at providing a supple, initially soft yet with underlying firmness for solid support. If you can afford 'to do it right', I highly recommend new foams. See how much your guy can get you into that and have him show you a before/after he may have around his shop. Luck. :cowboy:

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Well that process might make it 'perky' again, for a while. Maybe.

But in my experience, new skin + new superior multi-stage foam is where its at. Better than new shocks at providing a supple, initially soft yet with underlying firmness for solid support. If you can afford 'to do it right', I highly recommend new foams. See how much your guy can get you into that and have him show you a before/after he may have around his shop. Luck. :cowboy:

He did mention that ... Talked about shaving the bolster down and adding it those area and then do the steam job on the center portion of the seat. I figured try the steam job out on the passenger seat and the mutli stage on the driver.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I was talking with a Upholstery guy the other day about redoing my seats and was up in the air about replacing the foam.. Welp figured I'd share the love but there is a way to restore the foam padding without replacing it. U take a steamer and press it into the foam shooting the steam into the foam. Then allow the moisture to dry, I got to witness this and I was blown away... Figured it could save someone some $$$$
Here is a visual for anyone curious
https://youtu.be/5rndD6tzZPo

ABSOLUTELY REPLACE THE FOAM .... and yes with FACTORY OEM Toyota foam.

Trust me, I've done it. Only for the drivers side but it was 100% worth it and felt like a brand new seat.

Do it! And btw I don't think non-Toyota foam is equal and I don't think foam is just foam.

But with all that said I do see that the price of Toyota foam seems to have gone up recently. I think it was around $110 a piece when I bought them a few years ago. $s matter so if you find the aftermarket foam to be good let us know how it turns out.

.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Yes I only did the driver's seat, both top and bottom cushions

 

[octanejunkie]

ABSOLUTELY REPLACE THE FOAM .... and yes with FACTORY OEM Toyota foam.

Listen to Brian, your a$$ will thank you :first:

 

[rufast]

Anyone happen to have had a tear in the seat bottom/pan? I have an 01 SR5 with what appear to be Limited seats.. maybe not, but they are perforated leather. I'm wanting to replace the bottom skin with a factory piece if I can but my searched online have not been successful. Seems like there are just out of stock everywhere.

I'd go the junkyard/pick n pull route, but with only 96k miles on this 01, I'm betting I wouldn't find a used skin in decent shape.

Anyone in this particular thread have any input as to where I might be able to source and OEM skin?

 

[BrianSD_42]

Did the 01-s ship with perforated leather?

My Acura TL. Yes.

 

[2ndhandyotaman]

The '01 Limited that I had briefly didn't have perforated cow skins, it looked identical to the cow skins in my '99 Limited.

 

[Nixid]

Anyone happen to have had a tear in the seat bottom/pan? I have an 01 SR5 with what appear to be Limited seats.. maybe not, but they are perforated leather. I'm wanting to replace the bottom skin with a factory piece if I can but my searched online have not been successful. Seems like there are just out of stock everywhere.

I'd go the junkyard/pick n pull route, but with only 96k miles on this 01, I'm betting I wouldn't find a used skin in decent shape.

Anyone in this particular thread have any input as to where I might be able to source and OEM skin?

Ebay seller hotrod leather sells bottoms and has you videos on how to replace.
hotrodupholstery-com

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Anyone happen to have had a tear in the seat bottom/pan? I have an 01 SR5 with what appear to be Limited seats.. maybe not, but they are perforated leather. I'm wanting to replace the bottom skin with a factory piece if I can but my searched online have not been successful. Seems like there are just out of stock everywhere.

I'd go the junkyard/pick n pull route, but with only 96k miles on this 01, I'm betting I wouldn't find a used skin in decent shape.

Anyone in this particular thread have any input as to where I might be able to source and OEM skin?

OEM skins no but I am considering doing a different approach with my leather. I am looking to replicate this color and texture.

 

[thezentree]

ABSOLUTELY REPLACE THE FOAM .... and yes with FACTORY OEM Toyota foam.

Trust me, I've done it. Only for the drivers side but it was 100% worth it and felt like a brand new seat.

Do it! And btw I don't think non-Toyota foam is equal and I don't think foam is just foam.

But with all that said I do see that the price of Toyota foam seems to have gone up recently. I think it was around $110 a piece when I bought them a few years ago. $s matter so if you find the aftermarket foam to be good let us know how it turns out.

.

Are those foam part numbers the same for cloth seats? I can't imagine they'd be different, but you never know..

 

[cyarnell26]

I purchased synthetic seat replacement covers from hotrodupholstery for both front seats in Jul-2022. It was quite a fun learning experience getting them on and they turned out great, just as so many have said. Fast forward to almost 1.5 years later and I have cracking on the driver seat side nearest the door. I only drive the 4Runner 3 days a week and weight 145 lbs. I've emailed Ed Wolfman's twice now on his icloud account from his website with no reply. Tried calling the number and voicemail box is full. I left comments on his YT installation videos on my concern, asking him to contact me, but comments keep getting removed. Feeling quite bummed that this didn't last much longer after spending $600+ to get them. Anyone else have this issue?

 

[HanSolo]

Does this really surprise you? Synthetic leather = Vinyl. It's the material they used for seating in the 1989 Chevy S10 for selling in fleets to Roto-Rooter. He would likely give you the run-around even if he did answer you.

 

[Mzs14]

I purchased synthetic seat replacement covers from hotrodupholstery for both front seats in Jul-2022. It was quite a fun learning experience getting them on and they turned out great, just as so many have said. Fast forward to almost 1.5 years later and I have cracking on the driver seat side nearest the door. I only drive the 4Runner 3 days a week and weight 145 lbs. I've emailed Ed Wolfman's twice now on his icloud account from his website with no reply. Tried calling the number and voicemail box is full. I left comments on his YT installation videos on my concern, asking him to contact me, but comments keep getting removed. Feeling quite bummed that this didn't last much longer after spending $600+ to get them. Anyone else have this issue?

I have had the same experience. The cost and labor of replacing the seat covers again, even with me doing the work is daunting.

 

[Baughb]

I went this way...

Bought the covers from this place:Search Results Page | usautoseatcover
As well as the seat portion of foam, back was not available.

Local shop did the work and beefed up the back with foam he had on hand. 2 years old and still good as day one but, I don't drive it too often but, it's my fishing vehicle so I have to drive a long way.

Only problem is I am way taller in the seat but my 5'9" head fits under the roof just fine.