Bottom seat cover replacement?

[mbboy]

Hey guys,

Can anyone tell me if the seat bottom on a 107 has to be separated from the seat back in order to replace just the bottom cover? I'm hoping that I won't have to struggle with the 4 large screws that have given so many people so much trouble.

Thanks in advance.

[JimFreeh]

Been a while since I've removed my SL seat, but if it's like the sedans, then yes, you can do it.

Jim

[nobby]

Originally Posted by mbboy

Hey guys,

I'm hoping that I won't have to struggle with the 4 large screws that have given so many people so much trouble.

A pencil torch and the correct bit with a power bar will help with those screws.

I had no problem at all removing them.

[bluewater]

Originally Posted by nobby

A pencil torch and the correct bit with a power bar will help with those screws.

I had no problem at all removing them.

Could you elaborate your method of removing the screws? If you have pictures, it will be even better.

[meltedpanda]

you can do just the bottom, but it will be very difficult to do without the back off. I have done this several times. In order to properly fit the bottom cover you really need to access all sides, place it upsidedowm ect. The Screws come off , use a good socket with a screw bit insert , heat the area and use downward pressure whilst turning

[nobby]

Originally Posted by bluewater

Could you elaborate your method of removing the screws? If you have pictures, it will be even better.

Apply heat to screw.

Remove screw.


Sorry....no pics.

[Strife]

I've removed 16 of them, and about 13 were @#$@#$.

Best, no-strip solution I had was a REALLY good screwdriver socket, an extension, breaker bar, and with the seat on the side put your weight into it to keep the bit seated in the screw head, but not so much as to bend the frame (it's not as strong as you might think).

These are high-grade screws, they are horrible to drill out, and MUST be replaced with identically strong screws.

[bluewater]

Originally Posted by Strife

I've removed 16 of them, and about 13 were @#$@#$.

Best, no-strip solution I had was a REALLY good screwdriver socket, an extension, breaker bar, and with the seat on the side put your weight into it to keep the bit seated in the screw head, but not so much as to bend the frame (it's not as strong as you might think).

These are high-grade screws, they are horrible to drill out, and MUST be replaced with identically strong screws.

What brand of a REALLY good screwdriver socket would you recommend to buy? Seems like this is a critical tool to get this job done.

[mbboy]

Originally Posted by bluewater

What brand of a REALLY good screwdriver socket would you recommend to buy? Seems like this is a critical tool to get this job done.

I just found these threads in another forum:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r-c107-sl-slc-class/1315742-new-upholstery.html

One of the contributors suggests that an impact driver like this one makes can remove the screws relatively easy:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947641000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1#reviewsWrap

[meltedpanda]

the right size is important, but really heat will be your friend, these , IIRC havesome kinda lock tight on them

[mbboy]

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

the right size is important, but really heat will be your friend, these , IIRC havesome kinda lock tight on them

Once the screws are removed, can the back be easily separated from the bottom, and is it fairly easy to remove the hog clips, and replace the bottom seat cover. Or does the job have the same hidden pitfalls that most of the other jobs on these cars have? :-)

Thanks again for the help.

[meltedpanda]

nope , just do it , pretty straight forward, you will need a hognose plyers