How to replace front seat foam

**Uncle_Ken** · 05-03-2011, 12:02 PM

This is a short how to on changing the front drivers seat. As a 'big' guy (or fat to most) the drivers seat was showing its age. The outside back swab foam had worn

and the base had lost the support feel. So I went to the wreckers and bought the back section (drivers side in better nic than mine). This was cheaper than buying the whole seat.

So first remove the front seats (both)

Slide the seat forward and backward to again access to the retaining bolts

and

Unplug the cable at the base of each seat.

with both seats out give the floor a quick vacuum

Next with the seats out, remove the passenger and driver seat bases. they are held on by 4 bolts under each base

The bases just swap straight over. As I hardly ever have a passenger going to and from work the passenger side feels like new.

Next the back section.

Undo the drivers side back rest from the base. Firstly remove the lumber support knob.

next on each side the bolts at the base of the back support (2 on one side, 3 on the other)

Next swap over the cover and inside foam from the donor back section. You will need a pair of wire cutters to remove the retaining clips on the bottom of the back section

As you peel back the seat cover the damage on the driver seat is quite clear.

3/4s of the way up there is a steal rod that holds in the seat cover, again using the wire cutters cut the ties.
Repeat the process to the donor back section. This show the condition of the 'brand new second hand' foam.

Next I repaired the donor cover, I used some tape and glue just to firm it up.

The foam is easy to swap over. Having swapped the foam pull the 'new' cover the foam. I used plastic pull ties to replace the metal ones Ford uses. Re clip the steal rod (sorry no pics). Pulling the seat cover tight, retie the bottom section.

Next bolt the back section back to the base and attach the lumbar support knob

That is it. You put the seats back in. My drivers side base feels a lot firmer and the side is great.

and with seat covers on

Next I might as well use the spare donor steal frame for the passanger side as it has lumber support.

UK

Mr Hardware · 05-03-2011, 12:27 PM

Awesome writeup UK - can you blow up the photos a bit though pls?

**Uncle_Ken** · 05-03-2011, 01:28 PM

Done

GK · 05-03-2011, 01:33 PM

Nice work UK!

GK

**Uncle_Ken** · 05-03-2011, 01:48 PM

Thanks GK, Praise indeed

UK

**Whoosha** · 06-03-2011, 07:50 AM

Another nice job there UK , another for the how to threads

, just one more tip, this is what Ford did when my baluster failed after 12 months was to wrap the bars running up the side with a layer of tape to stop it rubbing on it,
must have worked , 8 years on and still going

Tow_Ute XL V8 · 13-08-2020, 02:04 AM

I have an XL ute that has pretty sad seats. I was looking to either refurbish what is there or, reaplace wth something aftermarket (Saas or something)

The foam that is used to refurbsh, none of that seems to suit the non-XR6/8 family...

Is there a HUGE difference in the seats themselves that would cause the form from one, not to work with the fabric cover of mine?

Citroënbender · 13-08-2020, 08:58 AM

Excluding possibly FPV products, the framing of base and backrest is consistent - noting variants that may include lumbar support and side airbags.

Foam has Velcro style “hook strips” bonded to its channels. So the pattern of the foam must match the pattern of the cover stitching.

You can glue in repair chunks with contact adhesive or sometimes polyurethane glue (this can give a hard seam). Foam is best cut in a domestic repair with razor sharp shears IMO.

Tow_Ute XL V8 · 13-08-2020, 10:52 AM

Citroënbender

Thanks heaps for the info. That is great news actually.I would probably not go the "repair chunks" idea

I can see how that mighht go down the track...

If I did not get the standard see re-foamed, I would likely look into a sports seat from Saas or Sparco or something like that, similar to what others have done.

Cheers again.

Bill M · 13-08-2020, 05:24 PM

My recollection is that AU seat trim is hog ringed to inset wire in the foam and not attached with the velcro strip.

Tow_Ute XL V8 · 13-08-2020, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill M

My recollection is that AU seat trim is hog ringed to inset wire in the foam and not attached with the velcro strip.

Damn happy I do not have to muck about with that

I watched a "how-to" video and it seems fairly straight forward, albeit tedious.

Cheere for the replies