JoeDubya

Hi all.
I have the dreaded seatback collapsing, and I do have the GM tech
note on how to reset the reclining mechanism when it happens, but I
need to do something to prevent it in the first place, as it is very
unsettling during an autocross run.
I guess it's not happening to everyone, else there would be a sticky
post about it. On acceleration, especially coming out of right-hand turns,
when there is load on the seatback, both rearward and to the left, the
lefthand side recliner ratchet gives way so the seat flops back that way
while the right side stays up... I took the car to a shop today, telling them
to tack-weld the seatback pivot into one angle! They just called back
saying they couldn't because the mechanism is a mix of steel, aluminum
and fiberglass! I guess I'll stuff something behind the seat so it doesn't
fall back much, but darn, I wish there was a real fix. I'd buy a race seat
if it were OK for SCCA SS class...
thanks for listening,,,
Joe

Gordy M

That happend to me several years ago. Initially I took some 4x4's and 2x4's and made a wedge stop and then over the winter I took the seat out of the car, took the cover off and looked at the steel chassis. There was several articles on it over the years and I searched several threads and ended up welding a few gussets and improving the latch mechanism. My latching was severly bent so that was straightened first. At the same time I fashion a few 1/16 metal plates for the side supports and rivited them in place to shore up the plastic. Made a much firmer seat and eliminated the flop back problem.

63Corvette

I have heard of this problem, BUT my friend and I both have 2004 Z06s and neither of our cars has exhibited symptoms of this malady. I wonder if (like many other problems) it is model year related (or maybe model year fixed)?

JoeDubya

Wow Gordy, that is exactly the sort of thing I need, and
the mechanical chops I need too! I have been
googling this issue, and did find an automotive
journalist's article about testing the new (then)
Z06 and it happening to him during the test ride!
But I never found a DIY or tech description of the
root cause.
I have a few races left this season, so I think I'll
see if I can find a spare seat somewhere that I can
uncover and understand the issue, and then find an
ambitious/capable fabricator to do the same thing.
The feel of a firm seat definitely helps the communication
between the grip and the driver. Maybe I can think of
a way to firm up lateral support at the same time!
Thank you very much for the concerned reply and the
information that the issue *can* be addressed!
Much thanks,
Joe Weinstein

JoeDubya

Hey Gordy, from your understanding of the problem, does it require a
left-lateral load/displacement to cause the catch to slip loose? If so,
until I find a final solution, I could rig something up to prevent the seat
back from moving to the left...

GCMan

That's exactly what I did for my 03 with "auto reclining" seats whilst autocrossing. I was told later that was illegal for SS class even though it isn't attached to the seat but only as a wedge. Personally I could careless if someone wanted to protest me for making my car safer for a couple of bucks worth of material.

Bluefire

The same thing happened to me exiting turn 12 @ PIR. Because of that, I am now completing the install of Corbeau FX1 Pro's an G-FORCE 6-point harnesses.

Gordy M

I think if you run Hoosie's or Kuhmo's tires you might not have any issues but with the higher G-Forces and some of the violent manuvers we do in autocrossing it will happen. Like you mention, it usually happens on a left hand turn. It was the left latch, as I recall, that was bent the most and the right latch was almost exactly in the same position as the passenger seat latch.

froggy47

If you drive the car hard enough on stickies it will happen to all of them, bad design.

I replaced the recliner part on both sides (about $75 each) and do a "reset" before every run/session. It's rare now.

Race seat fixes it for good.

steponc

I have two 03 Z06s. Both have the seat pop problem. In the race car I went to different seats but I run in a class that this isn't a problem. I'm going to take my street car seats apart and try to fix them or figure out a way to get rid of the recline option all together.
When I went to my first school at Spring Mountain (Bragg-Smith then), the instructors talked about trying to lower the seat position to gain headroom with foam and spring changes but found the cables conected to the recline handle were to close and were activated by weight causing the seat to recline. This may be part of the reason for G force releasing the seat back.

froggy47

So are you thinking that in a hard turn your azz shoves down in the soft seat enough to stretch a cable & activate the recline? That is very interesting, hmmm. I wonder if some "hard bottom" device could go under the seat foam?

Bill Dearborn

My 97 never had the problem but my 03Z did have it although it only happened on the track and not on an autocross course. I always wondered if GM made a change in the recline mechanism that made the seat more likely to pop. It got very disconcerting coming around T7 at the Glen (Toe of the Boot) at 60+ mph in a hard right hand uphill turn and all of a sudden the seat falls out from under you. I took it to the dealer a bunch of times while the car was under warranty but they could never duplicate the problem.

Bill

JimbeauZ06

Happened all the time in my '01 before I pulled them and put Cobra's in.
Had the same problem with the C6 Z06 I drove at Bondurant last year.

They're just junk. Pull 'em out and replace them. Just not something you want to deal with while you're driving.

johninar

both of my '03s do it. I just reset the latch before I get in the car every time and that seems to help. It's a moronic design that could only come from a car company like GM.

TedDBere

My '03 does it all the time, my '04 never does it. I reset the '03 before every run and push back on the seat hard before I take a run...fwiw.

steponc

The weight thing was the Spring Mountain staffs thing. I'm a big man so I think that could be part of the problem but if I try to get something out of my front pocket and lean back taking weight off of the seat bottom it pops also. I also think once it starts it gets easier and easier to release unexpectedly.

froggy47

Anyone know if the c6 seats do the same?

Dax FRC 2000

Is there a kit that can fix this? Please help have the same problem.

thx, Dax

Bill Dearborn

When I have driven my C6Z on the track with the stock seats I didn't have the problem.

Bill

johninar

This subject came up at the Corvette Track days in '03 and according to Rupert Bragg-Smith the seat change was for the '01 models forward.