Fix Seat that Leans In

[88GreenVN]

To fix a seat that leans into the middle of the car.

1. Remove seat by taking out 4 allen head bolts

2. Bend tab to be level with seat runner.

3. Install seat.

*** Edit - link to auto recline seat fix: How to stop a VN-VS seat from reclining automatically while driving.

[88GreenVN]

Should add that the 2 allen bolts that hold the back rest part of the seat to the bottom part on each side to the seat can be loose and make the seat wriggle around abit. While the seat is out inspect these bolts.

[immortality]

good info there mate. should be move into the howto section

[88GreenVN]

good info there mate. should be move into the howto section

Only takes half hour to do and your seats sit up in the correct position.

[stocky]

what part of the rail is that? right/left rear/front?

[88GreenVN]

what part of the rail is that? right/left rear/front?

Inside front by the console. Has the small bolt in it and normally is the last bolt out/first in when you take the seats out and put them back in again.

This tab is very weak and will bend down which allows the seat fram to twist back and into the middle of the car.

The outside runner (by the door) is solid and cannot bend.

[centy]

hell mine snaped off totally.

[88GreenVN]

hell mine snaped off totally.

Time for the welder to come out and play

[stocky]

easier just to go to the wreckers and grab a new rail for a few bucks

[Cheap6]

easier just to go to the wreckers and grab a new rail for a few bucks

And safer. The seat breaking loose should you be unfortunate enough to be in a crash would not be good.

[88GreenVN]

And safer. The seat breaking loose should you be unfortunate enough to be in a crash would not be good.

I forget not every one is a qualified welder - I do use "680" stainless steel quality electrodes to weld on seat frames - like on the rivits when loose.

So yep get a replacement from the wreckers if its busted good n proper.

[wrx884]

wow is that all it is? mine does it i was told its coz theres a crack in the floor pan where it bolts in thats caused it 2 sag?

[88GreenVN]

wow is that all it is? mine does it i was told its coz theres a crack in the floor pan where it bolts in thats caused it 2 sag?

I'd put money on the soft bracket bent than a crack in the floor.

[wrx884]

say if it is cracked and needed welding how would u go about it? would u need 2 take all the carpet out and move any wires? if any?

definatly gonna get the hammer out over the weekend haha

[88GreenVN]

say if it is cracked and needed welding how would u go about it? would u need 2 take all the carpet out and move any wires? if any?

definatly gonna get the hammer out over the weekend haha

Welding from under the car - put spacer blocks to lift the carpet and underfelt up off the floor. Damp down with wet cloth from inside the car. No normal wires are around the bolt mount holes. Have some one inside the car with very damp cloths & bucket of water just incase things get too hot. Weld a little and cool it down - weld some more. Paint black and sprinkle dirt after welding has cooled off so as not to look like it's been repaired.

The crack will not let the seat lean it - would need to be a gapping hole to do so.

Bracket is bent 100% sure!

[mischa]

Well i broke my allen key with a breaker bar trying to undo the bolts

[88GreenVN]

Well i broke my allen key with a breaker bar trying to undo the bolts

Bummer - Not a "made in china" allen key made with plastic steel?

I use an old set of "unbrako" my dad gave me many years ago. I think thats what they are called.

Dread the day I need to replace them....

[wrx884]

Welding from under the car - put spacer blocks to lift the carpet and underfelt up off the floor. Damp down with wet cloth from inside the car. No normal wires are around the bolt mount holes. Have some one inside the car with very damp cloths & bucket of water just incase things get too hot. Weld a little and cool it down - weld some more. Paint black and sprinkle dirt after welding has cooled off so as not to look like it's been repaired.

The crack will not let the seat lean it - would need to be a gapping hole to do so.

Bracket is bent 100% sure!

damm sounds a bit involved there 4 such a lil thing lets hope ur right lol prolly would cost a bit 2 pay some1 do do that 2?

[centy]

just take it to somone to do te job for you.
if lay i would go wet carpet and anti spatter on the thread underneath and weld away.
welding on seat frames would not be legal with out qualification and even with if it failed and some one was hurt you would have to prove you done the job right.

[dufus]

Welding from under the car - put spacer blocks to lift the carpet and underfelt up off the floor. Damp down with wet cloth from inside the car. No normal wires are around the bolt mount holes. Have some one inside the car with very damp cloths & bucket of water just incase things get too hot. Weld a little and cool it down - weld some more. Paint black and sprinkle dirt after welding has cooled off so as not to look like it's been repaired.

The crack will not let the seat lean it - would need to be a gapping hole to do so.

Bracket is bent 100% sure!

I WOULD NOT cool the weld with water, by all means keep the carpet damp and use water to put out the carpet if it catches fire but not to cool the weld. If water is used to cool welds on sheet metal it almost instantaneously cools the weld and the surrounding metal which can cause the surrounding sheet metal to warp. So if this is the case and your floor pan is cracked, let the weld cool naturally.

[savage1987]

My seat used to lean in....
There was a massive dent in the floorpan on the back left of the passenger seat the sledgehammer fixed that one easy enough

I'll check that bracket next time it's out Shane, thanks for the tip!! Now what about a 'how to recondition the mechanics in your VN Calais seats' ??

[stocky]

ive been searching for the thread on how to fix reclining seats. im sure i read that if you pulled apart the reclining mechanism, there is somewhere you put a link rubber or something in, to replace some worn out part. meant to work well but i just cant find where i read it

[savage1987]

To stop them from reclining by themselves.... that's a 5minute job, the thread is around here somewhere..


edit

seat winding itself back! Can I tighten?

There we go
Sam

[savage1987]

However... I was more talking about seats like my VN Calais ones that have wobbled themselves loose (those tapered allen bolts that hold the frame together) and you can shake the seat upright around ... My lumbar support isn't fantastic either.. adjustment seems to have ... no adjustment

[Morton]

Bummer - Not a "made in china" allen key made with plastic steel?

I use an old set of "unbrako" my dad gave me many years ago. I think thats what they are called.

Dread the day I need to replace them....

hahaha that's a fantastic name for a brand ^_^ I'd buy it

The allen keys I got as a gift are Kingchrome, and I've had some of those on the end of a 3ft breaker bar and they don't break Got a bit of bend in them, but damn they're tough.