I had new leather seat covers installed a few years back and every since the seat backs don't stay up. They are attached with two metal clips on each side of the plastic frame. The metal clips on the seat frame snap over a metal piece that the seat foam is on. Anyway they continue to slide down and leave this gap between the frame and the seat back. Any ideas on how to stop this? Is it something the upholstery shop did? Any ideas would be great. Thanks.

 

They aren't clipped. I just did cushions a couple of times over the last two weeks. Once you get the hang of it - piece of cake. There are two sets, top and bottom on both sides of the upper cushion. They are approx. 7" up from the bottom, and down from the top, and about 4" from the outside of the cushion. The clips that the heavy wires hook into point toward the outside on a horizontal plane. I found the way that worked best was to have the seat fastened in place (rather than taking it out), remove the bottom cushion (there is an U shaped wire that hooks over the lip in front of a square hole in the bottom of the seat, then the cushion slides forward (no other clips). since your cushions are loose the tops should lift right out. Look at the location of the clips, and if you really want to do it right take a strip of tape and place it on the seat shell even with the clamp, and on the seat cushion at the middle of where the wire is. Then, pushing down on the cushion, and toward the clamp, hook the top and bottom on one side. You can tell when the clips are engaged because the cushion won't move. Then do the same thing on the opposite side. And you don't really have to worry, because there is almost nothing you have to worry about damaging. I could now remove the cushions on both sides and replace them in less than five minutes. If you have the sport seats you do add the element of some wires.

 

Thanks for the information. I thought I had popped them in correctly before, but I may not have. If I get them in place properly and it still slips then what? I may very well have not popped them in properly, but just wondered.

 

If they are in place correctly, they won't slip. The only exception I can think of would be if the hd wires on the back of the cushion are broken. You really have to apply pressure with both hands to compress those cushions. If they aren't hooked they move with the touch of one finger. Once they are hooked, the expansion of the foam holds them firmly in place. It seemed to work best for me when I did the top hook that was farthest away first, followed by the bottom on the same side, then the top and bottom on the side closest to me. I started out trying it with the seats out, because I repainted the shells to go with the new cushions, but it was much harder trying to hold the seat frame which compressing the cushions, so I put the seats back in, bolted them down, and it was much easier. Just grab that cushion with both hands and mash it in there! Hope that helps!

 

I'm going to give it a try, but I didn't replace the seat foam when I had the new Leather covers put on, so that may be an issue. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

I gotta love the ease of removal on C-4. For a real thrill, try C-3 '79 and up! Def a 4 beer job.
Mike

 

The seat foam shouldn't make any difference, in fact, if anything, it would be easier because the foam is more compressed. As said, the only thing I can think of that could go wrong is with the male/female parts that hold the cushions in place. Check the round steel rod in the foam to make sure it isn't bent inward or broken (female part), and the piece attached to the seat shell (male part, finger like projection) isn't bent, and you should be good to go.