Katzkin Install Tips/Advice

I would definitely pay $50 for a tool to install $600 worth of leather the right way......

 

@socaltundra951 @Patch999
how do you get the seat release off? I see a couple clips, but i dont want to pry too hard on it.
There are two philips head screws on top and bottom, but how the hell do you get to the ones on the underside

This is the passengers side rear seat. Its the handle on the side to lift the seat.

 

Again, you need to remove that? I just did this job and did my rear seats and never removed the seat release or latches, I just massaged the Katzkin covers on around them.

 

I got it off, the factory cover wouldn't release from the seat release, so i figured the whole thing needed to come out. I ended up seeing the that factory cover was threaded through those clips. Thanks for your help.

 

I'm going to move on to my next seat tomorrow, if I go with one of the fronts, what orientation should I put the seat in before I disconnect it? Just normal fine, or should I tilt it forward or back?

 

I left the seats as they were sitting normally. I did the drivers seat while it was together but the passenger side I separated the seat back from the seat bottom. It was much easier to get a good fit while it was separated and it was easy to put them back together. I wish I would have done the drivers side the same way instead of trying to shove the covers through the crack between the halves.

 

I leaned the drivers back far enough for me to push my hand between the top and bottom. It wasn't all the way back to keep it sitting upright when I needed it to. My passengers was manual and I did it first so I had an idea of how far back it needed to go with the drivers before I killed the battery again.

 

@socaltundra951 @Patch999

How on earth did you guys get the bottom zipper on the front seats to close? I'm not even close, about 4" shy.

 

I didn't at first. I had some better luck on the passengers side still didn't get zipped all the way. My drivers was about that far apart. It covered with the flap so I left it that way. A few months later I remembered that I hadn't zipped them and I guess it loosened up. I was able to get them zipped after some pulling and a warm day.

 

I think i'm going to have to do the same. I'm worried if i pull any harder it'll rip something. I'll probably leave it unzipped for a while and re-visit it.

 

So i've left the headrests for later because i dont really get how they attach. Happen to have any pictures?

 

I'll PM you some pics. Let me find them.

 

Patch999 I never did thank you for your write up. It was incredibly helpful when I tackled this project.

 

Glad it helped.

 

Perfect.....thanks!!!!

 

On both sides I worked at them with some plyers wrapped in towels so it wouldn't damage the leather. The leather stretched so much I swore it was going to tear but it held. I had to move the zipper along inch by inch as I worked it together.

 

Did it take a little time for the seats to soften up? I feel like it's a little flat where before the bolsters kinda held you in?
I'm sure it just needs some time, but wanted to see what you guys experiences.

 

Looks great but for some reason after I pulled out my headrest in the front they won’t go all the way down they both sit like an inch up from the bottom and I used to have them all the way down. Did you have that problem? I hope not but if so any advice? It bothers me....

 

See if when you remove the headrest if you can just pull the headrest guides out. The reason I say that is I had the same problem and found the headrest shaft was hitting the clips that hold the guides in because they were not in all the way. I had to trim some more foam around the holes before I heard the click of the guides snapping firmly into place. Just an idea. Hope this makes sense.
You can shine a light down the guide to see what is obstructing the path.

 

Thank you I’ll try and see if that works (hope so) the thing is I can’t even pull them out so once I can do that I’ll try your trick. At first I thought I put them back in wrong but it doesn’t look like i did. Here’s a pic passenger and driver both the same...

 

Ok wait I was just able to get them off and this is what I found. What is this? I mean I know it’s what’s stopping it from going all the way down....

 

Yep! I believe those are the clips that hold the guides in place. The guide is not pushed in far enough. Once they are pushed in all the way those clips should click out of the hole. If you can’t push them in any more, you may have to trim the hole in the leather slightly.

 

Ohhhh ok thank you so much! Appreciate your help.

 

Fellas....its done.
Thanks everyone for all your advice, especially @Patch999 for answering all my questions.



There's some little house cleaning items i still need to do. Still have to wire up the seat heaters, and next spring i'll attempt to zip up the bottoms of the front seats after they've had time to stretch.

Now, normally i keep all my stock parts so in case i end up trading it in, i can go back to stock. I'm really tempted to put them in a steel can and BURN THEM, so there's no option to ever even think about pulling these off and putting the factory ones on! Holy hell that was a real pain in the ass. The most physically demanding piece was the front two headrests. Looking at the covers, i thought there was no way they would fit. I even tried the shop vac trick, but couldn't get it to work on those big bastards. The rear headrests were super easy.

Its drinking o'clock....thanks fellas!

 

Looks great Daniel. That’s a great color combo.

 

Looks so
Good. You did a fantastic job.