Recovering the seats

[jbar1]

You certainly are approaching the job in the right way by researching as much as possible before jumping in. Your brothers taught you well.

[LoneWolfGal]

I'm stymied at square one. I'm trying to remove the hinge cover so I can disassemble the seat at the hinge. The cover just clips on — except for one part that extends under the side of the seat and is fastened with a large plastic screw through the outermost hole:



Problem is, you can't get at the plastic screw easily. In fact, the only way you can even see it is to pry up the bottom edge of the seat with something. Has anyone run into this problem right out of the gate? I'm being super-cautious, because I don't want to break the hinge cover. It lists for $75!

Porsche design meeting:
"How can we prevent owners from doing their own repairs and maintenance?
"I've got if! We'll make things so inaccessible they can't get to them."
"Brilliant!"

[elgyqc]

I thought I had posted this yesterday... must have lost it somewhere. Here is my installation thread.

Reupholstering Boxster seats with the lseat kit.

I used zip ties... when working alone they allow you to connect the pieces loose and pull them tight.

[elgyqc]

Originally Posted by LoneWolfGal

I'm stymied at square one. I'm trying to remove the hinge cover so I can disassemble the seat at the hinge. The cover just clips on — except for one part that extends under the side of the seat and is fastened with a large plastic screw through the outermost hole:



Problem is, you can't get at the plastic screw easily. In fact, the only way you can even see it is to pry up the bottom edge of the seat with something. Has anyone run into this problem right out of the gate?

Porsche design meeting:
"How can we prevent owners from doing their own repairs and maintenance?
"I've got if! We'll make things so inaccessible they can't get to them."
"Brilliant!"

I don't remember having a problem there... does the plastic cap pop off the metal bracket?

[redpepperracing]

I don't know if this will give you detail you need, but Matt Ross on youtube did a video on it. If you want to skip to the seat part it starts about 3 minutes in.

[LoneWolfGal]

Got it! It was just a matter of pushing the pin up from the bottom through the center of the plastic "rivet," which is what Porsche calls the hard-to-get-at hinge cover fastener. Best of all, I managed to remove it without breaking it.



Also, only the outside hinges are covered; the inside hinges are exposed. That means fewer covers to remove, but I'll have to buy the missing covers if I want the seats "correct." I hate to fork over $150 plus shipping for two pieces of plastic, so I'll check out eBay first.

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by LoneWolfGal

Also, only the outside hinges are covered; the inside hinges are exposed. That means fewer covers to remove, but I'll have to buy the missing covers if I want the seats "correct." I hate to fork over $150 plus shipping for two pieces of plastic, so I'll check out eBay first.

Are you sure that the sides of the seats that fit against the center console have covers? I thought that because the center console makes it difficult to see the inboard sides of the seats Porsche decided to forego covers on that side. Also, covers might interfere with the seatbelt operation.

When it stops raining, I will check the seats in my car and see whether the inboard sides of the seats have covers.

Good luck with your project.

[LoneWolfGal]

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

Are you sure that the sides of the seats that fit against the center console have covers? I thought that because the center console makes it difficult to see the inboard sides of the seats Porsche decided to forego covers on that side. Also, covers might interfere with the seatbelt operation.

When it stops raining, I will check the seats in my car and see whether the inboard sides of the seats have covers.

Good luck with your project.

No, I'm not sure. I just assumed they had covers, but I might be wrong. After all, I've been wrong a time or two in the past. Waiting to hear whether yours has covers.

[LoneWolfGal]

Work stoppage while waiting for a set of Torx bit sockets (Amazon, $14.99) that are supposed to be delivered today. Seems a Torx bolt at the hinge requires a larger size than the T40 in the set I had. The new set has bit sizes up to T70. That oughta be enough.

[LoneWolfGal]

Naturally, I'm using only the best tools. (No double entendre intended.)

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by LoneWolfGal

No, I'm not sure. I just assumed they had covers, but I might be wrong. After all, I've been wrong a time or two in the past. Waiting to hear whether yours has covers.

Mine do not have covers. One caveat - The seats that are in my car started life in a 996 turbo that the owner converted to a track car.

You may want to check for photos of other seats (e.g. for sale on various websites.) If you don't see any with inboard covers that should verify my observation. I don't see why Porsche would consider inboard covers necessary. I needed to push the seat cushion back to view the area.

[pilot4fn]

Originally Posted by LoneWolfGal

No, I'm not sure. I just assumed they had covers, but I might be wrong. After all, I've been wrong a time or two in the past. Waiting to hear whether yours has covers.

The seats have those covers only outside. Attacehd is the seat part pages.

[LoneWolfGal]

Thanks, Kevin and my fellow pilot. It makes sense that they didn't have the covers on the inside hinges to begin with. The seats in mine had never been removed. I really had to reef on a 1/2" breaker bar to break the seat bolts loose. The factory must've tightened them to 90 lbs. of torque. Anyway, now I won't have to order a set of inside covers. Best of all, I won't have to install them!

[husker boxster]

Originally Posted by LoneWolfGal

Work stoppage while waiting for a set of Torx bit sockets (Amazon, $14.99) that are supposed to be delivered today. Seems a Torx bolt at the hinge requires a larger size than the T40 in the set I had. The new set has bit sizes up to T70. That oughta be enough.

It's not a project unless you have to buy a new tool. I had to buy 13 new tools for my '87 928.

[LoneWolfGal]

Here's where I'm at now. The driver's seat bottom has been stripped down to the foam. Which is intact, by the way, so I don't need to replace any. Have I mentioned that I'm the slowest mechanic, paint prepper, and upholsterer in the world? I make no apology, I'm sorry.

[LoneWolfGal]

I'm revising this post. Please check back.

[dghii]

I used small wire ties instead of hog rings to secure my leather to the seat. Its been two years and all good!

[LoneWolfGal]

Progress report

I have successfully fumbled my way through installing one of Lseat's covers on the bottom seat cushion, driver's side:



If I were being paid by the hour I'd already be rich. Lordy, but that leather is (1) thick, (2) stiff, and (3) hard to manipulate. However, I found that a hair dryer, used judiciously, softens it appreciably and makes it a bit more supple. It's looking halfway decent. A little heat/steam should take care of those wrinkles.

But check out the Lseat's edge:



It's stitched with gray thread. Unfortunately, it's visible; the seat looks like it has a fringe at the bottom. Now have a look at the factory cover. The leather is wrapped around the bottom edge of the seat and the cover's edge is not visible.



Call me picky, but I don't like the gray fringe. That's one of the ways Lseat's covers differ from the factory covers, besides thicker leather. Another departure is in the thickness of the plastic edging that locks into plastic hooks down in the foam's nooks and crannies. I found the nooks weren't too bad, but the crannies were murder. * rimshot *

Anyway, I'm stuck with the Lseat product. I'm committed. I'll probably dye the fringe black. As for the slightly thicker plastic edging, it works. You just have to reef on it a bit harder.

NOTE: I had intended to revise my previous post, but inserting new photos when editing turned out to be problematic.

[LoneWolfGal]

Originally Posted by dghii

I used small wire ties instead of hog rings to secure my leather to the seat. Its been two years and all good!

I appreciate the tip. I guess some folks have used zip ties instead of hog rings. However, a friend loaned me his hog ring pliers and about 500 hog rings, so I'll probably give them a try, just so I can say I've used hog rings.

[Stiglitz]

I thought the same thing about the edges
That trim actually has to be flipped over, it's
A total pita, especially the corners, if i have a pic I'll send it to you

Originally Posted by LoneWolfGal

Progress
report

I have successfully fumbled my way through installing one of Lseat's covers on the bottom seat cushion, driver's side:



If I were being paid by the hour I'd already be rich. Lordy, but that leather is (1) thick, (2) stiff, and (3) hard to manipulate. However, I found that a hair dryer, used judiciously, softens it appreciably and makes it a bit more supple. It's looking halfway decent. A little heat/steam should take care of those wrinkles.

But check out the Lseat's edge:



It's stitched with gray thread. Unfortunately, it's visible; the seat looks like it has a fringe at the bottom. Now have a look at the factory cover. The leather is wrapped around the bottom edge of the seat and the cover's edge is not visible.



Call me picky, but I don't like the gray fringe. That's one of the ways Lseat's covers differ from the factory covers, besides thicker leather. Another departure is in the thickness of the plastic edging that locks into plastic hooks down in the foam's nooks and crannies. I found the nooks weren't too bad, but the crannies were murder. * rimshot *

Anyway, I'm stuck with the Lseat product. I'm committed. I'll probably dye the fringe black. As for the slightly thicker plastic edging, it works. You just have to reef on it a bit harder.

NOTE: I had intended to revise my previous post, but inserting new photos when editing turned out to be problematic.