[s-cars] Backrest Heater Element Fix-It Notes

[Wayne Dohnal]

>a) zip ties - so you don't have to use those POS hog clips when
>reconstructing the leather to the foam. You'll end up with a much better
>repair - the shape of my driver's side bolsters were much improved after
the
>replacement job.

I agree with this.  There's also the problem of reattaching the foam/leather
combo to the horizontal wires in the seat frame.  For this I used 20-gauge
bare wire looped around the rods in the foam and in the leather, then
twisted behind the wire in the seat frame.  Using 2 pairs of pliers to start
the twist, I was able to pull all of the slack out of the attachment.

>and,
>
>b) you'll need some way of re-attaching the leather to the element/backrest
>combo - either an upholster's stapling gun, or perhaps short of that,
>consider using medical bandage ties with long claws to penetrate the
>leather. Does anyone else have any ideas here?

I've done this twice, and the second time (an improvement over the first
time) I just used straight pins.  After pushing a pin through I made a small
loop out of the pointy end with a needle nose plier.  I wish I had the tool
that just fires the staples in, it would save a whole lot of work.

Between the wires and pins, I poked myself about 10 times, losing a few
drops of blood for each poke.  This is one job I don't like doing!

Wayne Dohnal
1994 S4

>
>Matt Hastie.