Padding Your Power Seats (w126 and alike) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JamesDean · #1 07-04-2006, 02:02 PM

power seat problem

#2 07-04-2006, 02:36 PM

kris, if you can edit the job, what i did when i replaced the pad in mine was while the seat was unbolted, but still connected electrically, i removed the front two phillips screws, then adjusted the seat back and aligned up the middlle and the rear, once they are aligned you can remove them in there current position with the seat out. re install is reverse of removal. excellent tip otherwise, i may do that to mine soon. like that brown, same as my 500sel. i have some "extra" head rests and other part if you ever need any

Mismost · #3 07-04-2006, 07:15 PM

I think you can actually use a plush carpet as a "pad" and zip tie to the seat frame/box similar to what is shown. I know the springs will take a much longer time to eat through the carpet than through just the foam padding.

Heck, use both, with the pad on top of the carpet!

JamesDean · #4 07-04-2006, 10:12 PM

i hadnt thought of zip ties....my goal with that grid thing was to keep the padding up in the seat...i did this before with just stuffing the padding into the seat itself and once u move the seat forward/backward the stuff would fall out....good idea with them zip ties

Mismost · #5 07-05-2006, 12:14 AM

zip ties hold a special place of honor in my shop...right between the duck tape and the BAH (bigasshammer)!

So useful and easy to use...a third hand in a can. They can even be used to tie wire togather in a pinch. ;-)

BillA · #6 07-05-2006, 09:16 AM

having experienced POs makeshift attempts at "rebuilding"/replacing those front seat pads, I have gone a different route - reinforcing the bottom with 2 layers of adhesively bonded polyester cloth

I first kind of saturate the bottom of the pad, apply one cloth; then spray it and put on another layer

avoid so-called NOS on ebay if the color is tan, the adhesive has oxidized (learned the hard way)

SD Blue · #7 07-05-2006, 01:29 PM

James and Bill,
I am thinking maybe a combo of both your ideas may work if the original pad has deteriated enough. Mine, especially the front, have started to "flake" and leave a dusting on the carpet and seat mechanisms. I'm not sure they can be salvaged.

Bill,
What adhesive was that? and where did you get it? I read 3M but couldn't be quite sure of the rest of the label.

BillA · #8 07-05-2006, 01:35 PM

3M Hi-Strength 90 @ Home Depot

if the pad is crumbling replace it
there is a used one on ebay but the vendor, Alex, is a thief (got me for $500 !)
passenger side 90's may be ok, shop around
sold new in LA somewhere too

andmoon · #9 07-05-2006, 02:37 PM

I used a piece of foam matt used in Tae Kwon Do gyms...Holding really well.

Mismost · #10 07-05-2006, 05:17 PM

I guess I'm doomed to be those "Previous Owner" types, who had the gall to not keep everything MB stock. But the horsehair pad was crap to start with, costs way too much to replace with new stock just so I can continue to have green sprinkles all over my floorboards. Pass.

There are some great upholstery paddings out there now that are way cheaper and will hold up much better (I think, give me 23 years and I'll know for sure). The prices I was quoted were almost as much as the MB Tex seat cushion covers....PASS.

Pool noodles, upholstery foams, scraps of canvas = $18.00....the cushy feel on my tush = priceless! Improvise, overcome, adapt, and keep some coins in your pocket.

JamesDean · #11 02-04-2012, 01:33 AM

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to add to this saying that I repadded my dad's SD's seat.

The original green seats were pretty rough and beat up so I sourced a set of second gen seats from a 420SEL. They were a bit better than before (color doesnt match but green is a pretty rare color) The replacements' driver side had a few broken springs so I did the best I could to repair them using some small diameter gas pipe and angle pieces.

I tried the pool noodles (I didnt have any carpet padding on hand at the time) and then later installed the seat supports in the front coil springs. The seat was substantially better than before but still was lop sided.

Finally I decided to pad the crap out of it with the carpet padding. Below you can see the results. I accidentally bought aluminum wire rather than stainless steel so I decided to twist the 50' length with a drill and then apply it fairly liberally.

The result (at least on the floor w/o motor carriage) is a dramatic improvement. The seat is level with minimal compression and *should* be much better.