squeaky drivers seat
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 897
From: CONCORD CA.
squeaky drivers seat
I'm just over a week with my 2014 Corvette. So far, it's been a blast. I do have what I hope is just a small issue. The driver's seat has a small squeaky sound coming from what seems is the seat back. It sounds like plastic rubbing against plastic.
It only happens when I'm sitting in it. When it does happen, if I sit more upright, taking pressure off of the seat back, it immediately goes away. I'm also wondering if it's temperature related. Even in California, we get cold winters. Currently it has been
in the low to mid 30° F. Even when it warms up to mid 50's, it still does it. Just checking to see if this is a common issue, or if it just me. For its worth, I'm coming at 6'-2" @ 340lbs (and yes, I'm working on the dropping some ballast.)
It only happens when I'm sitting in it. When it does happen, if I sit more upright, taking pressure off of the seat back, it immediately goes away. I'm also wondering if it's temperature related. Even in California, we get cold winters. Currently it has been
in the low to mid 30° F. Even when it warms up to mid 50's, it still does it. Just checking to see if this is a common issue, or if it just me. For its worth, I'm coming at 6'-2" @ 340lbs (and yes, I'm working on the dropping some ballast.)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 897
From: CONCORD CA.
I did do a little more research and found some older posts on this issue. If I have the same issue, it looks like I need to access the inside of the seat back. Then I can spray some silicone spray where the metal frame, contacts the plastic seat back. Yes? No?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,044
Likes: 9,808
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I would live with the squeaks Vs going through the effort to spray lubricant on the contact point between the seat back and the metal frame.
Here is a video showing how to do the GT seat to Comp Seat Conversion. The video covers how to remove the seat back, which is where you can gain access if you want to apply lubricant. Not an easy job.
Fast forward to about the 17 minute mark in the video.
Bill
Here is a video showing how to do the GT seat to Comp Seat Conversion. The video covers how to remove the seat back, which is where you can gain access if you want to apply lubricant. Not an easy job.
Fast forward to about the 17 minute mark in the video.
Bill
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 897
From: CONCORD CA.
Thanks for the info. Not sure if I can live with the noise though. It's the kind of thing that affects the feel of the car. I know that this is an 11-year-old car, except for this noise, the car is actually pretty solid and quiet (from an NVH standpoint).
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Even if you "fix it", it's likely temporary unless you can figure out the specific parts that are rubbing and then clearance them and/or tighten them if they're attached to each other.
To be brutally honest, losing the ballast as you mentioned will be the ultimate fix. I recall reading that auto seats are designed for the 80th percentile male on the upper bound. For a middle age male, that's about 230lbs. The 90th percentile is around 260lbs. The 95th percentile is 280lbs. I wish you well on your weight loss and fitness journey.
To be brutally honest, losing the ballast as you mentioned will be the ultimate fix. I recall reading that auto seats are designed for the 80th percentile male on the upper bound. For a middle age male, that's about 230lbs. The 90th percentile is around 260lbs. The 95th percentile is 280lbs. I wish you well on your weight loss and fitness journey.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 897
From: CONCORD CA.
I may have fixed the squeak without any seat breakdown. On a whim, I thought I'd a try to change the setting on the side bolsters. Thinking that they may have been set to narrow/tight. After opening them up a bit, making them more and flat and even with seat, the squeaking went away. Now, it's only been a day, but it hasn't made a noise yet. The seat is still supportive and comfortable too. Time will tell. Now it's on to the addressing the ballast issue. That will take a bit more than a day though. Game on!
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