DIY Trim of Tuscan Seat back - stupid?
Discussion
I have attempted to fix and improve the badly fitting seat back on my 2001 Tuscan several times and have finally given up and bought a replacement.
The new seat back is a much, much better fit (wish I had buckled and changed it earlier!)
My problem is the new seat back is black (they used to be silver so were OK left as they where) so it needs painting/trimming. I would prefer it trimmed but was quoted roughly £100. If I was to do both seats them that’s £400 in seat backs!!
Could I buy a piece of vinyl and some glue and give it a go myself? Is this overly ambitious? Its not an easy shape but I assume the original material was just one flat piece?
Anyone done it?
The new seat back is a much, much better fit (wish I had buckled and changed it earlier!)
My problem is the new seat back is black (they used to be silver so were OK left as they where) so it needs painting/trimming. I would prefer it trimmed but was quoted roughly £100. If I was to do both seats them that’s £400 in seat backs!!
Could I buy a piece of vinyl and some glue and give it a go myself? Is this overly ambitious? Its not an easy shape but I assume the original material was just one flat piece?
Anyone done it?
Racing Green - they were about £90.
Not 100% sure but these black ones seem to be fibreglass as opposed to the silver ones which were plastic - I'm hoping this will mean they are more robust.
I tryed everything with my old ones but basically they were just the wrong size and shape! New ones have made the seat much more supportive.
Annoyingly expensive but worth it.
Not 100% sure but these black ones seem to be fibreglass as opposed to the silver ones which were plastic - I'm hoping this will mean they are more robust.
I tryed everything with my old ones but basically they were just the wrong size and shape! New ones have made the seat much more supportive.
Annoyingly expensive but worth it.
[quote=da_murphster]I have attempted to fix and improve the badly fitting seat back on my 2001 Tuscan several times and have finally given up and bought a replacement.
The new seat back is a much, much better fit (wish I had buckled and changed it earlier!)
My problem is the new seat back is black (they used to be silver so were OK left as they where) so it needs painting/trimming. I would prefer it trimmed but was quoted roughly £100. If I was to do both seats them that’s £400 in seat backs!!
Could I buy a piece of vinyl and some glue and give it a go myself? Is this overly ambitious? Its not an easy shape but I assume the original material was just one flat piece?
Anyone done it?
[/quote
Why not have them sprayed the same colour as the car. It was an optional extra on later cars and dependant on the colours of your interior can look stunning.
The new seat back is a much, much better fit (wish I had buckled and changed it earlier!)
My problem is the new seat back is black (they used to be silver so were OK left as they where) so it needs painting/trimming. I would prefer it trimmed but was quoted roughly £100. If I was to do both seats them that’s £400 in seat backs!!
Could I buy a piece of vinyl and some glue and give it a go myself? Is this overly ambitious? Its not an easy shape but I assume the original material was just one flat piece?
Anyone done it?
[/quote
Why not have them sprayed the same colour as the car. It was an optional extra on later cars and dependant on the colours of your interior can look stunning.
I´ve been looking at buying some and putting a layer of carbon mat and resin over them, as a cheap alternative to carbon backed buckets. I realise it´s a lot of work to get a decent finish though.
Did they have them in stock, and what is the black finish on them like? Will it need a lot of work to make it good enough to paint?
Did they have them in stock, and what is the black finish on them like? Will it need a lot of work to make it good enough to paint?
Basil Brush said:
I´ve been looking at buying some and putting a layer of carbon mat and resin over them, as a cheap alternative to carbon backed buckets. I realise it´s a lot of work to get a decent finish though.
Did they have them in stock, and what is the black finish on them like? Will it need a lot of work to make it good enough to paint?
Carbon mat could be a challenge - there is a lots of dips and curves to overcome!!Did they have them in stock, and what is the black finish on them like? Will it need a lot of work to make it good enough to paint?
Black finish is pretty good - I assume that to paint they would still need a fair bit of prep. I think I'm still going to have a go at triming them - I prefer the finish and will be more robust (and probebly cheaper) than paint. Might be able to practice on the old seat.
When the Tuscan was first released the seatbacks were standard as silver. Then in about march/april the factory sent a communication to the dealers/customers that the seatbacks would be covered in the seat material as standard and silver was a FOC option.
Read into that what you like, I did not realise my silver seatbacks were even painted. I broke one a few years ago(maybe 2004)as the lumbar support puts pressure on it and it can crack. I had a silver replacement no problem at all for about £80 I think and the mechanic put a metal plate behind the lumber support to stop it pushing and breaking the seatback.
Read into that what you like, I did not realise my silver seatbacks were even painted. I broke one a few years ago(maybe 2004)as the lumbar support puts pressure on it and it can crack. I had a silver replacement no problem at all for about £80 I think and the mechanic put a metal plate behind the lumber support to stop it pushing and breaking the seatback.
Whitey said:
When the Tuscan was first released the seatbacks were standard as silver. Then in about march/april the factory sent a communication to the dealers/customers that the seatbacks would be covered in the seat material as standard and silver was a FOC option.
Read into that what you like, I did not realise my silver seatbacks were even painted. I broke one a few years ago(maybe 2004)as the lumbar support puts pressure on it and it can crack. I had a silver replacement no problem at all for about £80 I think and the mechanic put a metal plate behind the lumber support to stop it pushing and breaking the seatback.
I don't mind them in silver (although I think silver is the finish of the plastic as opposed to paint) but I'm not sure it would look good in turquoise - esp if it was scuffed and scratched or cracked (likely where it is/what it does).Read into that what you like, I did not realise my silver seatbacks were even painted. I broke one a few years ago(maybe 2004)as the lumbar support puts pressure on it and it can crack. I had a silver replacement no problem at all for about £80 I think and the mechanic put a metal plate behind the lumber support to stop it pushing and breaking the seatback.
The metal plate thing is interesting - I think fundamentally these seats are a poor design and I was considering getting a tight supportive mesh (think underside of chairs) put over the frame to prevent the backs cracking and enable me to use the lumbar support (will not use it again in current form) - cheaper than replacing another.
I thought a metal plate might be too hard? Can you feel it at all when you are sitting? Is it welded on?
I am also going to put a bar accross the bottom of the cover to spread the load. Have looked at top screws but cannot think of anything to do the same apart from big washers.
After a search on here I am really suprised that more people have not sought solutions - just about every Tuscan I looked at had some back of seat damage.
Although not cheap I was pretty impressed with Racing Green and they do seem to have everything under one roof and the expertise (and are local to me) - I will probably be going there.
Yes,
I managed to repair it. After using the Sikaflex I strapped the complete seat using cloth and duct tape to get some pressure on it. It still is tight as it can be. Also used it on the logo. Someone put the logo on using 4 layers of double sided tape which did not hold at last. It is okay now.
I managed to repair it. After using the Sikaflex I strapped the complete seat using cloth and duct tape to get some pressure on it. It still is tight as it can be. Also used it on the logo. Someone put the logo on using 4 layers of double sided tape which did not hold at last. It is okay now.
Edited by tripleblack on Wednesday 29th July 16:05
Edited by tripleblack on Wednesday 29th July 16:06
tripleblack said:
Yes,
I managed to repair it. After using the Sikaflex I strapped the complete seat using cloth and duct tape to get some pressure on it. It still is tight as it can be. Also used it on the logo. Someone put the logo on using 4 layers of double sided tape which did not hold at last. It is okay now.
Can you expand on how you strapped the seat? I assume you have done what I intend to?I managed to repair it. After using the Sikaflex I strapped the complete seat using cloth and duct tape to get some pressure on it. It still is tight as it can be. Also used it on the logo. Someone put the logo on using 4 layers of double sided tape which did not hold at last. It is okay now.
I filled the front site of the seat in with cloth to protect it from too much stress and to protect it. After that I applied the Sikaflex to the backside and waited for 10 minutes or so. Then pressed the backside on and used some plastic bags to protect the backside. I started strapping in the seat with duct tape (In essence: I didn 't have the duct tape get in touch with the seat, for it might rip off the paint at removal). I strapped the seat in on three levels, to have equal pressure on the backside. With the duct tape you can put enough forward pressure on the backside. Don't spill Sikaflex for it will leave black spots. Leave it alone for at least three or four hours. Check for ugly spots. They still can be removed in this stage. Wait a complete day before using your seat again. It worked for me on the complete seat incl emblems. I don't know what the experts think about it, but it worked for me and hasn't been an issue for the last half year.
http://www.sikaindo.com/industry/pdf/sikaflex260.p...
http://www.sikaindo.com/industry/pdf/sikaflex260.p...
da_murphster said:
Whitey said:
When the Tuscan was first released the seatbacks were standard as silver. Then in about march/april the factory sent a communication to the dealers/customers that the seatbacks would be covered in the seat material as standard and silver was a FOC option.
Read into that what you like, I did not realise my silver seatbacks were even painted. I broke one a few years ago(maybe 2004)as the lumbar support puts pressure on it and it can crack. I had a silver replacement no problem at all for about £80 I think and the mechanic put a metal plate behind the lumber support to stop it pushing and breaking the seatback.
I don't mind them in silver (although I think silver is the finish of the plastic as opposed to paint) but I'm not sure it would look good in turquoise - esp if it was scuffed and scratched or cracked (likely where it is/what it does).Read into that what you like, I did not realise my silver seatbacks were even painted. I broke one a few years ago(maybe 2004)as the lumbar support puts pressure on it and it can crack. I had a silver replacement no problem at all for about £80 I think and the mechanic put a metal plate behind the lumber support to stop it pushing and breaking the seatback.
The metal plate thing is interesting - I think fundamentally these seats are a poor design and I was considering getting a tight supportive mesh (think underside of chairs) put over the frame to prevent the backs cracking and enable me to use the lumbar support (will not use it again in current form) - cheaper than replacing another.
I thought a metal plate might be too hard? Can you feel it at all when you are sitting? Is it welded on?
I am also going to put a bar accross the bottom of the cover to spread the load. Have looked at top screws but cannot think of anything to do the same apart from big washers.
After a search on here I am really suprised that more people have not sought solutions - just about every Tuscan I looked at had some back of seat damage.
Although not cheap I was pretty impressed with Racing Green and they do seem to have everything under one roof and the expertise (and are local to me) - I will probably be going there.
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