3rd gen seat fix w/link to pics

[LBARTLETT]

3rd gen seat fix w/pics

I used to do this to 2nd gens, slightly easier because just the bottom of the seat came out, just sold my 2nd gen and bought a 06' QC dually with 5,675 miles



have read several threads not real complimetary of the 3rd gen seats, especially the 06' model so here's what I did to mine this morning, took about 45 minutes and cost $12



remove the seat, there are 4 bolts on the bottom, the seat back stays attached

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there are 2 plastic clips on each side and two on the back and one on the front, lossen them so the metal frame will raise



on electric seats the whole seat frame will not raise due to the power seat controls



there's enough room with one corner lifted to stuff the 15"x17"X2" Nu-Foam Densified Polyester Poly-Fil purchased at Walmart, it fits perfectly between the factory foam sides

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you can also stuff it under the back springs, make sure there are no bumps in the foam and that it is flat



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then place a piece of 15"x17" carpet in between the new foam and the piano wires on the bottom of the seat, these wires cut into the foam breaking down the seat over time, put the carpet back against the springs, make sure you have the carpet under the springs at the back of the seat



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Once you're satisfied everything is even and as it should be you're ready to button it up, since the seat back is on I put the seat bottom on the arm of the couch, rehooked the seat cover plastic pieces to the seat, carried it out, bolted it down and plugged the elec. seat wires in



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good to go

 

[RideSlow2004]

Great info. Nice trick using the couch as a bench rest. I am working on doing my 30m service, and getting ready for a trip, so I may not get to it until August, but that will be right at the top of the list.



Thanks

 

[LBARTLETT]

:-lafwas able to use the couch since the little lady wasn't home:-laf

 

[CKarnes]

Did the same to mine, 2004 3500 4X4, last week. Real improvement, however, I used the Quad carry rack in the garage for a holding station.
the real test of how good it is will be later this week, 1200 mile trip to Nashville.

 

[cclark746]

ill be trying it out myself soon...

 

[Buffalo]

On my '03, I did pretty much the same thing, as you except, I used 1/2", "closed-cell" foam. This product is similar to what is used on gym floors for wresling or tumbling mats. It's very dense & supportive. I don't know what the product that you are using is like.



Did you notice a "bulge" in the seat surface with the new foam installed? My seats has so little bulge in them that you don't even notice anything has been done, to them. However, the comfort difference is VERY noticable.



The carpet sample's I used were placed with the burlap (under-side) of the carpet up against the wires. I was told by the owner of the upholstery warehouse that I bought the stuff from that this was the way to do it.



The difference is remarkable!!! Previously, I could only drive about 1-1/2 hours & I would have so much pain in my right hip joint that I would have to stop, fall out of the truck & walk it out for a couple of minutes. Then, I was ready for another 1-1/2 hours of driving. What a pain (literally)!!!



Since the fix, I can drive for many hours with no discomfort. This WORKS!!!!



Dodge has been building trucks for nearly 100 years & I would imagine that the vast majority of those trucks had seats, in them. How could the engineer's at Dodge not know how to build a seat, especially with that many years of building seats??? All those years of school & that's the best they can come up with??? I'm a dental technician (44 years) by trade, not an engineer. How is it that "I" can fix the seats the engineers should have been able to design, properly, in the first place??? It's shameful!!! They should be forced to sit in those seats all the time they are at work. When their rear-ends hurt enough, maybe they will think twice about a proper design of those seats!



BOY, do I feel better, now!!!



Joe F.

 

[LBARTLETT]

I traveled a little over 1,200 miles in 3 days last week and felt it was a real improvement, with the 1" foam I did not notice a bulge in the seat



you are correct that the burlap or bottom side of the carpet goes against the piano strings

 

[BGlidewell]

Im about 220 lbs and dont have a problem with my seats.

 

[Newt]

I have a 09 Laramie with leather seats. Does anyone know if there is any difference in the Laramie vs SLT seats other than leather?

Newt

 

[LBARTLETT]

Im about 220 lbs and dont have a problem with my seats.

I didn't either, the problems develop over time and the piano wire springs on the bottom of the seat cut into the factory foam, my work on my seat was preventative, I almost went with just the carpet and no foam

 

[retirednak]

Thanks for the info,my seat has been crappy for a while now. Its a good thing I don't drive far. I'm going to buy new foam from Mopar since its preformed and I will add additional foam and carpet like you suggested.

I'm almost willing to bet the new trucks seats whether or not it a ST or Laramie will be crap after a year or two. One would think $45K+ for a new truck,a better quality seat foam could be used. It might cost Dodge an extra 50 cents for better foam.

 

[DDevers]

The problem isn't with the foam that is used bt the lack of protection provided for the foam from the springs. I imagine just using the carpet would correct the situation but I added the foam also because I didn't want to go through removing the seat covers twice. It makes a drastic difference. We've taken several 4500-6000 mile trips since and our butts don't complain.

 

[LBARTLETT]

The problem isn't with the foam that is used bt the lack of protection provided for the foam from the springs. I imagine just using the carpet would correct the situation

I think you are 100% correct, just the carpet on a new truck would make the seat last for years IMO

 

[ABarry]

My seat failed at 30,000 miles. The metal is poking through the seat cover now. Dodge is replacing under warranty. The welds on the seat frame are sharp and cut the foam over time. Right now its like sitting on a sharp metal bar. . WTF

 

[AMink]

I was able to work on my seat without removing it from the truck. The seat cover is pretty easy to remove and it exposed the foam.