Seat Restoration: Is Your Corvette Ready?
Part 1 of a 2 Part Series: Seat restoration can seem daunting. Yet, after countless hours on the road, almost every Corvette can use a fresh seat. We’ll give you some info on what to look for, even if you let the experts handle the actual restoration.
Whether your Corvette has seen years of road time, or only makes the car show circuit, your seats can wear down and deteriorate over time. If you see yellow dust on your carpet and interior, this may be your seat foam deteriorating. Compare the feel and appearance of your driver’s seat to your passenger seat, which typically gets less use. Are the bolsters on your seat worn and faded? Is the leather cracking? There are tell-tale signs to look for when considering if you should restore your Corvette seats. Luckily, there are also experts who know how to do the job, getting your Corvette back on the road – or to the show – in no time!
Restoration Indicators: What to Look For
Seat Frames
C3: A common problem with early C3 Corvette Seats is that the seat frames need repaired from rust that, if left untreated, can often end with a broken frame. Something as simple as a leaky T-Top can accelerate the oxidation process on the metal frame and leave you with a damaged seat frame. Check for symptoms such as an incorrect seat back angle, a seat bottom that is “sunk down” too far, an uncomfortable ride, seat slides that are inoperative or any other obvious signs that something is broken under your seat. During frame restoration, the seat frames are sand blasted, welded, painted and restored back to correct functional condition.
C4: Fortunately the C4 Corvette seat design is less prone to damage than its C3 predecessor. If you feel your seat is sinking or you experience seat sag when you get in your Corvette, you may want to take a look at your C4 seat trapeze. The seat trapeze is what holds your seat foam in place. When inspecting you trapeze, look for rusted or broken metal and broken or torn webbing. The webbing can get dry and brittle over time and be prone to breakage.
Seat Foam
C3: A very common problem with C3 Corvette seats is the breakdown of seat foam over time. The foam deteriorates, shrinks and crushes from years of use. The deteriorated and crushed foam will leak out in small portions and leave a yellow dust on your carpet. This yellow dust on your carpet and interior is a clear indicator that your seat foam is ready to be replaced.
C4: Another sure giveaway for C4 Corvettes is a loose seat cover. As seat foam breaks down from usage and wear, it no longer retains the original shape and can make your seat cover sag. Replacing the seat covers and foam will ensure that the new covers fill out the leather as intended. Remember to check the obvious problem spot on the C4 bolster for foam break down. This area wears quickly, as it’s hard to get in and out of the car without coming in contact with this area of the seat. You may also want to compare your seat to your passenger side seat. It’s easy to overlook how bad your foam really is when you have nothing to compare to. Often your passenger side seat does not have the same wear, due to lack of use, and therefore makes a great check against your more frequently used driver’s seat.
Seat Covers
C3: If your leather seats have any age on them, it’s very possible they are cracked, faded or worn. Maintenance with leather care products can certainly reduce the possibility of cracking, but sometimes it’s too late to maintain and it’s time to replace. Over time, your seat covers might also suffer from fade that can be caused by prolonged exposure to harsh sunlight. Like your seat foam, it’s a good idea to compare the wear of your driver’s seat to the wear on your passenger side seat. This might help gauge the wear on your seat, especially if you have a tendency to drive solo more than with a passenger.
C4: Again, when considering a seat restoration for your C4 Corvette, check the driver’s side bolster of your seat. That tends to be the worst area for wear and abuse, due to driver’s using the bolster to assist them into the car. Check your convertibles for sun fade, as well as your coupes, if you have a tendency to leave your targa top removed on hot summer days. When considering seat cover replacement, remember to keep in mind you have a choice on whether you want to keep your car original color or personalize it with a two tone seat cover for a custom look. If you have a convertible or a coupe with targa tops, it might be a good idea to compare your seat covers to an *interior swatch to determine if your seat covers have retained their true color, which can be hard to catch if your seats have faded equally over time.
*Mid America Motorworks Corvette Swatch Program.
Time and sun exposure can cause your interior to fade. Be sure of your Corvette’s true interior color by requesting a FREE color swatch! - 877.639.2844
Quick Reference
As you know, not all Corvette seats were created equally. Each generation has subtle changes or additions to the design and seats are not exempt from this evolution process. Look for these tell-tale signs if you’re considering a seat restoration.
C3 Corvette
- Check the seat back for cracking and fading
- Seat foam deteriorated. Yellow dust on your carpet
- Cracked or faded vinyl
- Rusty Chrome Parts & Rusty Frame
C4 Corvette
- Check that the seat bottom trapeze is still intact and functioning properly
- Cracked or faded leather or vinyl
- Worn bolsters on seat covers
- Worn seat foam
- Inoperable Lumbar Bladders
C5 Corvette
- Seat track play – repair bushings available
- Lumbar bladders not working
- Broken Seat frame
- Worn bolsters on seat covers
- Seat foam on bolsters worn through from sharp edge on bolster support
- Crushed seat foam from entering and exiting the car
C6 Corvette
- Worn bolsters on seat covers
- Crushed seat foam from entering and exiting the car
Watch our experts begin the seat restoration process, removing the old seat cover and foam, and preparing the seat frame for the next step.