Drivers seat

**david68** · 09-21-2008, 09:45 AM

Guys, on Tuesday I'm taking my '01 Z28 to a place I found that specialises in seat repairs and reconditioning. The foam in the bottom of my seat (especially the side bolster that you slide over when entering the vehicle) is no good and provides very little support. They say they will be able to replace it all for me, which is great, but I am a little nervous because if anything gets broken in the process it'll no doubt take me ages to get it fixed because I'm in the UK and have to import most parts. So, just to put my mind at ease....has anyone here had this repair done before?

The seat will need to be removed - just a few bolts, looks straightforward..right?

It's an electrically adjustable seat - is it just the one cable that needs unplugging?

How does the leather cover come off - is it easy to remove?

Cheers
David

**seppburgh** · 09-22-2008, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by david68

Guys, on Tuesday I'm taking my '01 Z28 to a place I found that specialises in seat repairs and reconditioning. The foam in the bottom of my seat (especially the side bolster that you slide over when entering the vehicle) is no good and provides very little support. They say they will be able to replace it all for me, which is great, but I am a little nervous because if anything gets broken in the process it'll no doubt take me ages to get it fixed because I'm in the UK and have to import most parts. So, just to put my mind at ease....has anyone here had this repair done before?

The seat will need to be removed - just a few bolts, looks straightforward..right?

It's an electrically adjustable seat - is it just the one cable that needs unplugging?

How does the leather cover come off - is it easy to remove?

Cheers
David

From being in the hobby for a number of years here is my two cents.

The seat matteral is held on by what are called Hob Rings. Think of a key-chain ring with only one turn and a open section. The ring is placed through the matteral and over the seat frame. Using a special pylers, the ring is compressed, thus thighening up the materal.

You want to use a shop that has been around for 20+ years or more. This takes SKILL which comes from experience. Ask the shop who is doing the work (owner, son of owner, daugher of owner, son-in-law.) Ask to see an example of their work.

On Friday, 09/26, will have the same work done at a local shop. The difference is Trans Am is a 1995 with cloth seats. He is also replacing the head-liner. The shop owner is 70+ years old, has been in the business since the 1960's and works with his daughter. He's turning this around in a day.

Sorry to say, the shop is located in Harrisburg PA else I've send you his phone number.

Will post back how it comes out. Of course, you can always skip the seat repair and order a new Z-28 (maybe called SS this time around) from Chevy!

**bigrondownhiller** · 09-23-2008, 01:39 PM

Any competant uphostery shop should be able to make the repair. All they have to do is take the seat apart. Since they will be replacing some or all of the foam you wont have to worry about the foam sticking to the covering. It should only take them a day to do.

**9t8z28** · 09-23-2008, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by seppburgh

From being in the hobby for a number of years here is my two cents.

The seat matteral is held on by what are called Hob Rings. Think of a key-chain ring with only one turn and a open section. The ring is placed through the matteral and over the seat frame. Using a special pylers, the ring is compressed, thus thighening up the materal.

You want to use a shop that has been around for 20+ years or more. This takes SKILL which comes from experience. Ask the shop who is doing the work (owner, son of owner, daugher of owner, son-in-law.) Ask to see an example of their work.

On Friday, 09/26, will have the same work done at a local shop. The difference is Trans Am is a 1995 with cloth seats. He is also replacing the head-liner. The shop owner is 70+ years old, has been in the business since the 1960's and works with his daughter. He's turning this around in a day.

Sorry to say, the shop is located in Harrisburg PA else I've send you his phone number.

Will post back how it comes out. Of course, you can always skip the seat repair and order a new Z-28 (maybe called SS this time around) from Chevy!

These seat covers are not held on by hog rings. They are attached by 3 large plastic clips that are pretty durable. After that, the covers are held on by velcro. It is a pretty simple job. It takes about a half hour to take the seat apart and put it back together. I have replaced the upper and lower pads and it makes a big difference. The foam is probably going to be $75 or more. I took the cheap route and found a totaled low mile car and took the foams. The bottoms are the same as long as it has a non-power drivers seat, but the top foams are left and right specific. The back rest as a little harder to get apart without wrecking the meterial. It needs to be gently rolled in an upward motion.

They should not break anything.

**seppburgh** · 09-23-2008, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by 9t8z28

These seat covers are not held on by hog rings. They are attached by 3 large plastic clips that are pretty durable. After that, the covers are held on by velcro. It is a pretty simple job. It takes about a half hour to take the seat apart and put it back together. I have replaced the upper and lower pads and it makes a big difference. The foam is probably going to be $75 or more. I took the cheap route and found a totaled low mile car and took the foams. The bottoms are the same as long as it has a non-power drivers seat, but the top foams are left and right specific. The back rest as a little harder to get apart without wrecking the meterial. It needs to be gently rolled in an upward motion.

They should not break anything.

Wow, OK, I stand corrected. The last time I took a seat out was with my old 1979 Trans Am about 7 years ago. My 1996 Chevy CK2500 PickUp had hob rings so though GM was still using them across the board.

Got get my head out of the EastWood Tool Catalog sometimes and the POCI monthly news letter more often!

**9t8z28** · 09-23-2008, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by seppburgh

Wow, OK, I stand corrected. The last time I took a seat out was with my old 1979 Trans Am about 7 years ago. My 1996 Chevy CK2500 PickUp had hob rings so though GM was still using them across the board.

Got get my head out of the EastWood Tool Catalog sometimes and the POCI monthly news letter more often!

Haha, I know what you mean!

**david68** · 09-23-2008, 11:12 PM

Thanks for the replies guys.

Had it done yesterday. Was amazed when it only took 2.5 hours. Also, it only cost me £30 (about ($60 I think).

The guy re-foamed the whole seat bottom and it looks and feels a whole lot better now. The original foam had become compressed and broken up around the bolster that runs along parallel to the door. Now it looks just like my passenger seat (leather cover fits tight rather than looking 'baggy') and feels much better.

**9t8z28** · 09-24-2008, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by david68

Thanks for the replies guys.

Had it done yesterday. Was amazed when it only took 2.5 hours. Also, it only cost me £30 (about ($60 I think).

The guy re-foamed the whole seat bottom and it looks and feels a whole lot better now. The original foam had become compressed and broken up around the bolster that runs along parallel to the door. Now it looks just like my passenger seat (leather cover fits tight rather than looking 'baggy') and feels much better.

$60! Thats a steal!

**slikws6** · 09-24-2008, 09:47 AM

My driver’s seat on bottom has always seamed to lean towards the console and have thought about trying to get it fixed.
I called a couple of places locally and they wanted to know if I had the pad as it would be hard to find according to them.
Anyone knows where to get a replacement pad?

**9t8z28** · 09-24-2008, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by slikws6

My driver’s seat on bottom has always seamed to lean towards the console and have thought about trying to get it fixed.
I called a couple of places locally and they wanted to know if I had the pad as it would be hard to find according to them.
Anyone knows where to get a replacement pad?

You can get it through GM but it is very expensive.

Here is a link.

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/catalog/frameset.cfm

If you click on the seat foams for the back of the seat, you will notice that the left side is much more expensive than the passenger side. The reason for this is that GM is soon to discontinue it, so you better hurry if you want one!