body and interior Seat back not staying set....any tips to rectify?

[DarcyB]

Hi all....

The drivers seat is barely staying set with the seat back setting. It doesn't want to hold where I want it. Any tips to rectify? Thanks for the help.

[jgerock]

When you say the seatback isn't staying in place, do you mean it flops forward or does it move when you are sitting in the seat (easy to say, hard to write)?

 

Check the seatback release lever cable that runs in (2) plastic pulleys in the seat to see if the cable needs tightening.

There are two thick tabs welded to the seat bottom frame that limits the amount of travel at the hinge and catches the seat release lever.  The tabs can break and allow the seatback to twist back when sitting in the seat.

 

[DarcyB]

The seat back doesn't flop forward, it won't hold where I have it set as you lean on it. By seat back I mean the part of the seat my back is on. It adjusts with the lever down low that you pull up to move the seat back.

[Mike Self]

The seat back angle is adjusted by a ratchet and pawl assembly that's inside the chrome or black (depending on the car's year) assembly that's fastened to both sides of the seat, connecting the cushion (bottom) to the back.  Sounds like either the ratchet or the pawl are either worn or out of adjustment, so the the pawl doesn't completely engage with the ratchet's teeth.  If it's only feeling loosey-goosey on one side, I'd suspect the cable that allows the adjustment lever to release both sides is out of adjustment.  

 

It's been a long time since I've had a seat apart, but the mechanism is simple and the problem should be evident when you delve into things.  Just remember that if you remove the reclining mechanism from both sides, observe carefully their relationship while still connected to the transverse bar that joins 'em.  They are NOT parallel to each other; if you reassemble 'em that way, the mechanism won't work.  I learned this lesson the hard way.

 

Let us know whatcha find...

 

cheers

mike

[jgerock]

Here are some pictures I took when dismantling my 69 seats (it is very easy, just be careful of the very sharp tangs that secure the covers).

 

As Mike Self comments above, make sure to pay attention to where the splined connection rod is positioned when putting the left and right hinges back together.  If they aren't aligned correctly, the seat can be put in a twist.

 

This is the driver's outer hinge.  The horizontal bar with spring is the seatback angle adjustment lever.  It allows the seat back to be fixed in one of the teeth on the outer part of the hinge.  The release "tilt" cable pulls up on the strap and makes the bottom hook rotate to release the lock on the bottom frame (the thick metal tabs that sometimes break).  Note the little spring at the bottom that keeps the locking lever in the forward position.

Here is the cable connection that releases (lifts) the seatback so it can tilt forward.  Next picture below is the driver's side inner hinge.

[DarcyB]

Thanks all for the help! The pictures helped a lot too. We took it apart, cleaned it up a bit and did some WD40 spraying. We put it back together and it works great now! Like a new car!

[jgerock]

Excellent news! Did you have to adjust anything or was the mechanism just stuck/rusted?

[DarcyB]

Hi jgerock......

No adjustment. Seems it was just dirty and a little rust. We really appreciate the help!

[Conserv]

Hi jgerock......

No adjustment. Seems it was just dirty and a little rust. We really appreciate the help!

jgerock rocks!

Regards,

Steve

[Lucian]

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Edited February 28, 2016 by Lucian