Back in August, i found a set of SR5 “vertigo” seats for sale on Craigslist. They turned out to be in pretty good shape. The seller pulled these out of his own 85 4runner because he acquired some other sr5 seats he liked better. IIRC, I only paid about $100 for the whole set but the owner would not sell me the headrests with them even though i offered more money. They were dusty and grimy but i thought they would clean up well.



Kinda grimy. Driver’s seat

Finn the cat checking it out.

Rental rug Dr. and lots of stain remover.

Before and after.

Bathroom rug on the rear seat backs replaced by some i made.

Not bad at all.

 

I decided to swap the bottom cushions on the driver and passenger seats and actually removed the cover on the original driver’s. Its a little threadbare and i think i’ll see if any of the local shops can get the vertigo material. My exhaustive internet searching has turned up nothing.
Fast forward to today, rainy winter day when i decided to install the driver's seat and rear seats.


Step 1, remove driver’s seat and install cat(Rey).

Step 2, remove cat and vacuum detritus.

I actually giggled because it felt so good and different to sit in.

Rear seat. I bought some used headrests and guides off an ebay seller. Now how do you remove these guides?

This is what it looks like and i had to use a long screw driver though holes in the seatback to push on the tip while pulling up on the guide.

Trial and error like this. Replacement installed here.

 

I want a set pretty bad. why do you call them vertigo seats? there was a full set on the FB marketplace for 400 bucks a while back but I don't want them THAT bad. I remember a forum a while back where some guys tried to buy the fabric form japan but idk what the outcome was.

 

i guess they are called “vertigo” because the print makes you dizzy looking at it.

 

Between last weekend and today, i have been working on the final Sr5 seat for my interior. I’ve been driving around with the rears and driver’s seat installed while i found time to finish the passenger seat. I used the better lower cushion on the drivers side and bought a good lower seat cover off member Jakey Poo... thanks again, Jake!





Before... as seat cover was sold to me by member Jakey poo.

In process.

It feels like i have 14 hours into cleaning this cover.Probably really only 4. I used my wife’s garment steamer and neighbor’s carpet cleaner. All the while Frank Zappa’s “A Token of My Extreme” from the album Joe’s Garage playing back in my head...if you get that reference you are as sick as me.

After, drying in the sun.

Love that dirty water...

 

This afternoon i was finally able to reassemble the lower cushion. The foam was in good shape but the seatframe was rusty so i hit it with a scuff pad and some rust converter chemical. I was paranoid about getting any new stains on the seat cover.



Where i have highlighted red, wire runs through the foam.

My helper.

Hog ring pliers. The cheap ones work fine for this job.

Again, listing wire is inside of these sleaves to be able to hog ring to.

Seat frame after rust treatment.

Added some cotton batting from another seat upholstery project.

Everywhere i’ve circled in yellow is a new hog ring and listing wire.

Final product ready to install.

 

Having been through the learning curve now on auto upholstery i would advise trying it if you are patient and have attention to detail. There are good videos online and you’ll typically need some strong pliers for cutting hog rings and special pliers to replace them. I had paper coated listing wire leftover from my first job, but you could use coat hangers in a pinch. The cotton batting i used was leftover also. Removing the seat covers for deep cleaning or repair is not difficult, just take your time. Take photos as you disassemble. Replacing the cover here was way easier than my previous job with new foam and seatcover.

 

To remove the head rest guides you must remove the seat fabric until the top, you have to press those tabs from the back/inside of the seat, and pull them out, then you can remove the whole cloth:

 

Cool, that looks like a seat with adjustable side bolsters. What are you doing to it?

 

The driver seat comes with adjustable side bolsters in my 88 4R SR5.
I removed the seat covers to wash them, they're back in the truck.

 

I felt bad sending such a dirty cover, but I didn't have the time to clean it, and didn't want to ruin it. You did an amazing job cleaning it up!

 

great write up and great job cleaning up the seats

 

i was just happy that you could part with it and took the time and care to remove it without damage.
Thanks Again!