240 DL vinyl upholstery repair

I have a 1986 240 DL wagon with blue vinyl upholstery. The drivers seat
has several rather large tears in the vinyl. The backing is still
holding, barely. What is the best adhesive/patch product to put on these
tears to seal them up, not look to bad, and not facilitate further tear
outs? I want to do this myself. I know how to remove the upholstery
material from the seat and am willing to do it to get the best repair.
Any informed tips greatly appreciated.

 

Hello:

As you mention you can remove the upholstery yourself, your best bet
would be to do that and then buy enough at a supplier to recover the
seat--and then take it to a friendly neighborhood shoe and leather
repair place in your neighborhood. Give them the old seat covering and
the new material and ask how much they will charge.

I did that for a seat cushion repair on a 240 of mine recently and
they charged me $20 and did a great job.

An auto upholstery shop might not be willing to do this as they count
on the labor for removing the old material and doing a bit of markup
on the materials--as they need to if they are to remain in business.

Still, you never know and may wish to ask them or a local upholstery
shop not necessarily auto related if they will do the sewing.

I suppose much of this depends on where you live and the availability
of craftspeople.

In my case, the owner of the shoe repair shop was pleased to do it as
he has repaired shoes for me and likes my dog (who always comes with
me to the shop.) He did say he'd have to look at the leather before he
agreed to do the job, but was pleased with what I brought.

Good Luck

Doc

 

get real.

goto your closest yard and pay 30-50 for replacement seats. just do
it, or live with what you have. there is *no* realistic way to repair
splintered, cracked, torn seats... believe me, i've tried!

js



wrote:

:>I have a 1986 240 DL wagon with blue vinyl upholstery. The drivers seat
:>has several rather large tears in the vinyl. The backing is still
:>holding, barely. What is the best adhesive/patch product to put on these
:>tears to seal them up, not look to bad, and not facilitate further tear
:>outs? I want to do this myself. I know how to remove the upholstery
:>material from the seat and am willing to do it to get the best repair.
:>Any informed tips greatly appreciated.


: Hello:

: As you mention you can remove the upholstery yourself, your best bet
: would be to do that and then buy enough at a supplier to recover the
: seat--and then take it to a friendly neighborhood shoe and leather
: repair place in your neighborhood. Give them the old seat covering and
: the new material and ask how much they will charge.

: I did that for a seat cushion repair on a 240 of mine recently and
: they charged me $20 and did a great job.

: An auto upholstery shop might not be willing to do this as they count
: on the labor for removing the old material and doing a bit of markup
: on the materials--as they need to if they are to remain in business.

: Still, you never know and may wish to ask them or a local upholstery
: shop not necessarily auto related if they will do the sewing.

: I suppose much of this depends on where you live and the availability
: of craftspeople.

: In my case, the owner of the shoe repair shop was pleased to do it as
: he has repaired shoes for me and likes my dog (who always comes with
: me to the shop.) He did say he'd have to look at the leather before he
: agreed to do the job, but was pleased with what I brought.

: Good Luck

: Doc

--

 

Good luck finding any that aren't just as bad. Best route short of
reupholstering the seats is to get some good quality covers for them.