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Upholstery "lube"???

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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 10:37 AM
  #1  
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Default Upholstery "lube"???

My new-to-me '04 Z06 is 99.999% squeak and rattle free. I'm not a turn-up-the-stereo guy, as I like the mechanical sounds of the car.

I've got exactly ONE annoying "squeak." It seems to be the lower edge of the seat back upholstery rubbing on the seat bottom upholstery. Side bolster to base bolster. Has anyone discovered a magic way to keep these panels quiet when they rub together under normal driving conditions? My brain tells me that any sort of lubricant will likely attract grit and accelerating upholstery wear. It's not driving me insane, but it would be nice to not listen to it while cruising around.

Suggestions?

Thanks.
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 10:41 AM
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I never had that problem. Maybe get a loud exhaust, that will help drone out the noise lol.
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 02:24 PM
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Vaseline?
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 02:49 PM
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Not sure if this will stop the squeak for you but will properly care for your leather. I use obenaufs leather oils on my seats to keep them from cracking and remain pliable. As its an oil you will have lubricity so may help with your squeak. I like the feel of the leather after application and kind of smells nice for a while although is not scented as such. Use it on my recliner as well. I have no affiliation with them.
http://www.obenaufs.com/Leather-Oil-...her-oil-16.htm
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 02:54 PM
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Bill
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by zdeckich
I never had that problem. Maybe get a loud exhaust, that will help drone out the noise lol.

Crack the window and step on it a bit.

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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 04:52 PM
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Try some leather conditioner. I use Meguires Leather Conditioner on mine and I do not have a squeak like that. Adam's Polishes and Zaino also make some good leather products.
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 07:30 PM
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I had a squeak coming from the bottom side of the seat hitting the plastic door sill trim toward the back, when the interior gets cleaned both areas get coated with Zanio leather in a bottle and that quiets it for a few months.
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 08:04 PM
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Thanks for the replies. I THINK the offending areas are vinyl. But I'll try the leather conditioners first.

Thanks again,
Tom
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 08:09 PM
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Since all C5s that have their OEM leather seat covers have a thin leather that is factory sealed, I doubt any leather treatment will penetrate the clear sealant that comes on the OEM leather.
On C5's only the seat cover parts that touch your body are actually made from the sealed leather, all other seat panels are made from vinyl. But a leather treatment may add some slickness to the leather's coating that may help reduce the squeak until it wears off.
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 08:11 PM
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Originally Posted by any4xx
Thanks for the replies. I THINK the offending areas are vinyl. But I'll try the leather conditioners first.

Thanks again,
Tom
I think you are correct. But I think the squeak may be caused by the vinyl rubbing against the carpet on the tunnel.
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Old Sep 15, 2016 | 08:57 PM
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Stock Corvette seat skins(covers) have cloth on the console/tunnel seat bottom panels (both drivers/passengers) if you have aftermarket seat covers it is likely these panels are vinyl or real leather. The reason for the cloth it does not make noise or stick to the console. Do a visual or feel for the cloth on the side bottoms to check. It is tight to the tunnel. What the fix is you will have to use your imagination, lol.
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Old Sep 16, 2016 | 10:10 AM
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Turns out my offender was the edge of the seat bolster (vinyl) itching against the seat belt retractor housing. A bit of leather conditioner did quiet it down. But I expect it won't last long. I think my permanent fix will be a patch of felt attached to the plastic where the seat rubs. I'll probably settle for the loop half of some self-adhering Velcro.

Thanks again for the responses.
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