TMI foam padding or WolfsburgWest seat hair padding? FAQ

[W1K1]

I have always used thin carpet from home depot over the springs on my seats before the pads go on. It keeps all the seat springs working together, and keep the springs from eating through the pads
this was my 65 squareback seats done 12 years ago, with original seat pads, it gets daily driven 3 seasons, and the seats are still going strong.
When I bought it, the drivers seat frame was broken in 3 places, and we had to scrounge some springs and pads off other seat frames to rebuild them

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1973 super 2110cc
1965 squareback 1500E-sold
1971 bay window westy- EJ2.5 subi swap

[lonewolfone]

I've had the ww pads on my 76 westy, they wore put pretty quickly. Just bought the sewfine foam on my 75, have to see how they hold up. I'm sure if your like most people here and barely drive your bus then any pad will hold up.
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63 bug "black beauty"
79 bus "sunny" (sold)
76 westy tdi swapping
65 sundial "trailer special"
75 riviera "red rocket "

[Ceckert64]

Thanks guys, I will try out the WW seat pads then, I'm pretty young so how sore I was after the trip I figured something was up and I made the same trip in different cars, and it was not nearly as bad.
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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Yellow Tin Top Westfalia -Sold
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop EJ22 swap
“Rome” 91 Syncro

[mikedjames]

I finally fitted WW coir seat pads to my seats. And finally the seats support me properly. I think the adhesive used is more robust than the original, feels like some kind of polyurethane.
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Ancient vehicles and vessels

1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.

1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy

[SGKent]

the factory was I think horsehair pads, and WW coconut is the closest to that. The upholstery shop I used to install the covers used a layer of gel foam over the WW pads. I drove across the US many times in my 1971 bay, and have taken up to 7 hour trips in my 1977. Comfort has not been an issue other than I am no longer a skinny 25 - 30 year old so the wheel is a lot closer. I think the early seats were more comfortable but the gave little support for the neck if rear ended. That was always a concern in the 60's and very early 70's cars.
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[Ceckert64]

Hello, I currently have TMI foam seat pads in my 72, I'd like to keep the stock seats but road trips are terrible with those seats. I had a 8 hour drive in my bus and I woke up sore the next morning from the seats they were so uncomfortable. Is WW coconut fiber or sewfine seat pads that significant of an improvement for long trips? I want something that can be comfortable for at least 4 hours. Currently I have to stop every hour or two to stretch.
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1964 sunroof Beetle Restoration "Herbie"
“Joann” 1970 Elm Green Squareback
1972 Yellow Tin Top Westfalia -Sold
“Fitz” 1971 Westfalia Poptop EJ22 swap
“Rome” 91 Syncro

[Convoy]

Appreciate the response Curtis. Hope it will lower me by at a minimum of 1".

[70Crew]

[curtis4085]

[Convoy]

Resurrecting and old debate. I'm a very tall guy, at 6'7" and rebuilt my front seats using the TMI foam seat pads in my 74 westy. It raised me up approx. 1 1/2"-2" higher ( I'm sure I can contribute some height difference by rebuilding the seats). The TMI foam appears to be over stuffing the seat.

If I switched to the WW horsehair seat pad, would it allow the occupant to sit lower?

[Greg in GA]

Since this post was started, has anyone tried reupholstering the '74 seat back w/ head rest using the coconut hair pad?
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1969 Beetle
1974 Westy 1800cc FI conversion, L62H

Need a really good mechanic for your VW bus? Consider making an appointment with Colin (Amskeptic) next time he passes thru your area.

[Ives676]

I bought one coconut coir pad to see if it would fit my '73 seat with a headrest and it looks like it would work. The headrest is actually behind the pad so I don't know how it would interfere with the '74 seat as mentioned on Wolfsburg's site.

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1974 Riviera - Subaru EJ22
Build Thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=630031

[DougB]

I used WW hair pads with the original blue/green plaid seat covers (still in great shape!) on my '75 Westy, installing seat heater pads from Install Bay at the same time (not yet wired in). Smooth install for this first timer! Hardest part was removing the old covers without breaking off everyone of the bendable metal tabs on the seat frame. :-/

- Doug
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'75 Campmobile (tin-top to SpaceRoof)
'73 Fastback
'52 BMW R67/2
'41 Zundapp KS600
'55 Puch SGS250
A very, very understanding wife

[Bulli Klinik]

I'm a TMI dealer. I use WW coco pads and TMI covers. A bay, but you get the idea:

How to: http://www.bulliklinik.com/2014/01/dormobile-interior-upgrade.html
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PM me about quality metal-work on your vehicle.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs

[Bala]

[voltman]

FYI...........do not waste your money on TMI ghia convertible rear seat pads,they are nothing but two pieces of 1 inch rectangular cheap foam,you can buy much better quality and thicker at your local Craft storesand/or fabric shops and at a cheaper price. The front seat pads are acceptible but not the best.

[webwalker]

[Desertbusman]

Go to an upholstry shop and ask them

Check Sewfines catalog and prices
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71 Superbug
71 Westy

[type2much]

Just wondering how it compares to redo seats yourself or have them done. About how much is the going price to have a full set (rear, 2/3 middle, and the 2 walk through fronts) of bus seats reupholstered at a shop?

And how much would it be to buy the padding and covers for these from Sewfine?
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Gnarly Goat Rancher

[Desertbusman]

Mine-

Pollys-

Sewfine, and yes the left and right bottoms are different. Andthe seats are different as the passenger side is hinged. Not sure what the deal would be all about with the strange cushions. Carol has been doing early Bay cushions for many years and knows how to do them. I somewhat remenber one cushion where the rear end was longer but I do know that I didn't cut or trim. I sure wouldn't do anything to alter the front or sides.

The cushions are perfect for fit and usage. 15 years daily on my daily driver bug and the Sewfines are holding the shape and look the same as new.
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71 Superbug
71 Westy