Rocking seat fixed - plastic turnbuckle height adjuster was broken also
01-16-2010, 08:09 PM
#1
Pro
Thread Starter
Rocking seat fixed - plastic turnbuckle height adjuster was broken also
Decided I couldn't stand the rocking seat syndrome in my drivers seat any more. Car's a 99 vert with 63k miles and has been rocking for the last 20k miles or so. I bought the repair kit from Zip http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...8ac28d1aaf%7D& so I didn't have to look for the correct metal washers. Process was really easy and took about 2 hours start to finish. I followed the directions here http://www.lieblweb.com/c5seatfix.html which are excellent. The hardest part was getting the two electrical connectors disconnected. The rubber isolators I removed were in really bad shape.
When I got the seat out I also found the the rear plastic turnbuckle that controls the up and down motion of the rear of the seat had broken. After a quick search I found that I'm not alone in this problem...go figure. Why they would make the turnbuckle part out of plastic is beyond me...other than GM builds to a price. Luckily the plastic turnbucke had a clean break and the two shims and clevis pin were still under the seat. Until I can get a new seat track to repair the turnbuckle I jury rigged it with super glue, a couple of zip ties and duct tape.
Put it all back together and the rocking is completely gone and the rear height adjuster works perfectly. Repairing this .02 part has completely transformed the driving experience for the car.
I'm definately turning off the easy out function on the seat to help prevent future problems.
When I got the seat out I also found the the rear plastic turnbuckle that controls the up and down motion of the rear of the seat had broken. After a quick search I found that I'm not alone in this problem...go figure. Why they would make the turnbuckle part out of plastic is beyond me...other than GM builds to a price. Luckily the plastic turnbucke had a clean break and the two shims and clevis pin were still under the seat. Until I can get a new seat track to repair the turnbuckle I jury rigged it with super glue, a couple of zip ties and duct tape.
Put it all back together and the rocking is completely gone and the rear height adjuster works perfectly. Repairing this .02 part has completely transformed the driving experience for the car.
I'm definately turning off the easy out function on the seat to help prevent future problems.
01-16-2010, 08:13 PM
#2
Team Owner
I did the $.078 fix with the nylon washers 
the instructions you posted are the best though 
so nice to have a normal seat huh?
01-16-2010, 11:19 PM
#4
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Member Since: Aug 1999
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great to hear your story....this is one job that I keep putting off year after year
01-16-2013, 05:28 PM
#8
Team Owner
01-28-2013, 07:07 PM
#10
Racer
01-28-2013, 07:48 PM
#11
Melting Slicks
I'd just as soon replace the nylon washers every two or three years.
No way would I take the slack out with a metal washer. The original plastic and replacement nylon are like a shear bolt on a snow-blower. They're made to fail which prevents damage to the more expensive parts. If you go with metal you may damage the threaded rod; and you won't be fixing that for $3.00 in parts.
Besides; my getting into the seats to fix the bushings forced me to change out the bladders for the bolsters and lumbar support.And the leather covers!
Dan
No way would I take the slack out with a metal washer. The original plastic and replacement nylon are like a shear bolt on a snow-blower. They're made to fail which prevents damage to the more expensive parts. If you go with metal you may damage the threaded rod; and you won't be fixing that for $3.00 in parts.
Besides; my getting into the seats to fix the bushings forced me to change out the bladders for the bolsters and lumbar support.And the leather covers!
Dan
01-29-2013, 07:33 PM
#12
Navigator
Member Since: Oct 2012
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Since I am new to the Vette scene, the presence of a nylon washer in such a place does not make much sense. But in reading some of the answers, a metal washer/spacer may not be the fix-all as desired. The nylon material provides an inherent "lubricity". A metal component may gall and indeed cause more damage than its worth (service life). Maybe a washer from Delrin (think harder nylon) would be the answer. Sure, we all have a stick of delrin material gathering dust in the shop. 
01-29-2013, 11:19 PM
#13
Drifting
Decided I couldn't stand the rocking seat syndrome in my drivers seat any more. Car's a 99 vert with 63k miles and has been rocking for the last 20k miles or so. I bought the repair kit from Zip http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...8ac28d1aaf%7D& so I didn't have to look for the correct metal washers. Process was really easy and took about 2 hours start to finish. I followed the directions here http://www.lieblweb.com/c5seatfix.html which are excellent. The hardest part was getting the two electrical connectors disconnected. The rubber isolators I removed were in really bad shape.
When I got the seat out I also found the the rear plastic turnbuckle that controls the up and down motion of the rear of the seat had broken. After a quick search I found that I'm not alone in this problem...go figure. Why they would make the turnbuckle part out of plastic is beyond me...other than GM builds to a price. Luckily the plastic turnbucke had a clean break and the two shims and clevis pin were still under the seat. Until I can get a new seat track to repair the turnbuckle I jury rigged it with super glue, a couple of zip ties and duct tape.
Put it all back together and the rocking is completely gone and the rear height adjuster works perfectly. Repairing this .02 part has completely transformed the driving experience for the car.
I'm definately turning off the easy out function on the seat to help prevent future problems.
When I got the seat out I also found the the rear plastic turnbuckle that controls the up and down motion of the rear of the seat had broken. After a quick search I found that I'm not alone in this problem...go figure. Why they would make the turnbuckle part out of plastic is beyond me...other than GM builds to a price. Luckily the plastic turnbucke had a clean break and the two shims and clevis pin were still under the seat. Until I can get a new seat track to repair the turnbuckle I jury rigged it with super glue, a couple of zip ties and duct tape.
Put it all back together and the rocking is completely gone and the rear height adjuster works perfectly. Repairing this .02 part has completely transformed the driving experience for the car.
I'm definately turning off the easy out function on the seat to help prevent future problems.
03-20-2013, 01:26 PM
#14
Burning Brakes
Drivers side one was mangled - no amount of crazy glue will fix it for me...
03-21-2013, 12:08 AM
#16
Drifting
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...mber-help.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...k-leather.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...k-leather.html
Last edited by punz; 03-21-2013 at 10:05 AM. Reason: added 2nd link
