Seat cracking. Best way to repair or prevent from spreading?

[snokarver]

I thought my seats were leather, but after a small piece pealed off, it looks like it's not.

There where small cracks there when I got the car. I tried to condition the seats well with leather conditioner. Now the cracks have gotten a bit bigger and a little chunk has come off.

This is leatherette, right? What's the best way to 1) prevent this from getting worse 2) condition these seats as a whole? If there's a way to repair it, I'd like to know that too.

Thanks much.

seat.jpg

[b8audis4]

I can't see the pic. But a lot of shops that specialize in upholstery can actually remove the section that is bad, and then restitch in a new piece. Obviously this is done on an existing section. So if it was the bolster, the whole bolster would be replaced, then a new piece would be put in place of it. But if you arent looking to spend that kind of money, it might be able to be re dyed for less.

[snokarver]

I updated the post and attached an image. At this point, it is just the bolster.

[Avus RS4]

If I have time later today, I may post some link for a DIY type repairs.
What you're seeing is irreversible, nothing you can do but do it over professionally.
What you could do in the mean time is to clean the seats real well before you apply any type of conditioner. Use a leather shampoo and scrub the seat, then use a damped towel with hot water to sccop all the crud that comes out of it.
When I say hot water, I mean hot enough to do the job, and not so hot that it would burn your hands.
Let it dry and then apply the conditioner.
The hot water helps in making the seats get a little bit supple and more manageable

[snokarver]

For some reason the full size view of the attachment doesn't seem to be working. My usual file host shut down after 10 years without warning. I'm trying google again in the post above.

I still think this isn't leather - can someone confirm? I can get a better pic if need be. Thanks.

[Denio24]

A long time ago I used a leather repair kit that you would fill the cracks with an epoxy, then a colorant, and press in the leather pattern with a hot dowel and supplied pattern sheet. I would then wipe down the leather with acetone, abrade it with some scotchbrite, and wipe it down again with acetone. Then I would respray with a leather and fabric aerosol. Keep in mind most leather seats nowadays are sprayed with color, and finished with a polyurethane finish. If they are not conditioned properly, will crack. Though you can do this and it will be much better than before, it is still not as professional as a reupholstered job.

There are also the option codes for your car. You can check in with a dealer and they can give you multiple page sheet describing what options your car came with out of the factory. Will tell you if you had leather seats or not including the grain pattern.

For example I have seat coverings that are leather (code N1F) for the part that you sit on and i believe the other parts of the seat are vinyl (leatherette).

[snokarver]

I didn't realize the seats could be multiple materials. I'll look up the option codes. Thanks!

[Peter.dupuis]

Those seats have Leather centers and vinyl sides. Fill with hot cure, use a heat gun to form it then spray over with color, it'll look brand new. You can get the materials from a paint shop or hobby store


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