Lumbar Support Fix REDEVIL Style!
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 151
Likes: 40
From: Northville, MI
Your approach in keeping the bladder inside the nylon bags is an excellent idea. You protect the bladders from chaffing and you provide a larger contact area for the Velcro attachments. I've been thinking about re-enforcement around the fill tubes as well. Can you provide a link for where you found the bladders with the nylon bags?
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 233
From: Chicago Illinois
Amazing! Online shopping cart total is a whopping 27.00 bucks and change. I love this forum. I have a buddy with a C5 who will not believe this. Did all C5 Vettes come with air bladder lumbar supports bolster wings?
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 151
Likes: 40
From: Northville, MI
No. I have friends with C5's with no inflatable lumbar support. I think it must have been a spec-level thing. I also have the HUD and Bose so I guess the sports seats were part of that upgrade.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 233
From: Chicago Illinois
I just came in from the garage. I checked if the passenger seat had working motors for the lumbar and wing supports. Those motors are not running at all. The seat track motors are working. I assume that both seats run under the same electrical fuses? Or, will I have to replace the bladder motors on the passenger seat.
On the drivers seat, both lumbar bladder air tube inlets are destroyed.
On the drivers seat, both lumbar bladder air tube inlets are destroyed.
Last edited by gpruitt54; Jun 3, 2016 at 11:31 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 233
From: Chicago Illinois
I pulled the center section of the sport seat to see where the hoses connect with the stock bladders. Yep, they are completely disconnected from the bladders, the inlets are completely destroyed. The pumps are forcing compressed air, and pulling air when the switches are are reversed. It is simply a matter of replacing the bladders. I have ordered those thanks to this fantastic thread.
The drivers side is another matter all together. None of the pumps are running, but the track and lift motors are working fine. I guess the pumps are dead.
The drivers side is another matter all together. None of the pumps are running, but the track and lift motors are working fine. I guess the pumps are dead.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 233
From: Chicago Illinois
The blood pressure cuffs arrived the other day. Today, I installed them on my driver seat. The project went perfectly, and my lumber and side bolsters now have air bladder adjustments once again. I hope to post a video of the project.
While doing the project, I noticed the drivers side rib-level bolster is a fixed item that is a molded fiberglass unit. The left rib-level bolster is cracked to the point that it can be moved back and forth. Does any one know of a way to repair the cracked bolster?
Here is my application of the fix shown here:
While doing the project, I noticed the drivers side rib-level bolster is a fixed item that is a molded fiberglass unit. The left rib-level bolster is cracked to the point that it can be moved back and forth. Does any one know of a way to repair the cracked bolster?
Here is my application of the fix shown here:
Last edited by gpruitt54; Jun 15, 2016 at 09:03 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 455
From: Stella, North Carolina
I just did my passenger side! Took 2 more years for the passenger side to fully fail, did the drivers side back in 2014, still working fine. Used the additional tips on doing it in the car from others and it was easier than the first time...
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 137
Likes: 2
From: https://t.me/pump_upp
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I'll be doing mine now that the fix is so clear.
I got this from the manufacturer (they are great btw). This is for reference since from what I see, you need the MB-05-281-021 and 025 units.
05-281-021-Adult Approximately 8.875” x 4.75” with a 20” TUBING Length
05-281-023- Infant Approximately 4.25” x 2.125” with a 20” TUBING Length
05-281-025-Child Approximately 6.5” x 3.375” with a 20” TUBING Length
05-281-026-Large Adult Approximately 12.4” x 5.75” with a 20” TUBING Length
I got this from the manufacturer (they are great btw). This is for reference since from what I see, you need the MB-05-281-021 and 025 units.
05-281-021-Adult Approximately 8.875” x 4.75” with a 20” TUBING Length
05-281-023- Infant Approximately 4.25” x 2.125” with a 20” TUBING Length
05-281-025-Child Approximately 6.5” x 3.375” with a 20” TUBING Length
05-281-026-Large Adult Approximately 12.4” x 5.75” with a 20” TUBING Length
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I'll be doing mine now that the fix is so clear.
I got this from the manufacturer (they are great btw). This is for reference since from what I see, you need the MB-05-281-021 and 025 units.
05-281-021-Adult Approximately 8.875” x 4.75” with a 20” TUBING Length
05-281-023- Infant Approximately 4.25” x 2.125” with a 20” TUBING Length
05-281-025-Child Approximately 6.5” x 3.375” with a 20” TUBING Length
05-281-026-Large Adult Approximately 12.4” x 5.75” with a 20” TUBING Length
I got this from the manufacturer (they are great btw). This is for reference since from what I see, you need the MB-05-281-021 and 025 units.
05-281-021-Adult Approximately 8.875” x 4.75” with a 20” TUBING Length
05-281-023- Infant Approximately 4.25” x 2.125” with a 20” TUBING Length
05-281-025-Child Approximately 6.5” x 3.375” with a 20” TUBING Length
05-281-026-Large Adult Approximately 12.4” x 5.75” with a 20” TUBING Length
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: TN
So, I have been working on fixing a few things that have quit working on my car over the years. Both of my seats' lumbar supports have not been holding air for quite some time now. So, I took everything apart and noticed I had the common issue of the lumbar bladder nipple separating from the bladder itself....what a horrible design! So, I read a few threads where people had used blood pressure cuffs as replacement bladders, but they seemed to be too big for me. Therefore, I decided to come up with my own fix. Here is a detailed description on what I did.
I ordered 2 of these: ADC ADCUFF One-Tube Bladder, Adult
and 2 of these: ADC ADCUFF One-Tube Bladder, Child
They are rubber bladders used in the medical field...not sure what for, but the size is very close to the original GM bladders.
New rubber bladders
Side by side with the OEM bladders
Seat back taken out
OEM bladder support
I used velcro to secure the bladders to the plastic OEM support
Installed
Used 3/16" inline tube connectors to connect the new tubes to the factory pumps
Voila!
I have driven a few days and they appear to work just as the factory ones, and it only costs about $40 per seat, compared to $700 or so from GM. Overall, it was a good project and turned out better than expected. If anyone has the same problem, I say go for it!
I ordered 2 of these: ADC ADCUFF One-Tube Bladder, Adult
and 2 of these: ADC ADCUFF One-Tube Bladder, Child
They are rubber bladders used in the medical field...not sure what for, but the size is very close to the original GM bladders.
New rubber bladders
Side by side with the OEM bladders
Seat back taken out
OEM bladder support
I used velcro to secure the bladders to the plastic OEM support
Installed
Used 3/16" inline tube connectors to connect the new tubes to the factory pumps
Voila!
I have driven a few days and they appear to work just as the factory ones, and it only costs about $40 per seat, compared to $700 or so from GM. Overall, it was a good project and turned out better than expected. If anyone has the same problem, I say go for it!
well done - thanks for posting your pictures and overview of the fix.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 501
Likes: 55
From: NW Chicago Burbs
This was one of the fixes I did right away when I got my 2000 vert. I will mention that when you do the side bolster wings on both sides, you might want to add some duct tape, along that inside outer sharp edge so that you avoid tearing up the foam any further. The bladder essentially goes in between the plastic wings, and I'm talking about the piece that would be closest to your hip when inflated.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 776
Likes: 246
From: KY
Let's resurrect this great thread
Looking to do this repair to my 02 and wondering if anyone has done it lately and where they found a good - low cost supplier of bladders. The cheapest have been able to find is on eBay from a Chinese source for $52 for all 8 bladders https://www.ebay.com/itm/Neonatal-In...r=690200258877
Has anyone found a non-China source lately for a similar or better price?
Has anyone found a non-China source lately for a similar or better price?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 4,043
Likes: 342
From: Central NJ
Looking to do this repair to my 02 and wondering if anyone has done it lately and where they found a good - low cost supplier of bladders. The cheapest have been able to find is on eBay from a Chinese source for $52 for all 8 bladders https://www.ebay.com/itm/Neonatal-In...r=690200258877
Has anyone found a non-China source lately for a similar or better price?
Has anyone found a non-China source lately for a similar or better price?
