broken seat bottom

**Gilles** · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 09:54 PM

the bottom of my seat gave up (on the freeway) and suddenly felt like I was sitting on a toilet without a seat

I am assuming that the streched piece of fabric on the bottom finally broke (only lasted 21 years..), do I have to take the seat to an upholestry shop? or there is another (home fix) suggestion?

Thanks, Gilles

**nizam** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 10:47 PM

Gilles - you didn't mention which type of seat it was.

If you have a Recaro seat, it's a well known issue at this point in their lives (20+ years old). The underside seat webbing has probably split. The good news is, the original replacement is available. See this eBay ad:

RECARO Seat Webbing/Rubber Mat - Ford VW Honda Renault on eBay (end time 17-Nov-09 12:34:07 GMT)

**nizam** · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 10:48 PM

Alternately, your local upholstery shop could probably fix it for you for a bit less (depends on the market you're in, of course).

**Gilles** · #4 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nizam

Gilles - you didn't mention which type of seat it was.
If you have a Recaro seat, it's a well known issue at this point in their lives (20+ years old). The underside seat webbing has probably split. The good news is, the original replacement is available. See this eBay ad:

**nizam** · #5 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 11:12 PM

The seller does ship to the USA, and several members here have dealt with him without trouble. But you're right; going to the local upholstery shop would probably get you faster results

RedVerde · #6 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 12:01 AM

Stick a phone book under there! That's my technique works like a charm!

**SamW** · #7 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:37 AM

I got a local shop to sew up mine, they took some not so stretchy convertible top material and sewed over the entire part. I had them do both sides, it only cost $20, but I had to make a special tool to get it on afterwards since there was no stretch...

**La Voce** · #8 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 05:23 PM

Go to Wal Mart and buy a yoga mat in the Sporting Goods section, about $4. Remove the seat (four hex bolts) and turn it upside down on a clean surface. Remove the split rubber mat seat bottom, it looks much like the picture posted above. Using it as template, make a replacement out of the yoga mat material, folding over the edges for reinforcement where the thin metal rod (that the hooks attach to) slides through. Should take you one Saturday morning to complete.