Seat Stitching...how Much?!

[JamesE 5]

Seems my smugness at buying a decent set of 1.9 seats has really bit me on the arse.

 

Both seats are pulling away at an upper black stitched seam. Thought it would be cheap to get sorted, but just been quoted £120 per seat...seems a bit expensive to me...what is a realistic price for restitching a 3 inch seam on both seats?

[Pugleyrich 37 1 Cars]

Why not do it yourself? I have done a few sets and it didnt take long.

[Alan77 78 1 Cars]

I took my seats to a guy who worked with a very small antique shop, retrimming seats and sofas. He seemed a bit surprised when i said car seats, but restitched all the red stitched seams and replaced the leather on the drivers lower right side for about £50!

[GLPoomobile 958]

Seems my smugness at buying a decent set of 1.9 seats has really bit me on the arse.

 

Both seats are pulling away at an upper black stitched seam. Thought it would be cheap to get sorted, but just been quoted £120 per seat...seems a bit expensive to me...what is a realistic price for restitching a 3 inch seam on both seats?

 

In lieu of any quotes from other local professionals, I would guess that a realistic price would be £120

 

I would suggest getting the covers off, and see if you can hand stitch those sections with some good quality yarn. If the leather is still intact you could probably follow the original stitch holes. But beware, our resident seat re-trimming expert often points out that one of the common problems is the backing on the material being too weak (or something along those lines) so it may not be that simple to DIY repair, and possibly part of the reason why a seemingly (or should that be seamingly? ) small repair is actually more complex and expensive than you'd expect.

[JamesE 5]

I'm just not that confident at taking the seats apart in case I can't get them back together!

First place I got quoted was £370...I thought there was a recession on!

[JamesE 5]

I took my seats to a guy who worked with a very small antique shop, retrimming seats and sofas. He seemed a bit surprised when i said car seats, but restitched all the red stitched seams and replaced the leather on the drivers lower right side for about £50!

 

This seems like a possibility. Thanks for that

[Pugleyrich 37 1 Cars]

Where are you based? I would happily help, even if by just guiding you. The seat goes back together easily if you use cable ties rather than the hog clips. I used a leather needle to do mine which made it a lot easier

[JamesE 5]

Thanks for the offer but I might as well be in a different country as I'm in Yorkshire.

Don't suppose you ever come any further North do you

[GLPoomobile 958]

I'm just not that confident at taking the seats apart in case I can't get them back together! First place I got quoted was £370...I thought there was a recession on!

 

It's a piece of piss mate. I didn't have a clue how to do it either, but I took a set out years ago to swap the foams. Just start on the underside of the seat base and start unclipping every hog ring you can find. Take note of where bits are clipped in place, and some photos to aid memory. It's not hard at all, just one of those fiddly jobs.

 

And as said, using cable ties instead of hog rings would make it easier. I re-used all the rings and had a great time squeezing them all back together with pliers

[Pugleyrich 37 1 Cars]

No plans on coming further north unfortunately. You have nothing to lose giving it a try. If you decide to and need any help, let me know.

[JamesE 5]

Will do thanks.

I've decided to give it a go. Is there any more advice anyone can give me?

 

Am I best just cutting the hog rings off? Is there anything to catch me out?

 

[Pugleyrich 37 1 Cars]

Just pull them apart. Start at the bottom and work your way up the side of the middle section being careful not to break the plastic piping. The fabric is fastened to the foam so work along that next. Then it should slip off. This is all from memory though...

[Pugleyrich 37 1 Cars]

Just took a spare seat apart to check. There is a bit more to do than mentioned in my previous post. The side leather is also clipped (I made holes in the leather to cable tie these down on my full leathers as the plastic fastening strip had broken). I have pictures that I can email if it will help show you what is involved before taking your seat apart

[JamesE 5]

That would be awesome. I'll PM you my email

[BlueBolt 156]

Where are you based? I would happily help, even if by just guiding you. The seat goes back together easily if you use cable ties rather than the hog clips. I used a leather needle to do mine which made it a lot easier

What thread did you use for your red stitching? Was it anything special or just some reasonably heavy duty leather thread?

[stufarri 98 3 Cars]

I am a bit closer if I can help in any way.

 

I have done 4 or 5 sets now - very fiddly but easy once you get the hang of it.

 

I restitched mine with thrice threaded cotton so it was nice and strong - it has lasted 18 months with no issues.

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

Buy some small plastic tie wraps. Also take pics as you take it apart so you can follow your own instructions to put it back together. I used circlip pliers to get the hog rings off without giving myself tetanus!!

 

 

 

[JamesE 5]

Stufarri - Yeah thanks for the offer. Would you be able to talk me through doing it if I brought the seats down?

Edited January 14, 2013 by JamesE

[feb 47]

Just took a spare seat apart to check. There is a bit more to do than mentioned in my previous post. The side leather is also clipped (I made holes in the leather to cable tie these down on my full leathers as the plastic fastening strip had broken). I have pictures that I can email if it will help show you what is involved before taking your seat apart

 

If you could host the pics online e.g. photobucket it would be of great help to me too as I have a spare set of seats to repair as well.

 

Thanks!

 

Edit: I should read a thread until the end before replying next time! Thanks Henry!

Edited January 15, 2013 by feb

[stufarri 98 3 Cars]

Stufarri - Yeah thanks for the offer. Would you be able to talk me through doing it if I brought the seats down?

 

Yes so problem, it is still a fair drive for you though - bring a few bacon butties with you and we can strip if off while we are at it! Stitching it will take some time though but we can start the strip process, no probs.

 

If the passenger seat is out of the car and off the subframe, the time to take it apart is approx 30 minutes, same to reassemble.

[john-melbourne 6]

 

Yes so problem, it is still a fair drive for you though - bring a few bacon butties with you and we can strip if off while we are at it! Stitching it will take some time though but we can start the strip process, no probs.

 

If the passenger seat is out of the car and off the subframe, the time to take it apart is approx 30 minutes, same to reassemble.

 

This is what i like about this forum, everyone is so helpful!

[JamesE 5]

Yeah the complete opposite of another forum I used to go on...

 

Stufarri - I'll PM you

[stufarri 98 3 Cars]

These 205s are addictive though!

[john-melbourne 6]

These 205s are addictive though!

 

Yea the are! but you don't mind that, knowing there are helpful people about willing to share their info and time when something inevitably goes wrong with them

[Pugleyrich 37 1 Cars]

What thread did you use for your red stitching? Was it anything special or just some reasonably heavy duty leather thread?

I didn't need to change any of the red stitching as mine had split along the seam by the shoulders. This part isn't held by the red stitching. I used a plastic thread which was similar to a fine fishing line. I will upload some photos of how the backrest cover is fitted in a moment.