Would you do something different with my seats?

[EricBancroft]

Hello friends. I could use your feedback. I am working on a 1998 Jeep Wrangler with my sons. We are replacing the seats. They are trashed (see below). I bought some other seats (2005 Wrangler) off of OfferUp. My plan is to:

1. Clean up "new" seats
2. Attach to old seat brackets
3. Cover with these new neoprene seat covers from Rough Country.

My questions:

• As you can see from the driver's side seat that I bought, it has a tear on the side. I got two different quotes to repair that before I cover the seats. They quoted me about $130 for the repair. This is too much money, in my mind, to just cover these seats afterward. Do you agree or am I wrong? What is a DIY alternative to patching this section of the seat before I cover it?
• Should I be concerned about the rust on the seat mount brackets? If so, what would you do to treat them?
• Should I be concerned about the rusty thin seat cables underneath the "new" seats? The old seats were missing most of them because they were so rusted out.
• Would you go a different route altogether? I have looked at a ton of alternatives (find seats in junkyards, try other seats all together (old or new), get seats totally reupholstered, etc.) but these are all costly options (except for junkyard but they either don't have TJ seats and then I need to buy alternative brackets).

On behalf of my sons and myself, thanks in advance for your help. Your knowledge base is far greater than mine.

 

[Jamison C]

As you can see from the driver's side seat that I bought, it has a tear on the side. I got two different quotes to repair that before I cover the seats. They quoted me about $130 for the repair. This is too much money, in my mind, to just cover these seats afterward. Do you agree or am I wrong? What is a DIY alternative to patching this section of the seat before I cover it?

Personally I would do it. They also repair the seat itself, which means they’ll fix the padding where the split is. Leaving the padding the way it currently is will cause it to deteriorate even more, causing more rips and tears in the seats. IMO $130 doesn’t seem like a bad price.

By the way, those are early-style TJ seats from a 97-00, which isn’t a bad thing. The early TJ bucket seats are extremely comfortable.

Should I be concerned about the rust on the seat mount brackets? If so, what would you do to treat them?

It’s just surface rust. In terms of integrity they’re fine, but if you’re OCD just hit them with a wire wheel and spray paint them.

Should I be concerned about the rusty thin seat cables underneath the "new" seats? The old seats were missing most of them because they were so rusted out.

That’s something you’ll have to determine. As long as they aren’t exposed to crazy amounts of moisture and they’re holding now I’m sure they’ll be fine. My guess is they sat outside in the weather. This is something an upholstery shop could fix for you as well.

Would you go a different route altogether? I have looked at a ton of alternatives (find seats in junkyards, try other seats all together (old or new), get seats totally reupholstered, etc.) but these are all costly options (except for junkyard but they either don't have TJ seats and then I need to buy alternative brackets).

There are a variety of seats that fit. Hyundai Tiburon seats are a relatively easy mod, and XJ, ZJ and WJ Cherokee seats also fit the TJ brackets, (or maybe XJ and WJ seat brackets fit the TJ floor, I can’t remember). I really like the XJ seats and they’re plentiful in wrecking yards, at least they are here.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/how-to-install-hyundai-tiburon-seats-in-a-jeep-wrangler-tj.2997/
Again, if you keep the seats you just got, you need to have the foam repaired or it will spread through the seat like cancer.

 

[Moab]

Those aren't seats out of a 2005. 03-06 seats look far more modern. And are far more comfortable IMHO. These are 03-06 seats. They're a direct bolt in (even on a 97-02 or a 03-06.) if you use the 03-06 brackets.

But the 97-02 seats have to be far cheaper. HAve you looked on https://www.car-part.com/ ? That's where like 90% of all the junkyards in the US list their stuff. I couldn't imagine paying more than $150 for a set with no tares. Put a set of Caltrend seat covers (Which are on sale for $150 for all three seats.). And you're good to go.

https://www.carid.com/caltrend/ I don't know why this link says security check. It's a direct link to the Caltrend seat covers we've all been talking about in other threads. Weird. @Chris ?

I wouldn't spend my money on repairing those. You can get a set of nice ones for $125 or whatever you said the repair was going to be.

EDIT - I just searched car-part.com and found several 97-02 seats starting at $100. Like these pictured. Also don't be afraid of freight. Most of these junkyards have shipping down to a science. But as large as Miami is. I don't see you having a problem finding a set.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Avoid neoprene seat covers. They only look good when they're new, their colors quickly fade if they see much sun (black turns purple, red turns pink) and they are not waterproof as claimed. Neoprene soaks up moisture like a sponge and can take days to dry out. They also give you swamp ass on hot days when you perspire.

Know the brand name Wet Okole? That's an appropriate name for neoprene seat covers... wet okole literally means wet butt. Plus they start smelling from soaking up your perspiration.

 

[suicideking]

Those aren't seats out of a 2005. 03-06 seats look far more modern. And are far more comfortable IMHO. These are 03-06 seats. They're a direct bolt in (even on a 97-02 or a 03-06.) if you use the 03-06 brackets.

View attachment 169947

Must have been different options for seats. I have an 06 LJ and my seats don't look like this. They look closer to the black and gray above.

I did get it used though, so I guess the seats could've been swapped.

I would also try to avoid Neoprene unless you like swamp ass. I've seen a few threads on Caltrend covers, around the same price.

 

[scottgraham]

Go to a later model seat or get some Hyundai from salvage.
I popped (with cutting and welding) some late model manual BMW leather buckets w/ adjustable bolsters for a $120(for both). They are still on the market and the Atlanta dealership lists them at over $2k each!

 

[L J]

You already spent the money on the seats. A cheap fix would be to try some leather/vinyl repair tape for ~$15 and cover it with some Caltrend seat covers for ~$85.

 

[Moab]

You already spent the money on the seats. A cheap fix would be to try some leather/vinyl repair tape for ~$15 and cover it with some Caltrend seat covers for ~$85.

That's an even better idea.

 

[Goatman]

I would just put some good Duct tape on that tape and add the seat cover. Looks to be surface rust. Hit with a wire wheel and then some paint. Good to go. I wouldn't use neoprene covers. A good nylon or poly will last longer and look better.
I find the 06 seat to be super comfy. Should be an easy solution.

 

[dogbreath650]

Caltrend doesn't seem to have any custom seat covers to fit the 03-06 factory seats. Did those of you using them just go with the generic ones?

 

[Moab]

Caltrend doesn't seem to have any custom seat covers to fit the 03-06 factory seats. Did those of you using them just go with the generic ones?

Yes they do.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/caltrend-seat-covers.34753/

 

[L J]

Caltrend doesn't seem to have any custom seat covers to fit the 03-06 factory seats. Did those of you using them just go with the generic ones?

 

[Moab]

View attachment 170270

If you buy from carid its cheaper.

 

[grumblebee]

Avoid neoprene seat covers. They only look good when they're new, their colors quickly fade if they see much sun (black turns purple, red turns pink) and they are not waterproof as claimed. Neoprene soaks up moisture like a sponge and can take days to dry out. They also give you swamp ass on hot days when you perspire.

Know the brand name Wet Okole? That's an appropriate name for neoprene seat covers... wet okole literally means wet butt. Plus they start smelling from soaking up your perspiration.

Yes! I second this — avoid neoprene covers. Having used a wetsuit in warm weather in water, I have to say all of the properties of what they are like to wear transfer when using them as seat covers. Hot, damp for a good while after being exposed to moisture, susceptible to UV fading and general funkiness. I never knew that about Wet Okole. That's an apt name!

Also, if you get the vinyl repaired vs. covered, or go with the gray seats w/o covering them and don't want to get worse, or don't want it to get worse under the cover, I would get something to help you take any extra "butt drag" off the seat edge when getting in and out. I have a 2" lift and my nerf bar side step is so close to the rocker panel it's useless for getting in and out. After 19 years, there is finally a split in the vinyl and I think it's from all the "butt drag" of getting in and out of a Jeep with a lift without using a step or grab handle to take some weight/drag off.

I have ordered grab handles and I'm probably going to get a different side step that's actually functional so the small vinyl spilts don't get much worse.

 

[L J]

If you buy from carid its cheaper.

I didn't scan for price only to show him that they do make them. CarID is only showing the ugly denim covers for me.

 

[grumblebee]

My questions:

• As you can see from the driver's side seat that I bought, it has a tear on the side. I got two different quotes to repair that before I cover the seats. They quoted me about $130 for the repair. This is too much money, in my mind, to just cover these seats afterward. Do you agree or am I wrong? What is a DIY alternative to patching this section of the seat before I cover it?
• Should I be concerned about the rust on the seat mount brackets? If so, what would you do to treat them?
• Should I be concerned about the rusty thin seat cables underneath the "new" seats? The old seats were missing most of them because they were so rusted out.
• Would you go a different route altogether? I have looked at a ton of alternatives (find seats in junkyards, try other seats all together (old or new), get seats totally reupholstered, etc.) but these are all costly options (except for junkyard but they either don't have TJ seats and then I need to buy alternative brackets).

Eric — let me tell you what I would do if I was in your situation with my Jeep to give you some ideas:

On the gray seats, after getting that $120 quote, I would probably think "I don't want to pay $120 AND pay for seat covers, I'll be covering the repair anyway."

Then I would get some gaff tape also known as gaffer's tape, it's the stuff used to tape down cables on movie sets and events and it leaves no sticky residue even when it gets hot. I've been using it on various stuff for years. It's kind of pricey, but you will find multiple uses for it. It's almost like a woven fabric, but tears easily to get it off the roll, but it's super durable. Great stuff. Then I'd do a really good job taping over the tears being sure to tape across in both directions, going plenty past them for support, etc. Really go ham on it. Be sure to clean the vinyl down and then rub it down with alcohol to make sure you get the best stick. Oh, and if a piece of gaf tap sticks sticky side to sticky side, toss that piece, you will never get it apart. lol

On the seat bottoms, I wouldn't be worried about the rusty wire supports. I would probably get the surface rust off the large parts that mount to the bracket that mounts to the floor, clean it down with 91% alcohol, then hit it with Rustoluem Rust Reformer then maybe a gloss black, but maybe not because no one will see it.

On the seat mounts, I would clean off the surface rust and do the same thing, but for sure spray it with a top coat of a gloss black if you want the factory look since you can see it. Painting is only as good as your prep work, and there are lots of threads here on painting things.

Then I would reinstall and get Cal Trend seat covers of a very durable and UV resistant material. I would also order grab bars or handles of some kind to help me drag across the seats less when getting in. I just ordered the kind that mount to where the roll bar over the door meets the windshield.

FYI: If you can't find what you want on CarID in the CalTrend lineup, go to the CalTrend site. They are running 15% off until June 30th. Discount prices in cart. Manufactured and ship in 7-10 days.

Then I would keep an eye out for another driver's seat on the cheap. Let us know what you decide to do, and post photos.

 

[dogbreath650]

Yes they do.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/caltrend-seat-covers.34753/

Thanks! I had chosen the TJ option and that showed there were no custom ones available. I then selected the Wrangler option and they all popped up. I ordered some digicam ones so it would hide the trail dust better.

 

[EricBancroft]

Guys, you are awesome. This is exactly what I am talking about.

Sorry for the delayed reply. I have been gone all week without the internet (felt worse than not having running water). So, I wasn't able to hop on here and reply back to your comments as they were coming in. Let me try to do that now:

• I decided to bite the bullet and get the seat professionally reupholstered. I did that because (1) I want the seats to be in good condition if we sell this Jeep to get another one, and (2) I was concerned about the foam breaking down further. The other ideas were attractive. Thanks Grumblebee for the recommendation on the gaffer's tape.
• I do have the roll bar grab handles and a step to help minimize butt drag.
• I returned the Rugged Ridge neoprene seat covers due to all your feedback (I hadn't opened them yet as they had just arrived). Jerry (and others of you) won me over with not wanting to have wet okole, i.e. wet butt, something I would have here in Miami due to rain from hurricane season.
• I placed the order for the CalTrend seat covers. Thanks Grumblebee for flagging the 15% discount on the CalTrend site. The CarID site inventory was limited so I didn't get it from them.
• Thanks to Moab for correcting me on the year of my seats. Good catch. (Also means the other seat covers I ordered wouldn't have fit anyway.) I was quoting the year of the seats based on the OfferUp ad that I bought them from a local guy. He was wrong. It's all good.
• I have cleaned off a lot of the rust on the brackets underneath and will treat them per your guys instruction. I know it is a difference of opinion/personality but since I live in a Miami, I am trying to minimize the amount of corrosion I will have on it underneath.

Again, thanks to all of you. You have been super helpful. I will post pics when I am done. However, I have a parallel project going on trying to deal with my floorboards (something I asked about in another post last week). I have since learned that I have some type of sound dampening material over the whole floorboard for a previous sound system that was in the Jeep and I have to decide if I want to try to take the whole thing off (something I am not looking forward to), or just the parts around where it has rusted so I can treat those spots. So, stay tuned. More work to do there.