Driver seat foam split, how to remove seat cover- early build 1999

I've had this seat problem for a while now and I'm worried I'm stretching the leather of my still very nice condition seats. I noticed I was sitting lower, and there was a clicking sound under the seat as I took the weight off. Raising the seat up to highest point, I could push down on it and see the bottom foam coming out the bottom of the seat. I've pulled the seats out, and I can't see anything broken, but I can see the foam is split open down both sides of the seat, running full length front to rear. Video was hard to shoot one handed while trying to push the seat, but you can see the foam and the split, and a little black pastic tube that was the clicking sound, as it passed the hard bottom of the seat. I am at a loss of what to do - the seat cover I think is glued down, or connected all the way around in some very permanent feeling method. One corner is loose, but I can't see any clips or anything that could be released to pull the cover off and get to the cushion pad. Does anyone have a similar looking seat and have any advice (beyond right now investing in an upholstery shop, which I may just have to do). You Tube You Tube

Seat cover is held on with a bunch of little clips. Search for heated seat retrofit and there should be info on how to take the seats apart.

Quotes source post: 19272296

I saw some posts prior about little clips, but have to re-search them up. It feels like glued on, or some kind of plastic lip that is all the way around, unless i'm just missing it entirely. Some more pics. Staples and glue:

I have read so many threads around this issue, but I can't find one that actually documents it. It's all "it was easy" or "remove the clips with hogring plyers". The problem is I don't see clips, only a few staples at the back of the seat. The closest i've found to my seat is this post from 16 years ago referencing a u-shaped channel that holds it down. I'm really nervous to just start yanking without knowing what I'm wanking on.... Probably going to have to find a shop to do it. https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ml#post1740239 I might have to find a DIY solution to holding the seat from falling out the middle - I remember seeing some post somewhere about using long zip-ties to hold everything up under there...

As someone else might need this same info, I found this video of removing the cover, step by step, the issue is this is the OTHER style of seat bottom and does not match mine. No white clips. Still unclear how the leather is attached. Going to an upholstery shop today. (Not my seat style) You Tube

Here are the parts. It�s possible to figure out how everything goes together from the diagram. I tried to add a link but I�m having a hard time on my phone� Auto Atlanta has great diagrams with which to fine parts

Thanks for taking the time to find that but yes I have seen that, and it appears the thing that holds the cover to the seat are parts 5 and 6, but I don't feel any of those clips under the lip of the leather, and am really hesitant to just start pulling. I've found on this early build version, a lot of the available diagrams (especailly wiring colors) are totally different from the rest of the 1999s+, So not sure if the seat was somehow different as well (as can be seen by the similar but different webbed vs wire seat bottom).

Ok I bit the bullet and started prodding. Figured out the leather on mine is held on but just a rubber channel around the entire perimeter. No clips at all. As I've found early 99s don't always align with everyone else's equipemnt. I got enough off to also see that the inner creases are held down inside the foam pad with a rubber pipe and plastic clips inside the foam. I am also worried that the part numbers for the foam pads aren't even going to be right. So my next thought is, can I put something between the wire lattice and the foam itself to stop the split foam from pushing through the middle? Any smart ideas?

UPDATE! Fixed! I removed the the seat bottom from the foam cushion entirely by carefully pulling the staples out, and the two spots of glue that held some excess material onto the rear-sides. Then disconnecting all the cabling and snipping all the cable ties so I could get a fresh start and open working space. (took a lot of pictures for putting back together). I opted to NOT removed the seat leather from the foam cushion as I could access it all from the bottom and I didn't want to deal with unhooking and re-hooking all the hog hooks. I used both Weldwood contact cement (the brushable type) and Gorilla Glue Ultimate spray. Weldwood to brush on deep into the split parts of the foam, and then Gorilla for finishing touches and to apply all the canvas patches. I bought a medium duty canvas drop cloth from Home Depot for the patches. I used cardboard "wedges" to hold the splits open while the glue dried before sealing the splits and adding blow dryer heat to speed up the drying. I cut shapes of patches from the canvas drop cloth, applied spray adhesive to both surfaces, and covered the cracks up in two overlapping patches, on both sides. It bonded perfectly. I then lay one loose sheet of canvas strip across the whole section that will just stay put between the metal lattice and foam. I probably didn't need to do this step, just feels like a little extra weight distribution. While I was in there, I cleaned up the seat frame, as well as the carpeting under the seat. And applied some leqtherque oil to the sides of the seat that were inaccessible before. That stuff is really incredible by the way: these seats are 100k miles and 25 years old, and they feel and look amazing still. I wonder if the leather on the Early 99s really was different material.... And finally, I cleaned all the electrical connectors with electrical spray cleaner and put everything back together, with all new zip ties and routing. It's better than when I started! The seat feels AMAZING. I can't even explain how different it feels. Super supportive! The patches feel incredibly solid. From pulling the seat out, fiddling around, trying to figure out ABCDEF... cleaning, etc etc, I think it took about 7-8 hours total. But one of the most rewarding projects I've done on the car so far.

Thanks for the detailed how-to! Clever idea those cardboard wedges too

Quotes source post: 19286357

Wow. Great solution! Now I'm wondering if I should do the same with my seats? WELL DONE. thanks for sharing.

Quotes source post: 19295200

The pictures don't really do it justice in how clean it looks and feels. The patches are very strong. I went for a long drive today in the canyons and the seat feels remarkable. There is no sign of any strain on the canvas patches. It was a long process, but well worth it.