Worn leather seats..
Question:
I have a 96 Chevy Tahoe with 60k miles and the driver seat is starting to wear pretty bad. At the left side where you slide across the seat to get in it seems like the gray die is rubbing off. I was wondering if there is some way to replace the leather myself, or does this have to be done by a professional. If I can do it myself, where do I get the parts? Thanks!
Response:
A common problem, it seems. Both of the leather front seats on my wife’s 98 Tahoe are doing this. I already had the driver’s side recovered (under warranty) at about 15,000 miles. Now it’s doing it again at 35,000. I’lll be interested to see if my 99 Silverado does the same. H McCollister – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have a 96 Chevy Tahoe with 60k miles and the driver seat is starting to > wear pretty bad. At the left side where you slide across the seat to get in > it seems like the gray die is rubbing off. I was wondering if there is some > way to replace the leather myself, or does this have to be done by a > professional. If I can do it myself, where do I get the parts? Thanks!
Response:
You may be able to get the die from an upholstery refinisher. Find the ID number for your interior to reference the color. Just a little FYI… there are two types of leather: vat-dyed and spray-on leather. With vat-dyed leather, the color is obtained by immersing the hide in dye. With this process, the color penetrates completely through the leather. With spray-on leather the color is "painted" on. While this produces a more even color, some of the natural grain of the hide is lost and overall life of the leather diminished. Normally, a painted-on dye will wear off at the stress points or in your case the high wear area. You may think this is dirt build up in the creases, but the dye may actually be gone. Most of the vat-dyed leather comes from Europe. U.S. and Japanese manufacturers tend to stick to the spray-on dyed leather. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I have a 96 Chevy Tahoe with 60k miles and the driver seat is starting to
Response:
We always recommend to our customers that they use a product, such as Xymol, to moisturize and condition the leather, especially in a dry climate. My wife’s Envoy, is standing up beautifully, so far.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You may be able to get the die from an upholstery refinisher. Find the ID > number for your interior to reference the color. Just a little FYI… > there are two types of leather: vat-dyed and spray-on leather. With > vat-dyed leather, the color is obtained by immersing the hide in dye. With > this process, the color penetrates completely through the leather. With > spray-on leather the color is "painted" on. While this produces a more even > color, some of the natural grain of the hide is lost and overall life of the > leather diminished. Normally, a painted-on dye will wear off at the stress > points or in your case the high wear area. You may think this is dirt build > up in the creases, but the dye may actually be gone. Most of the vat-dyed > leather comes from Europe. U.S. and Japanese manufacturers tend to stick to > the spray-on dyed leather. >I have a 96 Chevy Tahoe with 60k miles and the driver seat is starting to
Response:
Yes, but the Envoy has completely different seats, with a lower step-in height and with a completely different side bolster, therefore completely different stress points. My wife had a Blazer for 2.5 years. Those leather seats also had no sign of wear. The driver’s side, however, developed a tear from pressure over the hinge. I had it repaired by having an upholsterer sew a new panel for $90. He said he did about 2 of those a week from that particular model of vehicle. H McCollister – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We always recommend to our customers that they use a product, such as Xymol, > to moisturize and condition the leather, especially in a dry climate. My > wife’s Envoy, is standing up beautifully, so far.
Response:
I use the same stuff, so does my dad on his RX300, the Cleaning Clay and Speed Shine are the best things you could do for your car… Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hey jed, not to change the original subject but, I used ALL zymol products >for years. I really believe they are the best line of products on the >market. However, about two years ago, I used a friend’s clay bar system > clay bar and lubricant ). It was about the best new product I’d used. The >name of the company is Griot’s Garage (www.griotsgarage.com), and they are >even or slightly better than zymol or pennicale at about half of the price >(on some things). They offer an online catalog and a mail order catalog >(request the mail order catalog). I like to watch the concours car shows >and see the vintage $2 million Ferrari’s and Gullwings get nitpicked to >death. A few of the winners have been using Griot’s Garage products. >Didn’t mean to sound like an infomercial. >We always recommend to our customers that they use a product, such as >Xymol,
Response:
Thanks for the info! I must have the sprayed on type because mine is wearing of in the stress points also just as you described. I’ll check with an upholstery refinisher like you suggested. Thanks again… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >You may be able to get the die from an upholstery refinisher. Find the ID >number for your interior to reference the color. Just a little FYI… >there are two types of leather: vat-dyed and spray-on leather. With >vat-dyed leather, the color is obtained by immersing the hide in dye. With >this process, the color penetrates completely through the leather. With >spray-on leather the color is "painted" on. While this produces a more even >color, some of the natural grain of the hide is lost and overall life of the >leather diminished. Normally, a painted-on dye will wear off at the stress >points or in your case the high wear area. You may think this is dirt build >up in the creases, but the dye may actually be gone. Most of the vat-dyed >leather comes from Europe. U.S. and Japanese manufacturers tend to stick to >the spray-on dyed leather. >I have a 96 Chevy Tahoe with 60k miles and the driver seat is starting to
Response:
Hey jed, not to change the original subject but, I used ALL zymol products for years. I really believe they are the best line of products on the market. However, about two years ago, I used a friend’s clay bar system clay bar and lubricant ). It was about the best new product I’d used. The name of the company is Griot’s Garage (www.griotsgarage.com), and they are even or slightly better than zymol or pennicale at about half of the price (on some things). They offer an online catalog and a mail order catalog (request the mail order catalog). I like to watch the concours car shows and see the vintage $2 million Ferrari’s and Gullwings get nitpicked to death. A few of the winners have been using Griot’s Garage products. Didn’t mean to sound like an infomercial. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >We always recommend to our customers that they use a product, such as Xymol,
Response:
So far, I like what the xymol has done for the seats. When the Envoy was new, it had "rail dust" on it, and to take it off, we used the Meguiar’s clay bar and lubricant. I have no idea which brand may be better or worse, in my case it was a matter of availability. I will however, check out the link, Thanks for the info! jed
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hey jed, not to change the original subject but, I used ALL zymol products > for years. I really believe they are the best line of products on the > market. However, about two years ago, I used a friend’s clay bar system > clay bar and lubricant ). It was about the best new product I’d used. The > name of the company is Griot’s Garage (www.griotsgarage.com), and they are > even or slightly better than zymol or pennicale at about half of the price > (on some things). They offer an online catalog and a mail order catalog > (request the mail order catalog). I like to watch the concours car shows > and see the vintage $2 million Ferrari’s and Gullwings get nitpicked to > death. A few of the winners have been using Griot’s Garage products. > Didn’t mean to sound like an infomercial. >We always recommend to our customers that they use a product, such as > Xymol,
