2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Did the Seat Repair

[me4osu]

This Sat. I did the seat repair from page 14 of issue 35. Works Great!! Thanks Denny Day!!



I can't wait 'till my next road trip.

 

[dremelts]

That one is definitely on my "to do" list also.



I'm hoping that by plumping up the seat it will put the lumbar support in a more comfortable position on my back.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

I want to do the seats too, because Denny made it look so easy. I also need to re-stitch a little on the leather seat of the passenger's side, & this would be the perfect time to do it all at once. Was also wondering about installing a seat heater while I've got it apart. Anybody know where to get one? Might be an aftermarket, ad-on heater available out there someplace. Sure would be nice next winter.

 

[pathaymond]

I did the saet fix as well It was as simple as you could ask it to be and now my lumbar supports my lumbar. thanks to the gentleman with the super Idea. Pat

 

[jpolston]

For seat heaters and Lumbar supports try "www.rostra.com"

 

[thepitts]

That is great

For 175. 00 I can have a heated seat and lumbar support, thanks for the great site.

 

[kcauthen]

Got everything ready to do the seat repair on my 1997 2500 and noticed(or it looked like to me) that the back of the seat is not separate from the bottom. Since that was different that what I saw in the TDR I backed out until another day. I don't have electric seats. Have I missed something? Does the whole (bottom and back come out as unit or is there a way to separate them?



K Cauthen

 

[me4osu]

Mine is a '98 with electric seats. The bottom cushion came right off by removing four screws.

I don't know squat about '97s, but the seat in the article looks to be non-electric. Also, the guy that wrote the article, Denny Day, said he did this trick to his '94, '97 , and '99 trucks.

 

[Cooker]

The non-electric seats on my 96 are different than what is printed in the article.



There are 4 bolts that hold the seat to the brackets. They are 13mm. The back of the seat and bottom come off as one piece, and I didn't see an easy way to separate them.



The bottom of the seat is also different. I didn't find a way to swing the entire spring package open, nor was there the J-Hooks talked about in the article.



There are 4 springs that hook into the wire supports. After removing the springs, you can swing the wires out of the way enough to get some materail in there to build up the seat a bit.



I installed 2 pieces of carpet (maybe a total of 1" thick). The carpet will keep the wires from digging into the foam. This definitely helped build up the seat. The problem is now that the sides of the seat are a little loose because the slack was taken out of the bottom.



I will probably take one piece of the carpet out, and just use the one to protect the foam from the wires and at the same time stuff a little foam in the sides to build that back up a bit too.



Here is a pic that may help clear things up for you:



#ad




With carpet installed:

#ad

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I did my seat this morning too. I couldn't get the "cage" to swing out of the way like Denny did either. I worked with the seat back still attached too. I used a piece of High Density 15" x 17" x 2" foam bought @ Jo-Anns Fabric. This is the ONLY place I could find any. I didn't have room to lay the carpet over the foam before I shut the cage. I didn't realize how broken down the drivers seat was.

 

[Jammar9082]

We have had better luck finding variable density foams at upholstery supply houses. Another source is back packing sleeping pads. They are dense and durable. I have been using one in the shop for working on the concrete and on the grass for about 10 years.

 

[Mr. Brewski]

Throw me a bone here guys... . My drivers side seat seems like its broken. The center of the chair does not plump up anymore causing me great back pain. Are you now saying theres a fix for this?? I'd give anything to see what the fix is...

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Mr. Brewski



TDR issue # 35, Page 14 will show you how to fix the sinking front seat. The directions are not that good. See this thread for tips.



I noticed:



Adding 2" of new material is ALOT. If I had to do it again I would try 1". Am kinda glad I didn't add carpet. The seat is way up now. Probably just used to a broken down seat.

 

[Mr. Brewski]

I'll have to take a look when I get home... Issue 35 eh?

 

[csevers]

just did this

About a 1hr ago read this post had read in the mag and thought that I would do this sometime well now was the time before the seat was totally broke down. The foam was cut by the rods and springs after the 1 full piece of carpet and half piece on the outside of the seat (side next to the door) it is alot better more comfortable.



Craig

 

[98rammer]

i did mine a long time ago. i did the carpet piece in the bottom, and i put more padding on the regular foam. i didn't just put it in the middle either, i cut strips for the sides of my butt and put an extra piece near the back for more lower back support. been happy and sitting taller since...



Tom

 

[HEMI®Dart]

2" was too Much.....

Seat was too high & too hard. I took out the 2" foam and put 1" back in. Perfect!!. Just right. I have 118,000 miles on a '94. I have weighed between 165lbs-235 lbs since the truck was new. Denny must be a BIG guy.

 

[BIGDIG]

seat thing

OK guys,I am a new member to TDR and do not have issue 35,can any one help. I already have a bad back and the driving I do makes it worse:{ (2002 3500 drove off lot late April and already have -just turnd-14000,believe it or not)that seat thing sounds great ,can it be done to any seat?I have basic no power just manual recline . thanks to any one who helps.

 

[csevers]

YES

I believe that 98 to 02 seats are the same just did mine (99) four small screw w/hex head 10mm? i think to remove bottom cushion from seat main frame take cushion up side down and look at cover it has 5 hooks one on each side, one side has two hooks by hooks I mean plastic hooks over the edge of cushion frame undo these hooks and add material as needed my foam cushion was geting cut by cables and springs one piece of 3/4 carpet make it fermer and raised it up to where it was when new 82k ago. It makes a big difference a newer truck may not have saged that much depending on weight of driver and time in and out of truck my seat was broken down more on the door side do to millions of times I get in and out of truck ok thousands Take a look at the seat and you should see what we are taking about.



Good luck

Craig

 

[CumminsPuller]

Someone either posted on here or in an issue of the TDR where they were able to buy the High Density Foam online... ... I can not seem to find it... . Anyone recall what website that was?



Jason