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W123 Seat Frame Cracks & Broken Spring -- Weld 'Em?
Y'all,
I discovered that the driver's seat back on my W123 300td is cracked in two places in the bracket at the rear bottom edge (it's the piece that the two headrest channels connect to, and the seat back rear cover is screwed to). One side is cracked completely through, and the other is barely hanging. I'm amazed by how thin the metal is -- maybe 1/2 the thickness of fender metal (sorry, I can't figure the gauge by eyeball). Has anyone had this problem and successfully fixed it by welding? I have access to a TIG and a guy who's an aerospace welder can do it for me, so I'm sure it can be done, but is it worth the effort? Would I be better off looking for another frame? Also, one of the springs in the seat bottom has broken at a 90-degree turn. Can this be welded? Thanks in advance, Shawn |
#2
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It would probably be faster and easier (and less of a fire risk! ) to swap in some used seats or frame.
Unless you have an odd color interior, then welding would probably be easier. |
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Quote:
Oh, it's odd alright, but folks here would recognize it as "Used to be Palomino." |
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Funny, mine's the same color as well.
__________________
1983 300D - hippie sled... 2004 325ci - work truck... 1989 535i(s) - list of mods goes here... 1984 318 GTR - track rat... |
#5
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Send "Hogweed" a PM. I think he still might have the 2 front seats in Palomino for a w123. I almost got them, but was able to repair mine.
The broken seat springs can be fixed with metal tubing and bailing wire.
__________________
Chad 2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE 1998 Acura 3.0 CL OBK#44 "Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) SOLD 1985 300TD - Red Dragon 1986 300SDL - Coda 1991 - 300TE 1995 - E320 1985 300CD - Gladys |
#6
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Thanks for the contact info. I'll try repairing before I buy any other seats, and then I'll get one from a junkyard (much cheaper, as I don't need a pair and won't have to pay shipping) and swap over the upholstery -- which is gonna be covered by sheepskins anyhow.
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#7
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There is a thread around here on welding seat springs. One guy did it with good results afaik.
__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg 1995 E420 Schwarz 1995 E300 Weiss #1987 300D Sturmmachine #1991 300D Nearly Perfect #1994 E320 Cabriolet #1995 E320 Touring #1985 300D Sedan OBK #42 |
#8
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I fixed a broken seat spring the creative way.
Got the smallest hose coupler I could find at the local hardware store - I can't remember the exact size, but it was pretty small. Filled each end with the miracle substance - JB WELD. Forced and struggled w/ two pairs of vice grips each side of the broken spring into the JB Weld - filled sides of the hose coupler. Took bailing wire around the spring so as to help minimize the tendency of the springs to want to separate from the JB Weld. Stuffed the base of the seat w/ pool noodles. The fix has held up for a year of daily-driver duty, and it's in a high-stress area - directly below the "left cheek." ;-) |
#9
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Thanks for suggesting that technique, Matt. I did something similar on one of my BMWs years ago. Those springs were spiral (the MB's break is on a corner), so I bent brake line to fit, slid it onto the spring, coated the area with JB weld, and slid the brake line over the break. It's worked fine, but it is on the passenger side.
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#10
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You could always weld a reinforcing plate on the seat frame. never done it, but it seems like a pretty easy fix.
__________________
1984 300TD |
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