How to stop a VN-VS seat from reclining automatically while driving.

[Cheap6]

The seat creeps back because the the little piece of foam rubber that acts as a brake has deteriorated. The foam can (or not, if it has disintegrated) be found behind the seat recliner knob.

The fix will cost you nothing and takes about 5 mins:

You need a gasket scraper (or perhaps a wood chisel), a pair of outside circlip pliers, a blade or knife and an old VN-VS live axle anti-roll bar link rubber. You could get creative with something other than the link rubber. Something like a piece of an old computer mouse mat or stubby holder would do.

Use the gasket scraper to lever out the centre cover from the recliner knob (if you are careful you won't mark the cover or knob) then push the circlip pliers into the split in the recliner knob to spread it, allowing you to pull the recliner knob off the seat.

Again use the circlip pliers to remove the circlip holding the recliner knob "brake" and retaining washer and remove any remnants of the foam still left.

The "brake" can then be replaced with a slice of the link rubber (or mouse mat foam) as thick as you can use while still being able to push the washer on and get the circlip back into the groove - about 5mm give or take. Thicker will make the seat harder to adjust, too thin won't work.

Then put everything back together. Easy.

To cut the centre hole neatly out of whatever material anyone decides to use, a short length of suitable diameter pipe can be sharpened on one end using a a grinder (or I guess with a file if you like hard work) to make a punch.

(Photos courtesy of 88GreenVN.)

[georgeonboost]

good write up, but can you put bigger pictures up...cant see exactly whats going on with the small pics before i go and attack my seat.

thanx,

George

[88GreenVN]

seat winding itself back! Can I tighten?

Here are the bigger photos

[georgeonboost]

thanx 88GreenVN

[88GreenVN]

OK just did this repair while the seat was in the car. Took just over 10 mins to have the seat fixed. That included making the new foam (mouse pad) washer.

One hint: when installing the circlip back use multi grips to hold the shaft out while using a screw driver to nudge the circlip into its grove.

[Surfwagon]

I will definately have to do this mod to my SV5000 seats as they recline quite easily over bumps, sometimes the passenger seat will go right back if no one has sat in it for a while.

SW.

[88GreenVN]

I will definately have to do this mod to my SV5000 seats as they recline quite easily over bumps, sometimes the passenger seat will go right back if no one has sat in it for a while.

SW.

Yep do it - I'm glad I have - on 4 seats now - winner every time

[jimmig81]

Thanks man im sick of mine reclining all the time

[VPcalais87]

This is great guys. I can now prove to the mrs that "NO ONE ELSE HAS SAT THERE, IT MOVES ON IT'S OWN - I swear!" Can't wait to fix this. Thought I was going mad having to put both front seats up all the time! Glad it's not just me! Cheers

[mischa]

What about a when the winder thing just spins around and dosent move the chair at all?

[88GreenVN]

What about a when the winder thing just spins around and dosent move the chair at all?

Just replace the plastic winder. It can "go round" on the shaft as the wider is plastic and the shaft is hardened steel. Steel wins over plastic

[TrikkBen]

No shit, Thats whats happening...

I wound my seat up the other day thinking, hmm i don't remember setting it like this, thought the mrs might have moved it or i did cleaning, thought nothing of it, It keeps happening, Started asking my old man, Mum etc. about it, all to the same reply.."No, why would i do that...." I was so tripped out i thought someone was ****ing with me..

Good to know i shall fix

Ben

[CalaisJohn]

This is great guys. I can now prove to the mrs that "NO ONE ELSE HAS SAT THERE, IT MOVES ON IT'S OWN - I swear!" Can't wait to fix this. Thought I was going mad having to put both front seats up all the time! Glad it's not just me! Cheers

lmfao

great how too, should save many a marriage hahaha

[PietroChocko]

Had the same problem, thanks for the fix!

[<RaBBiT>]

nice one thanks for this

[KiwiTaZ]

Used to have to give my seat a wind up every 6months.
Seems I have to give it a half turn every week these days, so this will have to be done next weekend!! (have just finished the Dash LED upgrade today!!!)

[holdingtogether]

Thank you for this information. I pulled my seats out and could not figure out how the reclining worked, again thanks alot

[fnlow1]

I used this guide the other weekend and it seems to be working for me so thanks again Cheap6 and 88green!

[justincredible]

just followed the instructions on here. I think its worked. I only did one seat, will take her for a spin to make sure its done properly before I do other seat, then other car. great info.

[JazzyJezza77]

thanks worked great

[kennybear]

Well I'll be buggered. Just lately I've had to wind the seat a couple of times a week. Good to know it's not just me.
cheers mate !

[vs hay hauler]

still trying to get the plastic plug out of the seat recliner wheel, seems like its stuck in????

[cunno]

Ahh cheers for the wright up mate!!

[asht12341234]

Good thread, worked great for me

[vp_304]

sorry to bring this up from the dead, but i looked at fixing mine today and couldnt get the recliner knob of in the pics looks like its got a circlip but how the hell do u get it off??? i couldnt even see the circlip behind there