Ripping Vinyl
 

Unfortunately the vinyl on my driver seat is beginning to tear. No idea why, I suppose it's just old and could not take all the repetitive getting in and out of the seat. I assume my only real options are to sew the tears to prevent further damage or purchase the correct Racing Beat cover to replace it. I can't imagine there's any other way to fix. Drives me crazy since the passenger seat is perfect and the velour inserts are immaculate on both seats. Perfect to the point that I only sit down in the car with clean clothes on. Any other ideas?

Talk to a local auto upholstery shop. They fix new cars for dealers all the time and a decent shop can pop the seat apart and trim in a new panel for you. Obv your will want to be sure the cost comes under the charge for a new set of replacements...

Stu Aull
80GS
AZ

Go to RacingBeat and order the re-upholstery kit for the seats. Well worth the money. I did mine and they turned out excellent. They didn't have an exact match on the SA inserts so I went all vinyl but they have a lot of choices that should match your velour inserts.

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...y-kit-1071159/

also remember the local shops told me $300. a seat also comes with new foam, fabric, and springs and the colors are done the way I want it so think of that when going the DIY or professional route

If you are recovering it, you can also install seat heating elements.

I think the RB replacements are the most affordable option. Sure, it's more material than you need fixed, but the ones I've seen are as close to original as you can get, and you don't have to worry about a single panel not matching if you replace all at once. I reskinned a set of Miata seats. All you need is a set of hog pliers and some extra clips. Took me an evening to finish up, and I'm not a fast worker.

Yeah, don't let my write up scare you, I just had issues with the foam and had to source replacement foam which makes it seem a lot bigger of a task that it is.

Double post!

The only issue I personally have with the RB seat covers is that they aren't the original pattern. They are very affordable but you may still need an upholstery shop to build up the seat foam that has weakened or crumbled. I would take the seat to the upholstery shop and have them give you an estimate. This is a very common issue with the RX-7 and one that can be addressed fairly easily.

The other alternative is to preserve what you have and have the whole seat covered in that thick clear plastic like your great aunt would use to cover any upholstered furniture in the house with.

That sounds super comfy on hot sticky days...
Seriously, as much time as you sit in there, do it right. I'll skimp on some things, but since you have to redo the cover go to an upholstery shop and get new foam.

If you want new foam, the upholstery place will have to make it, theres not 3rd party making new foam for our cars yet.

Yea the foam is totally fine, it's just a small rip in the corner of the vinyl. The seat is immaculate beyond that. I don't think there was anything I could have done to avoid the rip aside from not using the seat.

I just didn't know if there were any tricks to repairing vinyl, looks like it can't be repaired, so I might just sew it up. It's not big, so I'll see if I can live with that otherwise looks like the RB replacements are a good option. Thanks guys.

What on Earth would you need heated seats in a FB for?! If it's that cold out I wouldn't be driving the 7.
**I live in MN so our cars can only be out for 6 months a year max where there's no snow/salt on the roads**

For all those daily driver 7's and old guys with back pain ;)