Middle row leather replacement (1 Viewer)

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Jun 12, 2019
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Location
Hollywood, FL
In the middle of re-upholstering my cruiser. Did passenger front seat already, got the gist and ready for the driver's seat (the really important one). Have the leather for the rear (middle) bench from Ridies, started searching for clues and tips to do the job since they helped a lot with the front one.

Couldn't find any...

Anyone DIY'd the middle bench leather? Any advice?

Links to threads or videos are appreciated.
 
In the middle of re-upholstering my cruiser. Did passenger front seat already, got the gist and ready for the driver's seat (the really important one). Have the leather for the rear (middle) bench from Ridies, started searching for clues and tips to do the job since they helped a lot with the front one.

Couldn't find any...

Anyone DIY'd the middle bench leather? Any advice?

Links to threads or videos are appreciated.
I think it's slightly more annoying than the front two seats, but otherwise pretty similar. The back panels just pop off FYSA.

Just finished this job a couple weeks ago on my LX, so don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have!
 
I think it's slightly more annoying than the front two seats, but otherwise pretty similar. The back panels just pop off FYSA.

Just finished this job a couple weeks ago on my LX, so don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have!
Thanks for the offer, in the middle of the job now, started after work at about 7pm, it’s 1am and I’m quitting for the night, resuming tomorrow morning.
There’s lots of videos and posts about the fronts, didn’t find one for the rear (2nd row). And now I know why..
Whoever designed this seat never thought some idiot is gonna come 20 years later to reupholster it..
Extremely annoying job.
I’m snapping lots of pics, most to remember what I’m doing so I can put it together, but also to try and write about it here for future reference. We’ll see what I remember tomorrow.

Hope I won’t encounter any more setbacks, appreciate the offer to help. How’s your bench? Came out good? Satisfied with your work?
 
Thanks for the offer, in the middle of the job now, started after work at about 7pm, it’s 1am and I’m quitting for the night, resuming tomorrow morning.
There’s lots of videos and posts about the fronts, didn’t find one for the rear (2nd row). And now I know why..
Whoever designed this seat never thought some idiot is gonna come 20 years later to reupholster it..
Extremely annoying job.
I’m snapping lots of pics, most to remember what I’m doing so I can put it together, but also to try and write about it here for future reference. We’ll see what I remember tomorrow.

Hope I won’t encounter any more setbacks, appreciate the offer to help. How’s your bench? Came out good? Satisfied with your work?
Hahahah, yes, it was definitely a pain!

Overall I'm satisfied - I got my leather from Mosley Motors, but the reinforced area for the middle seat belt to come through was 100% just off where it was supposed to be by 2" or so, and there is zero provisions for the child seat anchors - so I'll have to cut my nice new leather at some point to access those for our 9 month old. ☹️.

Otherwise, happy with the leather and my execution:
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Finally done w the 2 parts of the rear seat (middle). Started yesterday at 7pm till 1am, continued from 8am till now 3pm.

Not fun.

The front seats are not easy but definitely doable, and a joke next to the rears. I’m beat. Broke a few things and made a few mistakes, don’t care, I’m not touching that bench anymore!
 
Before and after:

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Last is the driver’s seat, got new bottom foam and waiting on a new seatbelt latch and back seat pockets from Serra Toyota to proceed..
 
I'll try and write a detailed how to for the rear seat (2nd row, middle) leather replacement. It's still fresh in my head (and my fingers!..) and I snapped a good amount of pictures during the process to put all the pieces back in place.

As a disclaimer, I had no idea what I'm getting into, first time dealing with this job. I'm not a pro in anything, so if you mess up your expensive leather following this, it's on you.

Stuff used:

A climate controlled work area. I live in South Florida and I wouldn't even consider doing this job in the summer without a closed room and AC. I used a folding plastic table and a moving blanket as a work bench in my living room.

A phone/camera to snap pics while you're taking things off, there's a lot of pieces that have to come off, and after a few minutes turning the seat around I lost my bearings and wasn't sure how they go back, luckily I did snap pics and all went back in (well, not all..).

Leather (or whatever material) covers. I got the front and rear 2nd row leathers from Ridies, ordered nappa leather option, on the website it says it's $1099 including center console, but after ordering they called me saying that if I wanted Nappa for the rears as well, it'll be another $100. That included shipping and I didn't pay tax on top, so $1199 out the door delivered.
Didn't do the 3rd row, I have only 1 of them in the car and I don't use it often, so it's still in great shape.

Foam. I got a yard of 1/4", a yard of 1/2" and a roll of Dacron batting. Didn't use the 1/2" for the rear at all, but I guess it depends on your foam's condition.
The reason why I got it is bc I saw some images posted here of saggy leather after the job, and I wanted it to be as plump as possible. I believe it helped, specially since I also steamed the old foam too. The picture above shows it's a bit saggy but it got tighter after a day.

Hog ring pliers. I got the cheap one from amazon, the pliers are OK but the rings are super thin, got a bag of rings from the upholstery place when I got the foam and the glue. ..much better. A longer handle set might be better, something like this.

Wire cutters, something long handled and strong, got mine at harbor freight several years ago, it worked fine.

Trim removal tools, cheap and useful everywhere.

The rest is in everyone's tool box.

Watch videos to familiarize yourself with what you're about to do.

I like this guy's channel:




I started with the bigger bench, since if I can do that one, the smaller one will be easier. Well, it wasn't.
But, the idea is the same, the connections and the operation of the seat, just smaller and easier to move around.

The fist step is obviously removing the bench from the car, 4 14mm bolts after you get the plastic covers out of the wa

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Get it inside while you break your back and scratch everything in the way

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Remove the backing cardboard, held with 3 clips on the bottom of the seat, closest to the hinges and slide off.

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Remove the headrest posts, or clips, whatever it's called. Held from underneath, a long screwdriver and some pressure did it. Make sure you snap a picture to put back the same way so the headrest clips in later

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To be continued...
 
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Remove belt plastic trim, make sure you're careful so you can brake it later during installation:confused:

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Now there's 2 ways to separate the bottom and backrest, each hinge is held with 4 bolts, so you can continue on the backrest removing plastic trim and hog rings to expose the hinge, or you can turn the bench and begin working the bottom, and get to the hinge bolts there. No idea what's better, I did it from the bottom on the big one and from the top on the small one. I did have an issue when I cross threaded a bolt on the small seat's backrest during assembly :bang:

Bottom of the seat, remove corner trim and plastic lever cover. These are JIS screws, so be careful if you use a Phillips

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Start working the plastic sewn to the leather, it's a clip and it's been there for over 20 years, so don't go crazy, go slow
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I used a combination of screw drivers, trim removal tool, force and very bad words.

Next...
 
After the whole surroundings of the leather was released from the plastic tub, there's 10 or so screws holding it, screwed directly to the metal frame, a couple are hidden, a flashlight helped locating them
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Twist the straps and pass through the slit, remove plastic bottom, set aside and clean, it's nasty

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Now snap several pictures, you want to keep record of the release cables, and the straps holding the leather. Unless you got the cover directly from Toyota, the chances of these straps being even remotely similar are low, but you want to get an idea of their position, some run below the bolted hinge, some over..

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Remove the bolt holding the seatbelt and seatbelt latch. The seatbelt will stay there hanging and bothering you during the rest of the job. The latch goes in a degreaser bucket to soak since it's nasty!
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Start removing the old rings holding all the straps, again, AFTER you took pictures of their position.
Then get a 17mm and hammer drill these off separating the bottom seat from the hinges, and taking note of the way you should reinstall the tabs that will hold the corner plastic trim
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Separate the hinge from the seat frame and set one of them aside, I started with the back rest since it seemed like the most complicated one with that BS armrest in there, and IT WAS..
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The folding arm rest..
It swings up and down inside a frame, the frame is installed on top of the leather in the cavity where the arm folds into. That frame is held with 2 nuts on the back, and the square shape is given with wires hog ringed to the rest of the frame.
Took me a few to figure it out without making a mess, and this is the reason I'm writing this, since I couldn't find any info on it.
I guess all vehicles rear seats are similar, but I never took one apart, so it's all new to me..

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After taking these nuts off, you can move the armrest a few inches and expose the 7mm (?) blind nuts holding a little cover, and remove the 12mm bolt separating the armrest from it's frame.
Pay attention to the way the frame is installed, not sure if it can be reversed by mistake, but if you do the armrest won't work. I marked it with a Down arrow..

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I also marked the way the insert goes after I peeled the leather off
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The leather around the armrest is zippered, I was glad it is, since I already did the headrest, and I can tell you that the easiest way to peel a headrest is by cutting the leather. The first one I did I actually opened up without destroying the old leather, and I won't recommend it. getting the clip open is a B
 
Ok, finally it's time to stop messing around and get the leather off the seat foam.

Begin removing the old hog rings in the back side, the proper way to do it? No idea..
The way I did it after a few tries is by grabbing and twisting them off, if you cut them you'll end up with 2 annoying little pieces of sharp steel in your foam, but if you manage to twist them off you might get lucky and remove it whole in one move.
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Remove handle, don't lose the little cover, it's tiny.

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On the old leather there's a little plastic bracket sewn to it that has 2 clips, they clip onto the 2 little holes on the corner trim, I managed to transfer them to the new leather after cutting the old threads, but just on the double bench. On the small one there was no way to bring the leather close enough to install using the clips, so I left them off.
I believe it was BC I glued more foam on the small seat, since my mother in law usually rides there and I want her to be comfortable...;)
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Now remove the corner plastic covers held with a small screw each, and carefully slide off, the have some tabs in the back that might break if you just pull them straight off.
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As you can see, you'll be exposing the hinge. That little S ended cable is easy to disconnect, just be gentle with the green part.
I don't really remember why I had to remove the hinges there, either BC a leather flap goes under the hinge, or the cable is routed some way that needed to be moved.. anyway, when you'll get there you'll see..
 
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Peeling off the leather. Every hog ring has to come off, a head lamp is useful since you'll be trying to get close to see what you're doing under the leather, and blocking your light. Just be mindful that the wires in the foam are old, and probably rusty, and you will need them again when installing. I fixed several foam pieces that opened up trying to remove old hog rings.

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To avoid mixing wires up, I removed all rings and all the old leather, and only after I was ready to install the new piece I transferred the wires to their respective sleave.
Don't loose these little plastics protecting the leather from sharp edges:
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Naked and ready for a steam
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Fixed wires that came off the original foam, trying to make it stay with some new foam and glue. Needs time to dry..
Not sure if that's the way to do it. It kinda worked OK..
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Now, getting the foam ready, and fatter, so it'll be even harder to put it together. And.. a huge mistake that I'm still trying to fix.
 
Added foam to make it plump. Does it need it? Probably not, but if there's a way to complicate things, I'll find it
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Installing the new leather is ... well, same just backwards?
in this piece, which has the hole for the g-d d--n armrest, I started by trying to get that part out of the way, and probably will help align the rest of the leather to the foam properly. It did, a bit..

This is a plastic clip from the original leather, it goes in the hole, top part, clipped to a wire that crosses that area, and stretches the leather in there so the arm rest has a free movement:
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This is what I had to do with the new piece which is made out of very flimsy and rubbery plastic that deformed every time I tried to clip it in place, destroying my fingers and nails doing it:
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I became fond of the hog rings, I gotta say. From now on I'll be using it for Everything!
I'm looking for more pics of the backrest, but can't find any, so I guess that's where I got busy with the hog ring job, and since I had all images needed to put it back together I didn't take any more.
The idea is simple, keep the leather aligned so it doesn't create creases, begin from the center and move towards the edges, try not to puncture the new leather while you move the pliers with a very sharp ring attached, and gerit done!

On the bottom seat pan, I inserted the leather around the seatbelt latch first, In my head that kept the whole cover aligned and since it's in the center, It didn't bother me with the rest of the hog rings.


Now, a touchy subject. Making holes to your new leather....

You'll need a super sharp blade, the new leather, or at least this one, is really flexible, I wasn't expecting it to be like this, it resists punctures like a deflated basket ball. An exacto knife should be used, and replace blades often. of course, I couldn't find any of the 20 kits I got over the years, so I used the cheapo harbor fright little knives they have next to the register, good thing I always stock on them.

The scary one is the rectangular cut around the top part where the seatbelt is. I measured 7 times and still made a mistake, I believe I made the hole much bigger than needed, and that's hunting me till now. Even after covering it with the broken and epoxied trim piece, some of the cut is visible.

So.. DON'T DO THIS::
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If done again, I'd measure 7 times and just slit the leather enough to get the seatbelt through, and only after everything is in place and stretched begin slowly removing material till I can re-install the trim piece there.. So yeah. Even though I'm the only one that knows that's there and you can't see it unless you look for it, it bothers me and I'm still thinking about that.

The headrest holes and side handle hole are pretty easy, start small and go bigger, and always stretch the leather first before cutting since the location changes, the new leather feels like rubber.

This is a pic of the smaller seat:
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as you can see, it's the same as the big one, just easier to maneuver.

The issue I had here is that when I got the hinges back, one of the bolts that screw into the frame stripped, the hinge fights you back and you have to make sure you hold it in place tightly while you thread the bolt in, but I was by myself so there it is.. the bolt broke in there, I looked at it, cursed it and continued with my life. So my cruiser is an ounce lighter now..:cool:
 
So... to resume.

Here's the seat after a couple days
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I'm happy.

Not so much of my execution. I made mistakes and I'm sure a "pro" would have done better. BUT.. I get so disappointed and pissed of when I pay a "pro" to do a job and ends up badly, that I prefer to do it myself.

And here's a rant. I don't know if it's the area where I live at, or the fact that I do shop for pricing when I pay for a job (isn't everyone?), or maybe I'm too picky or know better than the average consumer. But I can't remember when was the last time I paid for a job and I was satisfied with it. Wasn't the kitchen redo, wasn't the pool resurface, wasn't my wife's car repaint, the house paint job and definitely nothing anyone did to any of my cars.

So I do it MYSELF. Hell, if I had a tire machine at home I'd be the only person that touch my cars.

So yes, I am happy with the job because I did it myself, and didn't have to trust someone else with my car.

Would I do it again? Yes, but only after I forget how painful it was..
 
Great writeup. Reading this makes me want to slather up my seats with leather conditioner! That rear seat looks a lot harder that any fronts I have done.
 
Funny that you mention it, since my seats were better Before I applied a leatherique treatment.. the treatment made them look nice at first, and complete trash after a few months..
 
So... to resume.

Here's the seat after a couple days
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I'm happy.

Not so much of my execution. I made mistakes and I'm sure a "pro" would have done better. BUT.. I get so disappointed and pissed of when I pay a "pro" to do a job and ends up badly, that I prefer to do it myself.

And here's a rant. I don't know if it's the area where I live at, or the fact that I do shop for pricing when I pay for a job (isn't everyone?), or maybe I'm too picky or know better than the average consumer. But I can't remember when was the last time I paid for a job and I was satisfied with it. Wasn't the kitchen redo, wasn't the pool resurface, wasn't my wife's car repaint, the house paint job and definitely nothing anyone did to any of my cars.

So I do it MYSELF. Hell, if I had a tire machine at home I'd be the only person that touch my cars.

So yes, I am happy with the job because I did it myself, and didn't have to trust someone else with my car.

Would I do it again? Yes, but only after I forget how painful it was..
Nice write up here. Makes me thankful my second row is in good shape.

Your comments around paying a "pro" vs. doing it yourself really hit home. We finally decided to bite the bullet and spend $10k upgrading our aging kitchen appliances. One week after install and what did we get? Ruined hardwood floors due to a defective or improperly installed dishwasher!

I know "experts" and "pros" still exist, but damn, it's getting harder and harder to find them.

Good on you for tackling this yourself.
 

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