DIY - Custom Seats

[Yaris_Style]

I posted something a few weeks ago, and this whole hacking thing did it for me. I am going to go ahead, RIP apart my front seats and reupholster them.

My friends have called me crazy, people have told me its NOT possible.
I find it veryyy.. SAD! Sad that people have a thing in their minds that tell them SOMETHING cant be done.

If a "Professional" can do it, ANYONE can do it. Hence these DIY guides!

I've already got a few tools and machines that I'm going to need, and a FEW guides on reupholstering.

If ANYONE wants to help out with tips, or pictures, or ANYTHING, feel free. :headbang:

[CTScott]

Why not just get those clazzio leather seat covers ?

I agree - I am seriously considering getting a set of Clazzio covers for mine. It sounds like Yaris_Style would prefer the satisifaction of DIY...

[CTScott]

I posted something a few weeks ago, and this whole hacking thing did it for me. I am going to go ahead, RIP apart my front seats and reupholster them.

My friends have called me crazy, people have told me its NOT possible.
I find it veryyy.. SAD! Sad that people have a thing in their minds that tell them SOMETHING cant be done.

If a "Professional" can do it, ANYONE can do it. Hence these DIY guides!

I've already got a few tools and machines that I'm going to need, and a FEW guides on reupholstering.

If ANYONE wants to help out with tips, or pictures, or ANYTHING, feel free. :headbang:


If you get into it over your head, there's an awsome custom upholstery shop in Waterbury. A buddy of mine had a 4Runner's seats switched from cloth to leather there. They came out perfect and It ran under $1000 (and the 4Runner has about three times the seat area that our cars do)...

[Ferret_san]

Why not just get those clazzio leather seat covers ?

[Yaris_Style]

I have the satisfaction of doing things myself, and knowing I'm not half-assing something.
Plus, the clazzio seat covers, are seat COVERS. EXPENSIVE seat covers. Like, I can use that money for something better.

I'm currently working on my friends seats as practice for mine.. So far I've taken the seats off and carefully taken off the fabric. The next step is going to be measuring the material (yet to be decided, any ideas?) over this fabric...

[ChinoCharles]

Please take lots of pics. I want to see the process!

[auxmike]

You're actually planning on cutting and sewing your own seat upholstery???
I did a Classic Soft Trim kit in my '97 Saturn. It WAS HARD work, took me like 4 days to finish. There's wires in some of the cloth skins to get them to take form right. I had to pull all those out and swap them to to new leather I had bought. There's also hog rings that are used sometimes. They are hard to remove. I had to reuse them because I could'nt find them anywhere! There was velcro fused into the foam pads to hold the cloth skins flat to them.
Also, remember the Yaris pass seat is CALIBRATED to turn on the pass airbag at about 30lbs. or so. Look under the seat, you'll see the sticker on the harness and the "brain box" for the system too.
Be careful if you actually do attempt this.

[jopi18]

Dude, that is a sick project. I wanted to take my seats apart and adding some detail material and some nice colored trim to match, but I haven't had the time. Good luck though, it will definitely feel worth all your time once you see your new upholstery.

Word of advice: take your time and do one seat at a time. Spread it over a couple of days, it will definitely drain you.

[anexrx7]

Thats what I call motivation right there. I hate it when someone who tells me I can't accomplish something. Good luck with this, sounds like a good idea to try. Have you came up with any sort of materials? I'd be very interested in the too, but I dont quite have the time anymore with work (Army).

I posted something a few weeks ago, and this whole hacking thing did it for me. I am going to go ahead, RIP apart my front seats and reupholster them.

My friends have called me crazy, people have told me its NOT possible.
I find it veryyy.. SAD! Sad that people have a thing in their minds that tell them SOMETHING cant be done.

If a "Professional" can do it, ANYONE can do it. Hence these DIY guides!

I've already got a few tools and machines that I'm going to need, and a FEW guides on reupholstering.

If ANYONE wants to help out with tips, or pictures, or ANYTHING, feel free. :headbang:

[dacourier]

I am interested in doing something similar so definitely take lots of pics while the fabric is off. I was thinking of adding some extra metal on to the frame of the seat under the foam. Make the seats a little more sporty. Good luck:thumbsup:

[PaidTimeOff]

Why not just get those clazzio leather seat covers ?

And unfortunately, some of us with S/RS Yarises can't get Clazzio seat covers :cry: Never thought I would regret having upgraded seats. Oh well, wet okole here I come :burnrubber:

[1NZYaris1]

All the best, with your project, and please take heaps off photos.:biggrin:

[Gideon]

And unfortunately, some of us with S/RS Yarises can't get Clazzio seat covers

I'd rather have a tach than the ability to buy upgraded seat covers! :P

[ztrack157]

Recommendation from me it to use Hemp Fabrics. Available in super sweet colors, Durable and tough but oh so soft, Easily cleaned and hypoallergenic.