C5 Driver's Seat Question
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
C5 Driver's Seat Question
When I bought my 01, the outer panel on the drivers seat was broken, and was pulled away from the seat. SO, I bought another and installed it.
Even the brand new one, when installed, left a 1" gap at the top between the panel itself and the seat upholstery.
SO, after living with it awhile, I took the panel off, modified the "prong" and moved the little clip inward so it would pull the panel inward somewhat. That's not working out too well either, SO, my question.....
Can the seat bottom cushion be moved laterally (outward) in/on the frame? I'm convinced that this has to be the problem. I've looked at a lot of other cars, and have never seen a gap as large as mine.
BTW, all the seat inflator bags, etc. work.
Any thoughts? TIA.
Chuck
Even the brand new one, when installed, left a 1" gap at the top between the panel itself and the seat upholstery.
SO, after living with it awhile, I took the panel off, modified the "prong" and moved the little clip inward so it would pull the panel inward somewhat. That's not working out too well either, SO, my question.....
Can the seat bottom cushion be moved laterally (outward) in/on the frame? I'm convinced that this has to be the problem. I've looked at a lot of other cars, and have never seen a gap as large as mine.
BTW, all the seat inflator bags, etc. work.
Any thoughts? TIA.
Chuck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
I took that original retaining clip off that tab sticking into the seat frame up front. I then replaced it with a longer screw and nut and that allowed me to "tighten" that bolster firmly and securely to the seat frame. It WAS a bear to do cause I had to remove the seat from the car and do the repair up on my shop table and really jam my hand under and into that seat foam to reach inside and install the nut i used. I was very pleased with the resulting repair and it's FAR BETTER than original.
NOW, I have replaced the seats completely with Sparco units, but my seat bolster on my old seats will never come apart again!
NOW, I have replaced the seats completely with Sparco units, but my seat bolster on my old seats will never come apart again!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
I took that original retaining clip off that tab sticking into the seat frame up front. I then replaced it with a longer screw and nut and that allowed me to "tighten" that bolster firmly and securely to the seat frame. It WAS a bear to do cause I had to remove the seat from the car and do the repair up on my shop table and really jam my hand under and into that seat foam to reach inside and install the nut i used. I was very pleased with the resulting repair and it's FAR BETTER than original.
NOW, I have replaced the seats completely with Sparco units, but my seat bolster on my old seats will never come apart again!
NOW, I have replaced the seats completely with Sparco units, but my seat bolster on my old seats will never come apart again!
I was thinking that if I did something with that front screw, that it would pull the front of the bolster rearward, bowing the lateral, outside area even more.
My thought was to modify the plastic prong....the one that has the metal spike clip on it.
I did so, and that enabled me to push the metal spike clip back on the plastic prong further.....thus allowing the bolster panel to be pulled inward more.
That's didn't work out too well, as the metal spike clip keeps popping out of the hole in the seat frame.
Interesting that the passenger's side is just fine.
When you had the seat out, is there a way to slide the entire cushion outward? Maybe by slotting some holes?
I've got nothing to lose, so I'll really crank down on that long, front sheet metal screw.
That area was broken out on the original bolster when I bought the car. Maybe the PO tried that already.
I can see how a screw and nut would be much better, IF you could get access. A captive nut welded to the seat frame would have been a good idea.
Chuck
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I had that same problem on the driver's seat in my '00 - never did get it resolved. Wish this info had been posted way back then.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
It WAS that molded plastic piece with that crappy weak and useless metal clip that I removed and drilled a through hole so I could run a longer screw in it and into a nut with washer and that way I could fasten the plastic bolster securely and permanent! NO WAY could it ever back off or break again.
I have my original seats off and laying in my shop, I'll take some pics tomorrow and show how I did it!
I have my original seats off and laying in my shop, I'll take some pics tomorrow and show how I did it!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
As promised, I took this photo of the plastic seat bolster repair. I forgot that it didn't involve a screw and nut, but rather I used a Screw and Washer!
Notice I moved the seat foam away and installed the screw/washer into the plastic molded stud that had that crappy cheap metal clip on it that inserted and WAS suppossed to secure the plastic bolster to the seat frame...yea right.
Anyway with that screw and washer installed, the plastic bolster NEVER came loose AGAIN!
Notice I moved the seat foam away and installed the screw/washer into the plastic molded stud that had that crappy cheap metal clip on it that inserted and WAS suppossed to secure the plastic bolster to the seat frame...yea right.
Anyway with that screw and washer installed, the plastic bolster NEVER came loose AGAIN!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
As promised, I took this photo of the plastic seat bolster repair. I forgot that it didn't involve a screw and nut, but rather I used a Screw and Washer!
Notice I moved the seat foam away and installed the screw/washer into the plastic molded stud that had that crappy cheap metal clip on it that inserted and WAS suppossed to secure the plastic bolster to the seat frame...yea right.
Anyway with that screw and washer installed, the plastic bolster NEVER came loose AGAIN!
Notice I moved the seat foam away and installed the screw/washer into the plastic molded stud that had that crappy cheap metal clip on it that inserted and WAS suppossed to secure the plastic bolster to the seat frame...yea right.
Anyway with that screw and washer installed, the plastic bolster NEVER came loose AGAIN!
Looks like the screw/washer accomplishes two things:
1. The washer, of course keeps the plastic prong from popping out.
2. The screw likely expands the plastic prong somewhat, making it a tighter fit.
I'm gonna try it.
I've got big mitts, but I have nothing to lose by attempting something like that on the car. If it doesn't work, when I have time, I'll take the darn seat out.
Excellent idea.
Chuck
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