Lumbar Support Fix REDEVIL Style!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 266
From: Huntington Beach CA
Lumbar Support Fix REDEVIL Style!
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!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 266
From: Huntington Beach CA
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 266
From: Huntington Beach CA
The seat back removal is actually very easy. Just unzip the top of the seat back, and you'll see 2 black plastic clips that hold the top of the seat back in place. Pull those out and it folds forward easily! You don't have to actually remove the seat back, just fold it forward.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Huntington Beach CA
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Great write up and pics. Thanks for taking the time to post this up for all to use.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 147
Likes: 4
From: Chandler AZ
lumbar bladder
First, let me thank you for the lead on the replacement bladders.
I had a failure of the upper lumbar support bladder, so I bought a complete set of them from your Medix supply house. They are a perfect replacement for the original.
One suggestion though... while you can get "into" the backrest area as you stated, by unzipping the top of the center cushion cover, it's actually easier to go in from the bottom.
The bottom of the center cover is held in place with either a strip of velcro, or a plastic "J-strip". The J-strip is two pieces of plastic, one is flat and the other is J shaped. The flat piece fits into the J-shaped piece and is held in place by the tension on the two pieces of the cover.
In my case, I simply moved the seat forward to allow me to reach both the front and the back of the backrest at the same time. Push the front of the cover down and in, while holding the bottom of the cover at the back with your other hand. Then, slide your fingers along the joint and the J-strip will pop open. Then just lift up on the cushion for full access to the bladder panel. I use a small (about 12" long) piece of plastic to hold the backrest up and out of the way.
It took me all of about 10 minutes to install the bladder and most of that time was taken up getting the plastic cover off of the velcro adhesive!
I had installed one of the Wal-mart bladders earlier but it is too big IMHO. The medical ones you recommended also seem to be made better than the Wal-mart one.
Thanks again for the tip.
Ken Edney
Chandler, AZ
I had a failure of the upper lumbar support bladder, so I bought a complete set of them from your Medix supply house. They are a perfect replacement for the original.
One suggestion though... while you can get "into" the backrest area as you stated, by unzipping the top of the center cushion cover, it's actually easier to go in from the bottom.
The bottom of the center cover is held in place with either a strip of velcro, or a plastic "J-strip". The J-strip is two pieces of plastic, one is flat and the other is J shaped. The flat piece fits into the J-shaped piece and is held in place by the tension on the two pieces of the cover.
In my case, I simply moved the seat forward to allow me to reach both the front and the back of the backrest at the same time. Push the front of the cover down and in, while holding the bottom of the cover at the back with your other hand. Then, slide your fingers along the joint and the J-strip will pop open. Then just lift up on the cushion for full access to the bladder panel. I use a small (about 12" long) piece of plastic to hold the backrest up and out of the way.
It took me all of about 10 minutes to install the bladder and most of that time was taken up getting the plastic cover off of the velcro adhesive!
I had installed one of the Wal-mart bladders earlier but it is too big IMHO. The medical ones you recommended also seem to be made better than the Wal-mart one.
Thanks again for the tip.
Ken Edney
Chandler, AZ
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 266
From: Huntington Beach CA
I just did my passenger seat last week, but I haven't driven the car for a month or so. Next on the list is replacing the driver's side lower seat foam....when I get time.