Things You'll Need:
- Hog ring cutters
- Socket set (metric or standard depending on your vehicle)
- New hog rings (hardware store)
- Hog ring pliers(hardware store
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Step 1
Almost every automobile seat cover can be located on the internet these days. The problem seems to be in finding an experienced upholsterer to do the work. The old seat covers must be removed and the new covers ( or skins) put back on. The difficulty level depends on the year, make and model of the vehicle. Older vehicle seats (pre 80's)are easier to switch out because they are not equipped with the complicated pleating and tie down wires as vehicles past the 70's.
1) First the seats must be removed from the vehicle. There are usually 4 bolts holding down one seat. You have to either take the seat belt bolts up, which I do not recommend doing, or slide the seatbelt out through the seat slit holes. Loosen the bolts and carefully remove the seat from the vehicle. I recommend using a drop cloth to cover the step plates, door frames and any area exposed around the door opening. Be careful to avoid any dents and scratches that might take away from the value of your car.
Remove the head-rests if you are doing bucket seats. Sometimes there is a button on the side of the head-rests that allows you to pull the headers up while you hold it in. Sometimes you must slide a regulator (Slim thin wire)
When you turn the seats over you will find clips (sometimes plastic, sometimes rubber). Clips usually hold the front of your cover to the frames. Make sure when you order your new custom covers that you ask if they are ready to fit or if they need to be modified by an Upholsterer. You will also find metal "hog rings". These hog rings will have to be cut from the frame using a wire cutter or hog ring cutter. Pay close attention to how the covers were attached as you remove them. The new covers will have to go back on the way the old ones were removed.
A newer model vehicle is more difficult to upholster.
The 2007 Nissan 350 Z that is featured took 11 hours to refit the skins (covers). The head-rests changed from 2006 to 2007 and the seat covers were made from a 2006 set. Be sure when you order from your seat cover company that you check all covers as soon as they come in. Basically: lay your covers out over your old seats to check the fits. Your new covers may seem smaller. You will have to do some stretching and fitting to put the new ones on. That is to keep the shape of the new cover and to have a tight fit.
When you start to re hog ring your covers. Lay your covers out and set in to place. Start with your bottom cover and line up the seat backs after they are -
Step 2
2) Hog ring your cover from the inside to the outside of the cover. Roll the outer cover over the frame. This should be where your plastic clips will attach. The plastic clips on a bucket seat are always across the front of the seat. Then you will hog ring your seat across the bottom back. It is always better to have more hog rings than needed. This insure a tighter fitting cover with less wrinkles.
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Step 3
3) After the bottom seat has been covered, then you align your back seat. If it is a bucket seat and you have an attached head rest, do not cut any head-rests holes. I always fit a back cover on twice. It is extra work but it pays to measure twice and cut holes once. If you let your cover sit on the frame, overnight that is enough stretch out time. The back of car seats have fewer hog rings than the bottoms.
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Step 4
After you have finished upholstering your seats place them back in your vehicle, carefully. Place the 4 seat bolts back on and tighten down.
Now enjoy your ride!
