Seat foam deterioration ?

MJP6B

MJP6B

Member
I have just noticed a very fine brown dust coming from the vent holes in the Black Ambla Box Pleat seats in my 1972 3500S, every time the leathercloth/vinyl is depressed a small amount of this dust is blown out onto the seat (and swab) surface. I can only assume that the surface foam under the ambla is becoming perished and turning to dust. This deterioration is affecting both front and rear seats but at this early stage it is not noticeably causing any deformation of the box-pleat outline.

I wonder if any member has experienced this ? is it just age that is the likely cause or possibly a reaction to an well known interior upholstery cleaner, which I did use last year ? The car has resided all its life in the UK so excessive (tropical) heat is not the culprit…..
What , if anything , can be done about it ,short of getting hold of a set of “younger” seats, I would greatly appreciate any advice from experienced members.

NB: The car is entered in the Norwich Union Classic this coming Sunday – am thinking of going equipped with particle masks for self and the missus.
 
Mike,

they all do this. However, you don't have to worry too much. Even in my TC that has spent all its life in sunny Greece the damaged foam is just on the surface that is affected by the light. Of course foam (especially on the cushions) does become squashed over the years (it depends on the use) but it has nothing to do with desintegration through sunlight.
 
Thanks for that Demetris, put my mind at rest. :D It has probably been coming on for some time and I have only just noticed - shows how observant I am !!
Last evening phoned a friend with a 1964 Mark 1 Triumph 2000 apparently his seats have been doing it for a couple of years - he backs up your remark - accept it and ignore it.

Probably same foam manufacturer for the Rover /Triumph Group in 60`s & 70`s. Many thanks
:D
 
Hi,

I have a Rover 3500s Auto that was re-imported from California after spending it's whole life there. I have the same problem, except a lot worse. I actually end up with dust on the top of the seat and a pile of yellow powder underneath the seat from the bottom of the foam. I intend at some point to rebuild the seats with foam from some donor seats when I can find some!

Regards,

Richard.
 
We get the same thing in one or two of our P6's, also our P4 & P5B. It's annoying but hasn't affected the seats in any way as it's all from the surface of the underside of the foam. Just age.
 
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