How to Replace Leather Seats in a Land Rover

A Land Rover is a part of a group of four-wheel drive vehicles owned by the Indian company Tata vehicles; it is the second oldest four wheel car brand in the world. If your looking to install new leather seats in your vehicle, pay close attention and stay focused because installation takes the average person about five hours. Before you can begin installing your new leather seats, remove your old interior.

Things You'll Need

  • Hog-Rings
  • Hog-ring Pliers
  • Hog-ring Cutters/Tin Snips
  • Tool Set (hammer, screwdrivers, etc.)
  • Scissors
  • Upholstery Glue
  • Remove the front and back seats from your vehicle. Your vehicle's seats are held together with four bolts - tip your seat backwards and unplug any electrical wiring on the bottom of the seat that are connected to the floor of the vehicle. Once your seats are unbolted, slide them backwards and remove them from the vehicle. It is very important that you save all bolts/screws that you have removed for re-assembly. Repeat for all front and rear seats.

    Note - for the rear seats, first remove the bottom area of seat; this is connected with two bolts. The bolts are located at the edge of where the seat and floor of the vehicle meet.

  • Remove all plastic trim from each seat. Then, remove every screw and try to remember where you removed each screw from; you'll need to know this for re-assembly. Now, remove the seat cushion; if you flip the seat upside down, you will see four bolts which you need to remove along with the seat cushion. If you are unable to remove this, feel free to work with it still attached. There are hog rings holding together the cloth or leather to the seat; remove it from the seat and you will then see the the center inseam lines. Once you have completed the fabric removal, move the materials out of the way.

    Repeat the same steps for the front seat backrests, front seat cushion, headrest, backseat cushion, and backseat backrest.

  • Roll the cover down and attach the hog rings as you reach them. After you reach the bottom of the seat (headrest, backrest, etc), re-attach your hardback. Now, you must re-install the seat as if was before you removed it and attach each bolt.

    For the headrest post, cut holes for the headrest posts, as well as any other levers or switches that are now being covered with the leather you have just installed. Tuck extra leather in for a nice clean installation.

  • Re-install everything back into the car as it was when you started. It's easier to re-install the rear seats first, then the front, and then re-attach all bolts and screws.

  • Install the door panel leather. First, remove the entire door panel from the door. Leave the factory cloth attached. Now, lie the door panel on a flat surface, line up your new inserts with the current insert. Use a stuffing tool and push the new insert down into the crevice so you can see how much of the leather will need to be trimmed. Carefully trim the excess leather and then try pushing it back into the crevice; you should have a good fit now. Tape the edges of the inserts, so you are able to neatly spray adhesive and apply glue to the top and bottom of the cloth insert. Let the glue dry for a few minutes, and then re-apply a second coat (this needs 10 minutes to dry.)