DIY - CJ Lancer Leather Interior Part 1

tryg

tryg

New Member
Hi all. I sourced a bonded-leather interior (this just means not full-hide leather, which would cost many thousands) for $595, custom made for my lancer, to my colour specs.

This DIY is not meant to showcase the colour, nor seeking comments on my choice... its just a DIY! I really don't care if you like the colour combo or not.

OK, that out of the way, you can find several dealers in this type of re-trim on eBay... I wont mention my choice here, PM me if you require.

You will need some tools, patience and basic skill. Source all your tools before you start because the seats will come out!

You will need sockets (to remove seat bolts), pliers, tin-snips or cutters (for cutting the C-clips), a philips screw driver, good scissors, a C-clip tool, C-clips (bag of 500 should do), some 2.5mm wire (comes in a 24m roll). Here is a picture of the tools.

CIMG0643.jpg


Now, start by removing the 5 parts to your back seat. Choose a part (I started with the bottom seat cushion) and remove the original trimming, using the tin snip/cutters on all the C-clips. Carefully remove all metal shards.

CIMG0634.jpg


All removed.

CIMG0635.jpg


The new seat covers have places to insert wire to strengthen the C-clip joins you will make on the seat frame. Bend over the first 2mm of wire to get a nice smooth nose to slide along, if you don't it will get caught on the way.

CIMG0637.jpg


Once you have the wire in, slide the cover over from the back, careful to reattach the centre tuck bars with C-clips. Then do the periphery or edge.

CIMG0640.jpg


And to finish.

CIMG0642.jpg


You basically do this for all the pieces.

Note, I didn't remove the cover for the armrest, side bolsters or the headrests. Leave them in place, no problem. The trickiest part is the removal and reinsertion of the armrest/armrest backing plate...

Once you have all the pieces C-clipped, you have to make cuts to put the headrests back on and reveal the buttons for dropping the seats. All you have to do is gently stab in the centre of the hole with your good scissors, then make a a cross shape, but smaller than the article your are revealing.Then you push the cover down and around under the article and tuck in. It will be a very tight fit and the effect is like factory.

I have only done the back seat last night. Started at 5pm and was done by 10pm. I would allow a full day to do all the seats.

Old and new.

CIMG0644.jpg

CIMG0645.jpg

CIMG0646.jpg


I will get onto the fronts today.
 
BTW, the C-clip tool and clips would cost you $20, tin snips are about $20 also. The wire is $9 and you would probably have the other parts lying around at home. The full interior was $595 which includes material for the doors.
 
Hmmm good write up! What do you think of the fitment, is it tight and snug or a bit loose??
 
Ok, finished one front seat, total 2-hours.

For this install, you will need a drill and an 8-10mm bit, some zip-ties as extra tools.

CIMG0648.jpg


The tuck in the upper seat and some of the rear seats are velcro attachments. Now, if you're fortunate enough to have a sewing machine, you can use the bar pocket in the new cover as an attachment point for some loop velcro. I used the stuff off the old seat and sewed it onto the bar pocket. If you don't have a sewing machine, you could buy stick on velcro dots and just sew a few threads to capture it well.

Or, you can infact just C-Clip to that velcro attachment strip... your choice.

The install is pretty much the same as for the rear, note that because its such a tight fit, you might do better with a second set of hands to attach the two bars together on the bottom of the top-cover on the seat back.. its very very tight. I managed, but it was a bit of an ordeal. Cut the top mounts out, as suggested earlier, for the headrest.

I used zip ties and C-clips to connect the skirt of the seat cushion to the frame, this is where the extra holes were drilled on mine. You could reuse the factory plastic clipping system if you had an industrial sewing machine, but this worked fine.

CIMG0649.jpg

CIMG0650.jpg


Nice fit and finish.

CIMG0652.jpg

CIMG0654.jpg


Now off to do last seat!
 
Once you leave this in the sun and its been sat in a few times, I think it will shrink and mold well to the cushion too.
 
Ryan said:
Hmmm good write up! What do you think of the fitment, is it tight and snug or a bit loose??
Click to expand...

Additionally, I am not a professional upholsterer... so if the product looks a bit 'off' then its probably my work... The fit is excellent...and remember, its only $595 delivered, with your choice of many colours and options...

So, if I can do it, anyone could.
 
Last seat finished in another couple of hours... So, what is the conclusion?! Its ok stuff, the fitment is a little tricky and it took me a full man-day (8 hours) to do it (split up over one evening and a forenoon). Would I do it again, hell yes!

It may not be your colour choice, but they do lots of colours. Happy to take PMs regarding supplier, his service and links etc.

CIMG0658.jpg


CIMG0660.jpg
 
Just to let you all know, the guy who makes these is in Werribee, Victoria (not OS). He ships via Registered post and it takes 3 weeks for the seat retrims to be manufactured.

I would expect to wait a month. The company does all manner of Lancers, FTO, Mirage etc... don't be shy to have a look, PM me if you need the link.

All that is left to do is the door trims. I am going to do black leather as the guy advised my wife (who chose these) that the Tiger colour would get quite dirty in there.

The puckering in the bottom seat bolsters will settle down over time. A few images will come after the sun comes out around here!

The feel is luxuriant and it looks great IMHO.
 
Looking good, but yeah them crinkles aren't really what I'd want. But like you said will be interesting to see how it all comes out after some settling in of the materials!
 
Yeah it looks ok....


But my honest opinion is go out and find yourself a trimmer to do this job! cost me 700 to trim my seats in my lancer.(but saying that, its only vinyl and suede)
And you know that its gonna be tight and perfect fit, but your right for the price your not gonna get leather retrimmed seats for 595.
 
fair call.. to have this done for you, will cost over $1500. It is leather, but bonded. Not hide. There are always crinkles in leather. Even the factory stuff.

If you want it drum tight, then get an installer to do the job. But bank on $1500.

All in all, its a lot nicer than the boring fabric.
 
Hmmm well the X-Factor stuff wouldn't work out too much dearer atm with the high USD, however am not too sure what their fitment is like.

Will wait and see how your stuff fares though!
 
Ryan, its probably the tradesman, not the product! I am sure I haven't done it justice... I would have bought X Factor, but its $580, plus extra for door material, plus lots more for postage... I think you might be kidding yourself about 'nearly the same price'...

But, I have seen the product and its first-rate!

Anyway, if this stuff does not do the job, I can always change it! Personally, I really want VRX front seats with the better bolstering... so I might have to change the leather down the track anyway.
 
Hmmm I thought it was around $600US shipped....fair enough though!

Meh just get racing seats dude! Waaay better than VRX ones! Only real option for me is the Evo X seats with airbags which are near impossible to get a decent price....
 
I saw one going for $1500, but only one... I have no airbags.. less of an issue. I would like BRIDE seats, they're nice too. This will do for the bog stock ES. I have already over-capitalised on this one!!
 
nice right up.. looks really nice.. as you said way better then the fabric, and 595, cheap as
 
If you ever watch shows on pay tv about reupholstering cars; such as the Ferrari factory episode, they use heat guns to shrink the leather to tighten it further to the seats... I am not saying it fits perfectly, not by a long shot... but the flash makes the creases look much worse than viewing in the flesh...

For the money, it cannot be beaten. $635 is what it cost me to buy and install these retrims.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top