Seat Frame Repair - is it possible?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Redhill Surrey, UK
Seat Frame Repair - is it possible?
Ok, so this little bracket has broken. It is a rotating bracket that attaches to the seat frame on my '99. There are 4, one at each corner of the seat.
It is a PITA having to take the seat frame off the seat so I have not attempted it yet.
So my questions are:
Can this part be successfully welded? (I assume it is an alloy and not steel) I suspect there is a plastic bushing inside that may melt?
Can it be welded while in place?
Is a replacement part available (cant see a specific part number in the parts manual I have)
Any other suggestions?!
Ta
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 32
From: cruising between USA and Canada... SAVE THE WAVE!
I have seen that damage as well before (not on my car tho)
There is a guy who sells replacement pieces but I can easily tell you that it's cheaper to simply get a new rail as he wanted $$$.$$ for engineered replacemens.
By the time you part out the motors, black box, and lumbar pumps, if any, on your old track, you're either even again or slightly up.
HTH,
TG
There is a guy who sells replacement pieces but I can easily tell you that it's cheaper to simply get a new rail as he wanted $$$.$$ for engineered replacemens.
By the time you part out the motors, black box, and lumbar pumps, if any, on your old track, you're either even again or slightly up.
HTH,
TG
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 19
From: Not far from COTA
is there enough metal on either side to make a splint?
use some 1/8" by 3/4" (or maybe some 3/4 by 3/4" angle for rigidity) steel from Lowe's and drill holes and install bolts on either side, front and back
kinda mickey mouse but may be enough
and some killer epoxy at the same time on the broken area (clean area to be glued with rubbing alcohol or brake kleen first)
the four bolts that hold the seat to the frame are 13mm and yes they are a pain to get to
break them loose with a wrench, then mine could be unscrewed using only finger pressure
and, I'd look for the reason it broke -- do the screw actuators need greasing? are they dragging enough to cause too much pressure?
use some 1/8" by 3/4" (or maybe some 3/4 by 3/4" angle for rigidity) steel from Lowe's and drill holes and install bolts on either side, front and back
kinda mickey mouse but may be enough
and some killer epoxy at the same time on the broken area (clean area to be glued with rubbing alcohol or brake kleen first)
the four bolts that hold the seat to the frame are 13mm and yes they are a pain to get to
break them loose with a wrench, then mine could be unscrewed using only finger pressure
and, I'd look for the reason it broke -- do the screw actuators need greasing? are they dragging enough to cause too much pressure?
Last edited by NealB; Apr 18, 2011 at 10:08 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
If it were my seat, I would remove that part and FAB UP a metal (steel) part just like it. Doesnt have to be fancy. Just a steel tube with a bushing inside and a U shaped steel bracket welded to the tube that will bolt in the SAME place that that broken part bolts to.
There was a post that someone discussed this very issue but the hell if I can find it and I did a very dedicated SEARCH.
Here are ALL the seat repair post that I could find. TAG them for a later issue!!
-Seat Repairs! (LOTS OF POST!) http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...e-for-fix.html - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...stic-part.html - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...cs-inside.html - http://www.lieblweb.com/c5seatfix.html - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-seat-fix.html - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...al-issues.html - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ow-to-fix.html - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...at-either.html -
BC
There was a post that someone discussed this very issue but the hell if I can find it and I did a very dedicated SEARCH.
Here are ALL the seat repair post that I could find. TAG them for a later issue!!
-Seat Repairs! (LOTS OF POST!) http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...e-for-fix.html - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...stic-part.html - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...cs-inside.html - http://www.lieblweb.com/c5seatfix.html - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-seat-fix.html - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...al-issues.html - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ow-to-fix.html - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...at-either.html -
BC
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 230
Likes: 14
From: Northern Illinois
That exact part was broken on my seat. I removed it (there is no bushing inside) and had it welded. The part is "pot metal". Preheat the part and use a tig welder. I'm very confident in the repair.
Skyking
Skyking
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,798
Likes: 8
From: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
St. Jude Donor '13
Hard to tell from the pic but it looks like cast aluminum. If it's an aluminum alloy it can be TIG welded.
I pulled a couple of broken plastic pieces out from under mine and I'm not sure what they were for. I suspect they are for recline since that quit working.
I pulled a couple of broken plastic pieces out from under mine and I'm not sure what they were for. I suspect they are for recline since that quit working.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Redhill Surrey, UK
Thanks all for the comments, some great possible solutions to explore here.
How did you remove the bracket? I assume a hole punch will remove the spring fastener on one side and I see a star bolt on the frame rail plus a rivet. Did you drill out the rivet, and leave it off for reassembly? Looks mighty hard to do in situ.
Thanks again
Thanks again
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Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 230
Likes: 14
From: Northern Illinois
Andrew,
It's been a while since I did the repair. You can't do it with the part in the seat frame. To remove it (if I remember correctly) drive out the roll pin, drill out one rivet, and remove one bolt. You can find a thread here on the forum detailing the fix for a "rocking seat". I used that thread to help with the disassembly.
Skyking
It's been a while since I did the repair. You can't do it with the part in the seat frame. To remove it (if I remember correctly) drive out the roll pin, drill out one rivet, and remove one bolt. You can find a thread here on the forum detailing the fix for a "rocking seat". I used that thread to help with the disassembly.
Skyking
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 3
From: West Grove PA
Had mine welded
I had the same problem; removed it and decided to not weld it myself an took it to an excellent professional. He TIG welded it for $20 and said he thought it was an magnesium alloy. It can be done, but I still wouldn't try this one at home.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 4
From: Lexington Kentucky
Weld didn't work
We finally got the rail apart to where we had the broken piece out. I took it to a professional machine/welding shop. They tried TIG welding it, but it didn't turn out well. It ended up with a lot of pits and some small holes. It looked welded, but with it being a stress point, I decided not to try it. I ordered a rebuilt rail from the following link: http://corvettesalvage.com/index.php...roducts_id=230
You can tell by the fact that he has 71 in stock, that it's not an unusual problem.
I am frustrated that GM doesn't offer this as a replacement part. It's bad enough to have to deal with getting it apart, but then to have to spend $275 - $675 for an assembly that you don't need is, I believe, unacceptable.
I filed a complaint online with Chevrolet. I believe I'm the only one who has.
Whether you've been able to fix it or not, I'd ask that you document the issue by going to chevrolet.com and registering a complaint.
Thank you.
Frank Hamilton
You can tell by the fact that he has 71 in stock, that it's not an unusual problem.
I am frustrated that GM doesn't offer this as a replacement part. It's bad enough to have to deal with getting it apart, but then to have to spend $275 - $675 for an assembly that you don't need is, I believe, unacceptable.
I filed a complaint online with Chevrolet. I believe I'm the only one who has.
Whether you've been able to fix it or not, I'd ask that you document the issue by going to chevrolet.com and registering a complaint.
Thank you.
Frank Hamilton
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Redhill Surrey, UK
Thx
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Redhill Surrey, UK
I ordered a rebuilt rail from the following link: http://corvettesalvage.com/index.php...roducts_id=230
You can tell by the fact that he has 71 in stock, that it's not an unusual problem.
You can tell by the fact that he has 71 in stock, that it's not an unusual problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 429
From: Houston TX
Last edited by Black 02; Oct 1, 2011 at 06:15 PM.
