Just wanna get ya'lls input real quick

Was reaching into my pocket to grab my cell phone, and was pushing against the floor, when the back of the seat gave way.... now it won't stay all the way upright...

am I hosed??? am I going to have to replace the seat? Anyone know how much one of them costs?

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 15-Aug-02 AT 00:50 AM (EST)]okay, update.... now I need some advice....

So, I took the seat out tonight, took it apart, and lo and behold, the metal frame of the bottom part of the seat had actually broken along the area where the hardware controlling the reclining function bolts to the seat. This was quite the discovery... I'm pleased to say.... the fracture actually runs the entire vertical cross direction of the frame.

At this point, I see a number of possibilities, and was curious as to whether anyone had any insight on any of them....

1) Remove all the hardware from the bottom frame and
a) have the fracture welded
b) go to the dealership and order a replacement frame
c) go to a junkyard and see if I can find another one of the frames.

2) Go to the dealer and order a new seat or seat bottom assembly (I'm thinking that this would probably be cost prohibitive.)

3) Go to the junkyard, and try to dig a full driver side seat out of a wreck.... color wouldn't be TOO much of an issue, as I could simply swap the covers.

4) Order a set of aftermarket seats. (If anyone knows of anywhere to even do this, that'd be great info... as well as ballpark costs...)

BTW... 99 Sport, tan, cloth interior, no power options....

I'm going to start on the junkyards tomorrow, and we'll see what we can find..... For the time being, I have my passenger seat bolted into the driver side, of course, the holes don't line up just right, so I only have the front 2 bolted in, and I can't use my seatbelt, as the hook is on the wrong side....

why does EVERYTHING in my life have to be such a pain?

Thanks in advance.

T

 

I don't know if cost is an issue for you (it always seems to be for me!!) so I will tell you what I know. I have seen some aftermarket seats on EBay in the $400 - 500 range, but they don't look much better than the factory seats. I have a similar problem in my Jeep Cherokee and was able to weld it and it held for a while. Now I am scouring junkyards trying to find a bracket in good shape that will hopefully last a while. You could get a junkyard one but it may have hairline cracks in it that you can't see and it may fail soon or it may last you a long time. I would take my old bracket to a welding shop first and get their opinion on if it can be fixed or not. They may be able to add some metal to strengthen the joint and it would better than it was from the factory. And it would be a lot less than the ther options. Let us know what you find out. Good luck...

 

try www.car-parts.com they are a good source for "recycled parts"

good luck
Eric

also ebay may be the place. i got a new leather seat cover for 20 bucks there

 

I seem to recall seeing the frame for sell on Ebay a few days ago

 

Have you talked to the dealer ship yet, I know my F150 had a TSB and a recall on the seat bolts. It is a 99 that would still be coverable years. I would talk to them first.

CJ