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Leather seat restoration
While my SVX is getting a panel & paint we've pulled all the interior out.
I thought I would post here the steps I went through to renovate the leather upholstery. Materials. 3M green pot scrubber Sunlight soap Methylated spirits (meths) Three clean rags Leather dye. 50 mils or 1.7 oz. Cost about $US10 50 mils is just enough for front and rear seats, excl headrests. You may want to get more Leather conditioner. 100 mils or 3.4 oz I bought 500 mils of conditioner from a saddlery (horse stuff) shop. Cost $US20 Several disposable gloves (make sure they're strong or double up the gloves) 1. remove front and rear seats from the car (optional, but makes it easier). This is a good chance to clean out the muck that accumulates between the front seats and the centre storage compartment. Get some help with the drivers seat, all the electric motors make it extra heavy. When lifting either of the front seats out beware of the cable that must be disconnected. I assume that the drivers side is power for the electric motors and the passenger side cable is for the seatbelt detection. I'm not sure how it figures out if there is a front seat passenger or not. 2. Clean. Warm soapy water. I used Sunlight soap (mild) and a 3M green plastic pot scrubber. Be careful of any other soap, the wrong one might damage the leather. Wipe down with a clean cloth to remove excess. 3. After cleaning leave for a few hours to dry. 4. Wipe down with meths. This ensures the surface is free of skin oil or anything like that missed in the cleaning process. Only a short drying time is needed after this step. 5. Ready to start dying. Put the gloves on. Cut your fingers nails, you don't want to cut the glove with your finger nail and get dye on your finger. Using one of your clean rags, dip this into the dye and rub into the leather. Rub it in firmly in a circular motion. Try to keep the coverage even. Don't miss the stitching. 6. Leave to dry for several hours 7. Rub leather conditioner in. Another clean cloth, no need for gloves. Rub the conditioner into the leather. Leave it on for 5-10 mins then rub the excess off. If your leather hasn't been conditioned for a while I recommend repeating the conditioning perhaps weekly for a while. If not treated well, leather will shrink and pull away from the stitching resulting in a difficult repair. Feel the difference between the leather on the seat side facing the window (sunny side) and the inside of the car. You might find that the side facing outside gets more direct sun and is drier and harder than the side facing inside (less sun). I suspect some of the panels on the seats are vinyl rather than leather. Does anyone here know ? Photos show : Photos 1, 2 Before Photos 3, 4 Halfway done Photos 5, 6 Finished dying & conditioning Last edited by ShaneHobson; 09-23-2012 at 03:02 AM. |
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Re: Leather seat restoration
And the last photo
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#3
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Re: Leather seat restoration
Nice work!
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Alan 1987 928 S4 (Black) SOLD! 1997 SVX LSi (Ebony) SOLD! 2005 Legacy GT (Silver) [Cobb Stg 2+] SOLD! 1987 928 S4 (Black) SOLD! 2005 Forester XT Premium (Crystal Gray Metallic) SOLD! 2008 Lancer Evolution X MR (Apex Silver) [Cobb Stg 1+] 2015 Outlander Sport 2.4GT AWD (Mercury Gray) 2013 G37xS (Obsidian Black) |
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Re: Leather seat restoration
Grate work.
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Alexander (Norway) My subarus: 1992 Svx LSI 5-MT(3.54) 1998 Legacy BG 2.5L GX |
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Re: Leather seat restoration
Looks good. Is the leather softer now?
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. Earl .... ... .... ><SVX(*> Subaru Ambassador [COLOR=”silver”]1992 Tri Color L[/COLOR] ~45K (06/91) #2430 1992 Dark Teal LS-L ~184K (05/91) #0739 1992 Claret LS-L ~196K (05/91) #0831 1992 Pearl LS-L ~103K (06/91) #1680 1992 Pearl LS-L ~151K (06/91) #2229 1992 Dark Teal LS ~150K (07/91) #3098 (parts car) 1992 White LS-L ~139K (08/92) #6913 1993 25th AE ~98K (02/93) #164 1993 25th AE ~58K (02/93) #176 1993 25th AE ~107K (02/93) #215 1993 25th AE ~162K (02/93) #223 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~124K (1/94) #2408 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~144K (10/93) #1484 1994 Laguna Blue Pearl LSi ~68K (10/93) #1525 1994 Barcelona Red LSi ~46K (02/94) #2624 1994 Pearl LSi ~41K (12/93) #1961 1995 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~70K (02/95) #855 1996 Polo Green LSi ~95K (03/96) #872 1997 Bordeaux Pearl LSi ~55K (08/96) #097 2003 Brilliant Red LS1 Convertible ~29K (04/03) #8951 1999 Magnetic Red LS1 Coupe ~33K (04/99) #6420 My Email | Old Locker | New Locker | Picture of 15 of the 19 |
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Re: Leather seat restoration
The dye will not make the leather softer. I just had the same process done by a professional seat restoration guy on my BMW. It made the interior look like new. The previous owners of the car really mistreated it.
before: after:
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2009 Volvo C70 T5 2008 Volvo S80 V8 2006 Range Rover Sport 2001 Audi S8 |
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Re: Leather seat restoration
Looks really good! I definitely need to do this on mine. Where did you buy the leather dye? I seem to remember some guy on ebay a while back selling matching leather dye for the SVX.
No, but the conditioner should...
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Jon 1997 SVX LSi Bordeaux Pearl 1995 SVX L AWD Polo Green - 277k miles 1986 Pontiac Fiero 3.4L Twin Dual Cam V6 |
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Re: Leather seat restoration
Quote:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Subaru-SVX-O...-/170452639051 Charcoal gray kit matches the seats and steering wheel Beige kit matches the seats Dark beige matches the steering wheel, shift and brake handles More information in THIS POST .
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. Subaru Ambassador 1996 Polo Green LSi #216..138,100 miles...SOLD JFICX8659TH100216.....Date of Manufacture: November 16, 1995..... Fuji Heavy Industries..Ōta North Plant....Ōta City,. Gunma Prefecture, Japan In-Service Date: January 2, 1997 "The Pristine Green Polo Machine” First Polo Green on the Network First Clear front turn signals, JDM Alcyone hood emblem, rear panel, and BOXER engine cover on the Network (US) (2000) First 5000K HID factory fog lights (2007) First SVX JDM BBS wheels on a USDM SVX (2013) HID lighting (5000K) for headlight and H3 fog lights, PIAA SuperExtreme 120W high beams, rebuilt EG33 longblock, Cometic head gaskets, Phase II flexplate, AMR aluminum radiator with custom silicone hoses, 160A high-output alternator in aluminum-ceramic coated case, new design alternator wiring upgrade v.4, rare factory headlight protectors, refinished JDM BBS mesh aluminum wheels and custom, polished billet aluminum new hex center caps, LED grille mod, R1 Concepts high-carbon cryo slotted rotors, Akebono ceramic pads, Goodridge S/S braided brake lines, Smallcar Stage 1 shift kit, ThermalTech aluminum/ceramic-coated valve covers, Energy Suspension urethane front & rear swaybar bushings, Bontrager22 rear swaybar with QS Components Chromoly Teflon/Kevlar endlinks, "$15.00/5 minute" suspension mod. Hella Supertone horns, Custom stainless steel exhaust system with 2" headpipes, Magnaflow cats, AeroTurbine AR25 resonator /AWD "Bullet" muffler. R.I.P. 2010 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5 CVT...338,000 miles. Totaled by a 1,300 lb. COW March 4, 2016 2014 Hyundai Avante Limited ...178,000 miles. Actually quieter and smoother than the Outback 2007 Mazda Miata MX-5 PRHT...102,000 miles. Plenty of parts, service and windshields. 4th Registered Network member —2/21/2001 My NEW locker..I...My Email..I..Wikipedia/SVX . . Last edited by svxcess; 09-23-2012 at 10:08 PM. |
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Re: Leather seat restoration
Is there a reason you went with black over the stock gray color? Don't get me wrong, it looks great! I'm just curious.
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2009 Volvo C70 T5 2008 Volvo S80 V8 2006 Range Rover Sport 2001 Audi S8 |
#10
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Re: Leather seat restoration
IRRC, the Australian/ NZ cars got black interiors
.
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. Subaru Ambassador 1996 Polo Green LSi #216..138,100 miles...SOLD JFICX8659TH100216.....Date of Manufacture: November 16, 1995..... Fuji Heavy Industries..Ōta North Plant....Ōta City,. Gunma Prefecture, Japan In-Service Date: January 2, 1997 "The Pristine Green Polo Machine” First Polo Green on the Network First Clear front turn signals, JDM Alcyone hood emblem, rear panel, and BOXER engine cover on the Network (US) (2000) First 5000K HID factory fog lights (2007) First SVX JDM BBS wheels on a USDM SVX (2013) HID lighting (5000K) for headlight and H3 fog lights, PIAA SuperExtreme 120W high beams, rebuilt EG33 longblock, Cometic head gaskets, Phase II flexplate, AMR aluminum radiator with custom silicone hoses, 160A high-output alternator in aluminum-ceramic coated case, new design alternator wiring upgrade v.4, rare factory headlight protectors, refinished JDM BBS mesh aluminum wheels and custom, polished billet aluminum new hex center caps, LED grille mod, R1 Concepts high-carbon cryo slotted rotors, Akebono ceramic pads, Goodridge S/S braided brake lines, Smallcar Stage 1 shift kit, ThermalTech aluminum/ceramic-coated valve covers, Energy Suspension urethane front & rear swaybar bushings, Bontrager22 rear swaybar with QS Components Chromoly Teflon/Kevlar endlinks, "$15.00/5 minute" suspension mod. Hella Supertone horns, Custom stainless steel exhaust system with 2" headpipes, Magnaflow cats, AeroTurbine AR25 resonator /AWD "Bullet" muffler. R.I.P. 2010 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5 CVT...338,000 miles. Totaled by a 1,300 lb. COW March 4, 2016 2014 Hyundai Avante Limited ...178,000 miles. Actually quieter and smoother than the Outback 2007 Mazda Miata MX-5 PRHT...102,000 miles. Plenty of parts, service and windshields. 4th Registered Network member —2/21/2001 My NEW locker..I...My Email..I..Wikipedia/SVX . . |
#11
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Re: Leather seat restoration
I bought the dye (TRG the One brand) 50 mils for $US10 from a leather goods store. They made & repaired a lot of leather products, handbags, jackets etc. I bought the conditioner (500 mils for $US20) from a saddlery (that's a fancy word for shop that sells stuff to horse people (that's horse, not hoarse)).
Just cleaned, dyed & conditioned the back seats today. They're looking good. Shane |
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Re: Leather seat restoration
Europe did too.
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2009 Volvo C70 T5 2008 Volvo S80 V8 2006 Range Rover Sport 2001 Audi S8 |
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Re: Leather seat restoration
Also that guy in Panama, his had a black interior.
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'94 Laguna Blue LSi ~159k.......JDM ultra short-geared 3.900 STi Version 7 6-speed w/ Cobb shortshifter, ECUtune 244,8.1mm/256,9.1mm i/e cams, group N motor mounts, '97 grille, JDM clear corners, Momo JDM Legacy GT steering wheel, apkarian's LED tails, silver STi BBS wheels, PWR radiator, redstuff pads f/r, drilled/slotted rotors, bontragerworks rsb #18, Koni/GC 450f/375r coilovers, Megan Racing adjustable lateral links, KMac c/c plates, Stebro exhaust, ECUtune 1v5, Optima battery in the trunk where it belongs. Turbo project '97 Ebony LSi ~137k #036.......Power mode mod, JDM clear corners, BBS wheels. AUX/pocket mod Now a mod "over there" ............Photo album |
#14
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Re: Leather seat restoration
Aust cars are dark gray, may look black.
Harvey.
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One Arm Bloke. Tell it like it is! 95 Lsi. Bordeaux Pearl, Aust. RHD.149,000Kls Subaru BBS wheels. 97 Liberty GX Auto sedan. 320,000Kls. 04 Liberty 30R Auto Premium. 92.000kls. |
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