How to Fix a Leather Seat
Nothing is more frustrating than spending extra money on luxury car leather seats and have them fall apart over time. Unfortunately, this happens. Certain conditions like sunlight, weather, and normal wear and tear will diminish the luxury appearance of your leather seats. The good news is that you can give your leather seats a makeover. By using the same technique as many professionals, you can fix your leather seats and restore them back to their original beauty.
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Instructions
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Select an appropriate leather restoration kit. Check with your local car retail shop for suggestions. Find most of these kits online. Make sure your kit has everything you need, including the correct color match. Most kits come with leather prep, paint selections, a palette knife, crack filler, finishing coat, sponge applicators, gloves, and an abrasive pad. If any items are missing, purchase these separately.
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Remove your car seats. The best way to fix your seats is to remove them. This will allow you to properly perform all procedures without missing areas of the seat and/or spilling chemicals on other areas of the car. Refer to your owner's manual or consult a body shop about how to remove your seats.
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Prep your car seats. Put on your gloves and use the leather prep to remove dirt and the manufacturer's finish. Failure to complete this step will cause paint adhesive problems when you restore the color. Use the abrasive pad and a small amount of leather prep. Use more prep if your pad becomes too dry. Apply the prep in a circular motion. Do this procedure until you see the paint slightly lifting. You do not need to remove all the color, just rub the surface enough to expose the lighter color beneath.
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Apply the filler. The filler is used to seal the cracks in your leather. Use the palette knife to apply a small amount of filler to each crack. Blend the surface so that the filler is smooth and not raised.
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Paint the seats. Make sure your kit comes with the exact color match. Test a small section of the leather before proceeding. If you are OK with the color, use an application sponge to apply color to your seats. Do not apply color too thick; this will cause it to drip. Heavy application will also cause longer drying times. Apply color in smooth, even strokes. Once the first layer dries, repeat this application process if you desire a richer appearance.
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Apply the finishing coat. The color must be completely dry before applying the finishing spray. While wearing your gloves, slightly tap the seats to make sure they're dry. Hold your spray about 4 to 5 inches from the surface and spray a thin layer. If using a non-spray finishing coat, use a clean application sponge to apply a thin layer of the finishing coat.
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Allow your seats to dry for approximately 48 hours, then return them to your car.
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Tips & Warnings
These are basic steps. Always follow the directions on the kit for the best possible results.
