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Old Feb 15, 2012 | 01:57 PM
  #1  
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Default Leather Repair?

When I bought the GTS, the passenger side seat leather was dry and had a crack in the side bolster.

I had treated the leather with Leatherique, then taped the damaged area to prevent further cracking and installed custom sheepskins.

I've recently removed the covers and am wondering how this crack can be repaired.

Thoughts?

Thanks.
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seat tear.jpg (247.6 KB, 13745 views)
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Old Feb 15, 2012 | 02:12 PM
  #2  
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Give this a try?

http://www.leatherique.com/do_it_you...r_application/
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Old Feb 15, 2012 | 02:37 PM
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We may have some factory leather that color.
We do have some new factory leather skins in grey.
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Old Feb 15, 2012 | 03:02 PM
  #4  
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Here are a few pics of some new seats back skins we have in stock.
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Last edited by Mark Anderson; Dec 13, 2012 at 08:23 PM.
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Old Feb 15, 2012 | 03:07 PM
  #5  
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Also there is this thread on pelican of a guy using the restore process Hacker posted with plenty of pictures.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...storation.html
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Old Feb 15, 2012 | 03:08 PM
  #6  
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If Mark doesn't have a matching set, you could pull the seat from the car and contact Lee Mayer at Pioneer Leather, here in Orange County. He re-sprayed the seats in my GTS: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...r-mdcxxvi.html

He said he did tons of panel repair on airplane seat covers, so he's equipped to pull covers, sew in replacement panels, and re-color to match.

(714) 381-7993
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Old Feb 15, 2012 | 03:18 PM
  #7  
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Quite impressive things can be done to repair the seat and they may survive but you have to wonder what the condition of the leather fabric is if it fails.

I have bene fighting this with my driver side seat in particular but I have some very clever friends who manage to keep my seats looking really good but I suspect it is a bit of a losing battle in a hot climate. Once the seat loses its condition and the leather is allowed to dry out I do not think there is any complete way back. Still- you should let a speciaist repairer have a go.

Fred
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Old Feb 15, 2012 | 03:50 PM
  #8  
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Default Large Collection of Leather Linx

When I dug around a little in my archive I came up with this list of saved threads/posts. It's not been reviewed for quality or duplication and it's not my work, but I saved them for a reason. Have fun and hope this helps.



https://rennlist.com/forums/concours...-solution.html
Leather Touch Up, Great Solution

Search for "leather repair" in title and body and "leather" in title.
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...-me-yours.html
I'll show you my bolster if you'll show me yours! ( 1 2 3)
H2

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...ther-seat.html
Repairing a tear in your leather seat ( 1 2)
Nicole

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...d-perfect.html
fronts-seats-restored-perfect

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...er-repair.html
Seat leather repair
Deb

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...ir-how-to.html
Leather repair - How to?
Steve J.

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...ry-repair.html
Leather upholstery repair
ErnestSw

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...e-to-save.html
Is This Seat Leather Too Far Gone to Save?? - YES, it's toast!
Rob M Budd


https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...pic-heavy.html
Leather refurb (pic heavy)
funkyboogalooo


https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...t-restore.html
Leather seat restore
mjensen


https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...s-stories.html
LEATHER DYE: Long-Term Success Stories

https://rennlist.com/forums/concours...-solution.html

http://www.colorplus.com/

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...ng-wheels.html


https://rennlist.com/forums/7045746-post5.html

http://www.leatherworldtech.com/Depa...Fc5L5QodTVB1pg

Leather Master Products
http://www.leatherworldtech.com/Depa...ification.aspx

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...yes-or-no.html
Leather Re-Conditional Kits - Yes or No?

http://www.furnitureclinic.co.uk/Lea...ourant_Kit.htm
Leather Care & Repair Specialists

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...r-mdcxxvi.html

*** http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...storation.html ***
Great PIX, PIX
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Old Feb 15, 2012 | 04:11 PM
  #9  
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Default

Had the same dilema, in the process of restoring my seats. Dont have a picture of the finished product as I run out of paint, but as it looks right now, it looks like new... amazing stuff..
I used Magic Mender for the color and the repair kit.

Here is a pic as the repair was underway. Will update this with new pics tonight.
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IMG-20120211-00094.jpg (154.8 KB, 4815 views)
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Old Feb 15, 2012 | 04:16 PM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by FredR
Quite impressive things can be done to repair the seat and they may survive but you have to wonder what the condition of the leather fabric is if it fails.

I have bene fighting this with my driver side seat in particular but I have some very clever friends who manage to keep my seats looking really good but I suspect it is a bit of a losing battle in a hot climate. Once the seat loses its condition and the leather is allowed to dry out I do not think there is any complete way back. Still- you should let a speciaist repairer have a go.

Fred
My car seats were that example... the car sat on a lot for 6 months in the sun and cooked the leather. When i got the car the leather was completely dry and horrible. Cracking everywhere.

My friend and I massaged the seats for days with Leatherique rejuvenator. Cleaned them thoroughly and massage on numerous applications. At one point we left them covered in plastic with the rejuvenator for days.

Now we are at 95% back of what they are supposed to feel. They leather is again pliable and Porsche soft. Only a small section seems to be stubborn, but its 80% from where we started. The Leatherique stuff are very good.
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Old Feb 16, 2012 | 07:20 PM
  #11  
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Here are some pics of the almost finished seats... no rips, no cracks... pretty good ha for a days work!
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File Type: jpg
IMG-20120216-00106.jpg (180.4 KB, 4853 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG-20120216-00105.jpg (162.6 KB, 4869 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG-20120216-00103.jpg (264.2 KB, 4818 views)
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Old Feb 16, 2012 | 10:14 PM
  #12  
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Nice.

I'm thinking if I use a filler on that crack I'll need to use some backing tape before filling?
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Old Feb 16, 2012 | 10:25 PM
  #13  
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How long does it last??? I had a "professional" leather repair guy work on my driver seat bolster and it looked FANTASTIC... for a while... Its a high use area and it eventually wore down and cracked / peeled... I used an upholstery shop who replaced it with Porsche leather... It was EXPENSIVE but it looks great adn it will last. You'll get what you pay for...
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Old Feb 17, 2012 | 12:25 AM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by Randy V
Nice.

I'm thinking if I use a filler on that crack I'll need to use some backing tape before filling?
i did not use a backing tape. Just the filler.I guess you have 2 options here:
1. do what i did
2. get the kit with the filler as well as the adhesive repair backing they sell and use the filler on top.

I think that number 2 option maybe more durable repair.

what I did:

Besides the rejuvenating stuff, when it came down to business the following:

1. Cleaned thoroughly the seats using rubbing alcohol. If I had to do a spot repair I would just do the section. The alcohol took out some of the current paint.

2. After everything was clean went to town with a 600 grit sandpaper. I smoothed out the creases and the repair areas.

3. Cleaned again with Alcohol.

4. used the filler to fill in the cracks and rips.

5. when dried ( used a hair dryer) but found it useful to actually wait 20 minutes to completely dry the filler, I sanded smooth.

6. cleaned the repaired area with a microfiber towel really well.

7. Went back at the bigger rips and applied more filler.

8. Repeated step 5.

9. By that time I had almost taken out the previous color in these sections as you can tell from my pics. The repaired areas felt very smooth and the filler when I squeezed the area felt like a part of the leather.

10. Applied first coat of paint using a sponge.
11. after drying, 2nd coat with the sponge
12. after drying 3rd coat with the sponge
13. after drying I used a hobby airbrush. That really smoothed out the paint and that is where i am today.

When I finish the back of the seats, as i run out of paint, I will spray using the airbrush the clear coat, probably 2 coats and be done with it.

The way I look at it, if the repaired area starts acting up i can go back at it and redo. Certainly much cheaper alternative to new leather. From the looks of it the paint i used looks to be completely bonded now and the leather feels factory soft and pliable...
my 02...
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Old Feb 17, 2012 | 08:26 AM
  #15  
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I had a local leather guy replace the outside upper driver bolster on my GT (got the new piece from Paul C - thanks again, Paul) along with the piping and it came out great. All told it was about $300.
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