Replacing seat covers - how to remove front center armrest cover?
10-26-2011, 01:20 PM
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Replacing seat covers - how to remove front center armrest cover?
I have just purchased a leather kit to replace the stock fabric seat covers on my 2007.5 Ram 2500. Unfortunately it did not come with any directions. I can figure out the seats but not the front center flip down armrest cover. I see no screws and don't want to just start prying for fear of breaking something. Has anyone done a seat cover replacement or know how to remove the center seat cover?
Thanks
Rob
Thanks
Rob
10-30-2011, 06:38 AM
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I went thru this last year. That center console is the hardest part of the whole process. Your best bet is to do it on a sunny day and lay all the covers out so the sun gets them nice and hot. They will have a lot more stretch to them that way....
Well worth the hassle. Do yourself a favor though. Get seat heaters and install them too or you will likely be pulling the covers off again to install them later like I did....
Well worth the hassle. Do yourself a favor though. Get seat heaters and install them too or you will likely be pulling the covers off again to install them later like I did....
10-30-2011, 01:40 PM
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Not to go off topic, but I noticed on that center console seat that it has two stretchy loops on either side of the seat just like mine. What are they used for?
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10-31-2011, 07:50 AM
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Ok I finished the seat cover replacement this weekend. Two tone charcoal and light grey. I have finally quit cursing Chrysler for their seat design which must mandate that every piece of metal in the seat is razor sharp. I think I left a pound of hand flesh in there.
I started with the rear seats and they were actually fairly easy. I pulled the whole seat frame out and did it in the garage but in hindsight it could have been done in the truck. Fairly straightforward. Unclip the existing covers, they use plastic clips under the seat, and tug/pull/slide the covers off. Pull the headrests out and wiggle the black plastic headrest holders out then pull off the back covers. The rear armrest unbolts from the seat from the back with 4 bolts. It can then be recovered. The new covers, leatherseats.com, did not come pre-cut so you have to line everything up and cut with a razor knife or scissors. I thought that was poor design as for $750 they should have been pre-cut.
The front console is a *****. Completely dissasemble the thing. Take pictures as the thing is a jigsaw puzzle and will only go back together in a certain order, I did not photograph and ended up installing and removing pieces 3-4 times as I had the order wrong. The front console took me 4 hours to replace. About as long as the whole remainder of the seats. Some designer at Chrysler needs to be sent to a special circle of hell for that design. The front seats are fairly easy so not great issues there, just make sure you get everything stretched tight before you cut out the holes for headrests and lumbar support **** and power seat controls.
Total time was about 8 hours of labor. Depending on the cost you might consider a pro shop doing this for you. A real pain, but the results are nice. My wife actually commented that it looked factory and made the truck smell like new.
I started with the rear seats and they were actually fairly easy. I pulled the whole seat frame out and did it in the garage but in hindsight it could have been done in the truck. Fairly straightforward. Unclip the existing covers, they use plastic clips under the seat, and tug/pull/slide the covers off. Pull the headrests out and wiggle the black plastic headrest holders out then pull off the back covers. The rear armrest unbolts from the seat from the back with 4 bolts. It can then be recovered. The new covers, leatherseats.com, did not come pre-cut so you have to line everything up and cut with a razor knife or scissors. I thought that was poor design as for $750 they should have been pre-cut.
The front console is a *****. Completely dissasemble the thing. Take pictures as the thing is a jigsaw puzzle and will only go back together in a certain order, I did not photograph and ended up installing and removing pieces 3-4 times as I had the order wrong. The front console took me 4 hours to replace. About as long as the whole remainder of the seats. Some designer at Chrysler needs to be sent to a special circle of hell for that design. The front seats are fairly easy so not great issues there, just make sure you get everything stretched tight before you cut out the holes for headrests and lumbar support **** and power seat controls.
Total time was about 8 hours of labor. Depending on the cost you might consider a pro shop doing this for you. A real pain, but the results are nice. My wife actually commented that it looked factory and made the truck smell like new.
01-04-2012, 11:59 AM
#15
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or you can email me directly @ colinportus@hotmail.com