560SL seats - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BobK · #1 01-02-2003, 12:01 PM

First dumb little problem with our new '88 560SL: Drivers seat is stuck in the full "up" position. Little lever will not lower it (won't raise it either, but it is definitely up). Is this a common problem? How easy to fix? How easily does the seat come out?
TIA.
Bobk

Steve Gutman · #2 01-02-2003, 01:00 PM

Manual seats, right? Did you push the lever down hard and sit back on the seat?

The seat comes out easily. I wrte a procedure but don't have it with me. Push the seat back, remove the 2 front mounting bolts (on the end of the tracks. Slide the seat forward, remove the 4 bolts holdint the back of the seat. Tip forward and remove to the rear. Ten minute job.

Steve

luvmy84300sd · #3 01-02-2003, 10:57 PM

I've noticed when I test drive these (I haven't bought one yet) that the driver seat controls are the most difficult thing to operate. Is this a problem or is there some way to adjust or oil them that makes them easier. The owners always tell me to push the handle hard and I feel like I'm breaking it. Not to mention that when it does move (either forward/backward or up/down) it finally slams into position and I feel bad for what seems like mistreating the car!

#4 01-03-2003, 12:06 AM

Had the same problem with my 82 SL when I bought it last Feb. I cleaned the seat rails the best I could and then used automotive grease to grease well and now my seats as well as height adjuster works well.

BobK · #5 01-03-2003, 06:43 AM

Yeah, I pushed and pulled on the lever real hard. Checked/compared with the passenger seat to be sure when was up/down. Seat is just at the upper end of its adjustment. Probably a coin or something like that in the mechanism. Seat doesn't slide very well either so idea of greasing everything has merit. I'll try to pull it out this weekend. I'm really not that tall, just long from tailbone to eyeball. Hate to slouch or lay back like 16 year old kid driving the car. Not sure what my son is doing, but when I sit in his car, I'm looking straight at the roof!

alanc · #6 01-03-2003, 01:21 PM

Mine was doing the same thing. You'll be amazed when you see how much gunk collects in that raise/lower mechanism. One thing I'd warn you about--the seat removal is a quick job, but it's smart to have a helper lifting up from the passenger side so you can work it out gently. That's because it can get hung up on the bottom of the console. That console is made out of the same fragile foam urethane-like material as the windshield moldings, and if you bow the console as you're pulling the seat out, it'll split (the console) in that little carpeted tray area. Alas, the voice of experience.

Does anybody's seat shift slightly when starting and stopping? I replaced those little plastic runner guides, but it still does it.

Steve Gutman · #7 01-03-2003, 02:58 PM

I get a little rocking of the seat form worn latches on the folding mechanism. I put brass bushings on and it improved a lot. I made them form brass strips. They may not last long...

Steve

maheath · #8 01-03-2003, 05:07 PM

I've never had any problems using the height adjuster. Seems to work fine, almost too well. There are a few things about my seats that have always bothered me.

1) You can't move them unless someone is sitting in them.

2) The height adjustment raises itself everytime I get out of the car.

3) The driver's seat gradually reclines when I get in and out of the car so that every couple of days, I have to readjust the back.

Investigating these problems haven't gotten to the top of my priority list yet, but they're getting close. I'll probably start by removing the seats and cleaning and lubricating the mechanisms to see what that changes.

kip Foss · #9 01-03-2003, 08:40 PM

I just recovered the seats in my 450slc and hence had both of them out. A few things to note;

1) DON'T use regular wet grease in the tracks. Grease attracks and holds dirt, hair, muck, etc. There is really no reason to lube the track since, if as in mine, the 8 little nylon slides in each seat rail are good. If you lube, use a dry spray moly lube. There are many on the market. You can also use a graphite lock lube.

2) Check the nylon slides. Pull off the black metal tracks (the ones that bolt to the door frame and the trans. hump) and remove the white slides. Be careful because they are tiny and will fall off. Inside these slides are even smaller rubber strips (they look like sections of an o'ring). You can add or subtract these rubber strips to make the fit in the track tighter or looser. When you go back with these slides be sure that they are snug to the track, esp. in the front. If the front ones are a bit loose the seat will pitch forward and backward ever so slightly. It's not the end of the world but it is a bit disconcerting.

David Langsam · #10 01-03-2003, 10:24 PM

Mike,

I notice the exact same thing with my 560sl. I have to do number three just about everytime I get in the car. If you find a solution, I'd be very interested.

David

BobK · #11 01-06-2003, 08:00 AM

Pulled the seat over the weekend. Bunch of hair and dried grease in the tracks. Cleaned and lubed, slides much better. Cleaned heigth mechanism and it works now. Found butane lighter under mechanism, think that is why it could not be lowered. So far I like the lowest position (I sit kinda tall). As others have mentioned, when I get out of the car, the seat raises itself a notch. This may be ok since it is the wife's car and she is not so tall.

sublettd · #12 06-23-2004, 07:14 PM

When I read the directions for removing the seats I seem to be missing something. How do you deal with that stiff spring, or do you have a spring on the rod running parallel to the seat? My son, son-in-law, and I tackled the driver's seat and getting it bolted back in while trying to maneuver the spring like to have whipped us. Had to use a crow bar and a lot of brute strength just to get the bar back in position so the screws could be reinstalled.

I'd like to replace the carpeting on the seat mounts but am not sure it's worth the effort if I have to fight that spring again.

Thanks,

Steve Gutman · #13 06-24-2004, 10:57 AM

I had made a screw type puller out of a threaded rod and it was too much work. When I read the manual I saw that the tool they use looks like a pry bar with a hook to catch the spring. It works very easily by prying against the sheet metal at the seat base.

sublettd · #14 06-24-2004, 05:04 PM

Thanks, Steve. I looked in the manual and mine doesn't show that step. I figure there has to be an easier way. ha!

E320Coup · #15 07-10-2004, 11:19 AM

Referencing the complaint that a few of you had with the rocking back-forth when stopping and starting... I took a very close look at why my 87 560 was doing it- very irritating!

I found that that the latches that hold the seat-back have an immense amount of play forward and back. Upon inspection, it actually looks like the latch pins are worn- actual flat spots- but thats not all.

Additionally, the two main locations where the seat-back attaches to the seat flex a good deal (laterally) as well. I have not taken the seat out because of the last two threads describing the need for a crowbar is it really that difficult?- do I really need a send person helping?... but wondering if anyone has made these notations w/their SL seats?

I not only want this fixed because its irritating, but I am wondering if the seat is still safe???

Another issue is the adjustment of the seat-back- mine does the same thing. I have to adjust the sucker every 3-4 times I get in or out. Hey, these are now old cars and of course this kind of stuff is going to happen, and I am not b_tching, I just hope their is a solution to this extremely irritating thing, that takes away from the pleasure of the weekend drive.