PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

rwthomas1 · #7 05-07-2004, 04:34 PM

Here are a few tips to homebrew seat rebuilding:
1. Remove seat, separate into bottom and back
2. Remove seat slider adjustment assemblies.
3. Clip hogrings retaining the seat cover on seat bottom and peel off.
4. Inspect spring frame for broken springs/wires. Replace spring frame (seat pan) or repair. Repair can be done with same gauge or heavier wire looped/tied, etc. to hold the broken sections together. Make sure cut ends point DOWN or you'll get a surprise when you sit in it. Pool noodles cut to 3/4 the length of the front coil springs in the spring frame and twisted into the springs really firm up the seat.
5. Inspect foam or horsehair pad. Sometimes the spring has "eaten" or cut into the foam causing it to lean to one side. A piece of industrial carpet, like office carpet, tied to the top of the seat frame with mild steel wire will keep this from happening. You can also build up flattened pads with pieces of foam sleeping bag pads (the cheap closed-cell type) stuck in place with 3M spray adhesive. Strips of the foam can also be threaded into the "raised inlays" to replace of restore them.
6. Reassemble by flipping over seat bottom and kneeling on it to compress the padding/springs so you can pull the cover into position and reattach it with either hog rings and a hogring pliers (Upolstery shop) or small pieces of 1/16" mild steel wire in the same locations as tthe originials.
7. Lumber support in seat back can be improved by installing pieces of sleeping bag pads with spray adhesive in the areas you need them. I try to cut the size/shape I want and try it out before I take the seat apart.
This is a whole lot cheaper than buying new parts or paying someone to do it. RT