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  #1  
Old 08-12-2011, 12:17 PM
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Seat Rebuilding Observation

My seat springs were rusting so after a phosphoric acid dip and a bead blast they look great (they were resealed with a fast drying lacquer spray paint in clear to avoid future rusting) -springs were removed temporarily from painted seat bed to do the above. I noticed that that the fine wire connecting neighboring springs was either missing or loose so using 18 gauge galvanized wire, I reconnected all the springs properly. I noticed a huge difference by uniting the springs, more resistance and now they all work together as a unit which is how they were designed. I sprayed some Loctite Maxi Shield ( a penetrating waxy spray lubricant) on each wire joint to eliminate squeaking. I thought I would mention this because I noticed that no one seems to address this in the seat rebuilding forums and this little detail yields dramatic results. The original wire is pretty weak stuff and it does loosen and fall off after 25 years or so of use! I also swapped seat beds and am now sitting on what was formerly the passenger side seat bed which of course have had far less use over the years -less spring fatigue. Seat tracks were removed from seat pan and soaked in mineral spirits to clean and degrease (also remove copious amounts of old horsehair pad fragments and dust and lubicated with MM as I believe it will attract less dirt. This job is tedious but nothing like the solid feeling of a reupholstered seat. I think many of us tend to get so used to worn out MB seats that we forget this very crucial aspect of the total ride experience.

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Old 08-12-2011, 12:50 PM
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...like a shield of steel
 
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Sounds great - got any photos?
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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!
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  #3  
Old 08-12-2011, 01:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by warmblood58 View Post
I think many of us tend to get so used to worn out MB seats that we forget this very crucial aspect of the total ride experience.

I agree. The first thing people of all ages have mentioned when riding in our 300D is the seats. The SDL they just mention the leg room. I thought the SDL seats were nice, they certainly are "fine" but they do not compare to the w123.
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  #4  
Old 08-12-2011, 01:05 PM
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Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by warmblood58 View Post
My seat springs were rusting so after a phosphoric acid dip and a bead blast they look great (they were resealed with a fast drying lacquer spray paint in clear to avoid future rusting) -springs were removed temporarily from painted seat bed to do the above. I noticed that that the fine wire connecting neighboring springs was either missing or loose so using 18 gauge galvanized wire, I reconnected all the springs properly. I noticed a huge difference by uniting the springs, more resistance and now they all work together as a unit which is how they were designed. I sprayed some Loctite Maxi Shield ( a penetrating waxy spray lubricant) on each wire joint to eliminate squeaking. I thought I would mention this because I noticed that no one seems to address this in the seat rebuilding forums and this little detail yields dramatic results. The original wire is pretty weak stuff and it does loosen and fall off after 25 years or so of use! I also swapped seat beds and am now sitting on what was formerly the passenger side seat bed which of course have had far less use over the years -less spring fatigue. Seat tracks were removed from seat pan and soaked in mineral spirits to clean and degrease (also remove copious amounts of old horsehair pad fragments and dust and lubicated with MM as I believe it will attract less dirt. This job is tedious but nothing like the solid feeling of a reupholstered seat. I think many of us tend to get so used to worn out MB seats that we forget this very crucial aspect of the total ride experience.
What year, make, model vehicle is this seat from?
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  #5  
Old 08-12-2011, 08:36 PM
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I need to repad the seats in the rear. The bottom pad is fine, but the back seems to have thinned out a lot over the last 4 years.
Will probably use foam to enhance the full padding.
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  #6  
Old 08-13-2011, 03:42 AM
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Ooops!

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Originally Posted by whunter View Post
What year, make, model vehicle is this seat from?
Thanks Hunter, a w115 '75 300d -auto seat springs more like furniture springs -
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  #7  
Old 08-13-2011, 03:43 AM
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...like a shield of steel
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere in the Netherlands
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Quote:
Originally Posted by warmblood58 View Post
Thanks Hunter, a w115 '75 300d -auto seat springs more like furniture springs -
Here's a second push for some photos!

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!
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