I got new seat pads for the front seats (the back pad).

Now, how the heck do I get them on?
More specficially for you smartalec folk (leathermang ), can I just remove the back of the seat or must I remove the seat bottom first?

I have searched and searched here, but cant find any posts on the backs, only the bottoms.

It is a 1977 300D.

Thanks!

Foam? My seatback 'cushions' were an artificial, rubberized horsehair stuff that was abrasive as hell on your hands and were something only Atilla would call soft.

Important note:
I was replacing my covers so, I didn't worry too much about ripping or damaging them. But I did notice that the leather seemed fragile...almost brittle (and no, they weren't MB-Tex either) when I removed them from the frames. It think it would have been impossible to reuse my old covers without damaging them very badly.

But, now you got me going on this so here are the steps I took....
1) Eat your Wheaties coz this takes a lot of strength and endurance.

2) Remove entire seat from the car.

3) Remove seat back from seat base.

4) Remove headrest and hardboard net base (it's a good time to rebuild those nets by replacing the worn out stretch cord)

5) Now for the fun part ....
What you are going to do is compress the seatback springs enough so that you can release the edge attachment of the seat cover from the bottom of the seat back frame. I did this by placing something like a 25# sack of charcoal or dog food on the floor of the shop and covering it with a blanket. Then, put the seat back, concave side facing down, over the blanket-covered sack. Straddle the frame, facing the bottom edge of the frame and place a knee on each side of the frame. Your body weight should compress the seatback springs enough to allow you to release the bottom edge of the upholstery.

6) Using the same compression technique, you can now remove the six white plastic clips that secure the center section of the cover and make it conform to the cushion. Some seats may have two additional clips that also hold the cover to the pad.

7) Next, pull the upholstery edge attachment out of the grooves on each side of the seat back and at the top of the opening made when you removed the net base.

8) Now you should be able to pull the seat cover up and off of the cushion and frame. Some covers may have a fabric panel that is hog-ringed to the frame. Just clip the hog rings with a wire cutter.

9) The factory replacement cushions I bought were molded so that they sort of 'clipped' over the seat frame. There weren't any fasteners that held them to the frame.

10) To reinstall that seat covers, reverse the above steps (doncha just love it when the instructions say that?).



Good luck!

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Thanks for the write up!

Step #3 is my main problem.
I dont know how to do that!

And yes, I use the term "foam" in the loosest sense of the word

3) Remove seat back from seat base.

The seat back is held to the seat base by four bolts, two on each side of the seatback frame, near the adjuster knob on the outside. And in a similar location on the inside of the seat.

There are 'boomerang-shaped' plastic trim pieces snapped on over the bolt/bracket areas. To remove the one that's on the adjuster side of the seat, you'll need to pull the adjustor knob/wheel. It just snaps off.

Hope this helps...

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Hey Scott, You are really getting your post number up... 66 !!
Cool
I think you need to take them out to deal with them....
there are four main bolts and some side screws at the bottom ....and maybe a screw or bolt on the ' lightened' ( holes cut in it ) brace at the bottom also....
Then when you get them out bolts on the sides take the top off the bottom...
On number 5 it may be easier if you have C-clamps around to use some plywood and two by fours and compact it with the C-clamps... that way you can turn it over if needed... not so with dog food...
The reason leather starts breaking up is that it drys out.. and the fibers that give it its essence break... no way to correct that... only try to slow it down... but the problem is that on finished leathers ( which are used in cars) that is a pretty impervious coat which is put on the top... so even with Lexol or hyde food.. etc... you are only reaching a small portion of the top.... to really make a difference one would need to take the seats apart yearly and put something like neatfoot oil compound on the back... this is the type stuff used on saddles..... but you can't put it on the top because it will come back out on clothes... forever.... and it still does not penetrate from the top....
Vegetable tanned leathers ( typically oak bark tannin ) which can be carved for ornamentation can be kept supple much longer if the correct finish is applied in the first place.. which would be something like a linseed oil ... then simple applications of Neutral Shoe polish once every 6 months can do wonders....
They don't call me Leatherman for nothing....

Nice to hear from you Greg.

I dont have many posts because I dont know anything

I have Tex interior though, so maybe I can be VinylmanP

PiP,

"VinylmanP"...good one !

I did a set of 'Vette seats awhile back. Seats are like a wrapped gift, you don't know what you'll find(that needs help) until you get inside !

As has been said, remove the seats from the car so that you can work on them properly. Learn as you go. Use common sense, and the good advice of L'man and RLeo etc. and before you know it you will truly deserve the title "VinylmanP" !

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Diesel-guy

Ah, just finished!

Thanks guys.

#1 I didn't have wheaties, but I did eat a peanut butter sandwich.
#2 wasnt too bad except I had a semi-hard time getting the seatbelt wire plug undone.
#3 Didnt do, didnt need to. All I had to do was pop the tilt knob off.
#4 my nets are shockingly still good. My headrest support legs are kind of rusty...oh well
#5 My seats were so bad that I didnt need to compress the seat, just pulled on it with my hands.
#6 I didnt have clips. My car is a 77, maybe that is why?
#7-10 Wasnt fun, the worst part of the ordeal.
Reinstall was obviously the worst part.
One of my seats, the pad wrapped around the bottom of the spring frame easily, the other didnt, but it is on there now

All in all, it wasn't as bad as I had imagined, but the old horsehair smelled pretty bad.
I did have the wife help me squeeze the springs.

The best part was that I didnt have to take the stupid armrest off

So now all I have left is to replace the rear shocks, rear trunk seal, antena mast, and rear seat foam and the car will be perfect (to me).

I could not resist recycling this, if only for the title.

Blast from the past!