Reconditioning Recaros

I picked up a set of vintage manual Recaros (I believe they are Model C with the Style B base) for my 2002 (thanks, Woody!). They are in great shape and really clean, with the only issue being that the fabric is a little loose in places. I've watched a couple videos on disassembly and restoration, and while it's not a huge project to take them apart, I'm also wondering if it's necessary. In particular, I am given to understand that the foam can be rejuvenated with a handheld steamer, and that this step is needed to make the fabric fit properly; since the fitment of the fabric is the only thing I'm looking to address, might it not be possible to simply steam the seats and revive the foam without disassembly? Or is my inherent laziness going to leave me disappointed? Is there any downside to giving it a shot, and if it fails, going ahead with full disassembly?

I've never done seat restoration before, so I'm starting with zero knowledge here. I don't want to mess anything up, especially given how good these seats are; I'm actually a little concerned I might damage something taking them apart, but I also don't want to do a half-assed job that leaves them less finished than they deserve to be. Any advice is welcome.

I worked in the seating industry for 25 years. The seat assembly plants would use a steamer to take wrinkles out of the covers. The steam will do little to the foam. I have a set of cloth Recaros myself, and the covers are loose. Either take them apart and pull the covers tighter, or you could glue some thin foam over the existing parts to make them a bit fatter before you put the covers back. If any of the foam parts are broken down you might find new cushions online in Europe. There was a place in England selling new foam several years ago.

Post a picture of the seats. I have one old Recaro that I took apart many years ago. I might have some usable foam from it if yours aren't salvageable.

Went through all this with the vintage Recaros I put in my E28, DeadSkunk pretty much nailed it. Steam doesn't do a damn thing to the foam, it's for the fabric (think about it like throwing a shirt in the dryer on high heat to shrink it).

They are pretty easy to take apart and reassemble, it's just clips and hog rings, as long as you aren't trying to rip them apart like a gorilla it's pretty straightforward. I have actually removed 30+ year old fabric to install other, different 30+ year old fabric before for a better match to my interior.

To help identify the model....

Any tips on forming or carving foam? I saw a youtuber use an electric carving knife on a foam block.

I'm planning on reconditioning a single Recaro SE that has torn side bolsters and was thinking I could glue thin foam sheets to build it up.

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

This is Woody's photo:

Per this thread, they are from the "C" line, not the "LX" line. Adjustable upper back angle and individually adjustable bolsters on the lower section of the back. Non-adjustable lower cushion without thigh support extention.

02Pilot said:

 

Any advice is welcome.

I can offer a tiny bit of wisdom on this matter...

Those seats were steamed the day before you picked them up (but long after that photo was taken).

I think I took this photo after they were steamed, but before they were dry.  I did the one on the right first.
 

The steamer that I used is in the box on the floor.

I think that a bigger steamer might be more effective. It wouldn't be any hotter, of course, but it would put out a greater volume of steam. 

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

Great minds think alike, obviously.

Because they're in such good shape to begin with, I'm half-tempted to just get them in the car now and worry about reconditioning later, if I'm so inclined. But there's a good chance once they're in, they'll stay there, because inertia is a hell of a thing. Decisions, decisions....

I just replaced the seat covers in my Silverado and during my research I also heard that steam will rejuvenate seat foam. No personal experience however. I believe the foam has to be removed from the seat, then steamed. 

In reply to 02Pilot :

That picture looks much like my seats in terms of the wrinkling. I'd take the covers off and re-install them tighter. All steaming does is press the wrinkles out temporarily, just like pressing your suit. The foam will absorb some moisture and get softer as it does, then in a drier environment it dries out and gets firmer. If you have ever noticed your car seats are firmer on a cold day, it's not the temperature doing it, it's the lower moisture content.If the foam pieces aren't broken down (they look fine), just tighten the covers and install them in the car, or not.

Should you need foam pieces for the back, I might be able to help. Your cushions are different than mine though. Mine are the "C" base.

In reply to j_tso :

In the plant I ran, we used air powered saws to cut foam all the time. Since I retired I've used electric carving knives when working on seats, they work fine if sharp. As for using a foam block to repair your seat, yes you can. I'll add that molded foam has a skin on it. it's denser at the surface, and that extra density adds firmness, so get a block that feels a bit firmer than you think you need because it doesn't have that denser surface skin.

Edit: Molded parts would be more durable that skived foam block, too. also, if you decide to glue sheets over the existing parts, you want some density, which fabric store foam won't have. Consider hitting the junk yard for a bench seat cushion to cut up instead. The surface will be denser and have the skin molded in.

Edit: The other tool than got used a lot in the plant was a 4" disc air sander with very coarse discs. You can shape the foam nicely with mucho practice. Without practice you'll gouge it easily , like I did.

In reply to 02Pilot :

While I really wanted to use these seats myself,  I'm very happy to know that they're going into a BMW 2002.

I'm pretty sure that these are are LSB seats.

I also have a pair of LXA Recaros (standard headrests, no armrests) in brown, that are quite a bit different from these. The LSBs are much more adjustable.

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

They aren't LSBs, Woody. They're "Ideal CT Classic" seats, basically an unpowered version of the "Ideal C". The Ideal line all had that segmented back in manual and power versions with different choices for the cushion. You have B-cushions and mine have C-cushions. The Lego of the seating world.

I often wonder what i could get for my current LSCs , or the single Ideal CT..........No Reserve: Recaro CT Seats for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $2,900 on January 15, 2024 (Lot #133,455) | Bring a Trailer

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

Thank you! If I send you a photo of the other pair, would you mind identifying them for me?

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

No problem, just as easy to post it here so everyone else gets some "edumacation".

I have a set of LSBs from a GLi that I've had for a long time. Still in great shape but the bottom cushion of the driver seat sags down. I found the support underneath is torn. Can I get or make something to fix that? It appears to be some stretchy canvas fabric with springs.

I think this is it.

Hard to replace?

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

This is the only photo that I can find of them on my phone.  
 

In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :

I believe that's the newer style. The older is three separate straps (which is what's on the seats I got from Woody). If they're interchangeable, you can get a kit with new webbing and hooks for relatively little money here.

Woody (Forum Supportum) said:

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

This is the only photo that I can find of them on my phone.  
 

The backs are LX and the cushions look like Bs...so LXB. Cushion bolsters look somewhat flat for a B though. Is the suspension three straps or a single diaphragm?

In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :

That diaphragm you linked looks right. Check the dimensions of the one in your seat against the measurements in the ad. If you can't find a replacement diaphragm you should be able to substitute the three straps, but you'll have to drill holes in different spots for the hooks.

Years ago I needed to recondition the Recaro SRDs from a Lancer Evo II GSR. The thigh bolsters were squished. I found original Recaro bolsters on British eBay for a very fair price. I'd start there. 

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

The brown Recaros have the three strap suspension base.