2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Low Budget LH Seat Cushion Replacement

[mwilson]

Good Morning All,

I am going to attempt a cost sensitive drivers seat cushion repair and want to know if anyone is interested.



My E-Bay special has a trashed driver's seat cushion as most of these trucks do after some years of use. I did a little checking and was stunned at some prices I found to replace it.



Went to a salvage yard to get a front bumper and asked the guy what he had for seats, replied nothing for driver's side but a ton of pristine passenger side seats.

I did a little looking and decided the right hand one could be reworked very easily if you have a DW like mine with a free-arm sewing machine... :-laf



He gave me the RH cushion and cover, I think he thought I was nuts or he felt sorry for me... ... ... ... :-laf



If you guys want I will take some pictures and let you know if I am right or wrong. Will be doing it this afternoon as soon as DW gets back from town, I can't run a sewing machine... ... ... .



Let me know if you wanna' see it.....



Mike.

 

[SRath]

Does "DW" stand for "devoted wife"?



As for the seats, mine felt terrible and sagged, and wouldn't slide, but the upholstery was not too torn up nor was the foam (on top). I removed both to get the slide-tilt function working properly.



Whether you replace your foam or not, do yourself a HUGE favor and insert a square of indoor-outdoor carpet between the bottom of the foam cushion and the cheese slicer wires. I can't believe what a difference in firmness, ride height, and comfort that simple no-cost improvement made on mine. Two $30 synthetic sheepskin seat covers and my seats not only both work properly (slide forward smoothly when the backrest is tipped forward), they feel great!

 

[mwilson]

DW is devoted wife!!!



I will add the foam later this summer, already did it to the MegaCab. I am short on time and too cold to run to town today. -7 below right now with clear skies and wind blowing like crazy.



I have changed the cushion and it sits great!!!

I have a few pics so here we go**



Picture 1

Crappy seat cushion in truck, drove 400 miles yesterday and thought I was gonna' break my back!!! At least I was warm!!!



Picture 2

Have to remove this bolt to get cover off.



Picture 3

Seat with all removed.

 

[mwilson]

Ran out of time, will finish this thread Monday evening. Will post the rest of the how to then.



This is how it looks now.

Mike.

 

[WilsonF]

This is how I fixed my 96.

3rd Generation Dodge Front Seat Thin Padding Fix

Floyd

 

[SeanM]

Was that "atleast I was warm" intend toward someone???? lol Nice job on the seat I'm eventually going to have to do mine. At the moment I have a slightly larger problem at hand.

 

[mwilson]

Sorry Sean,

Guilty as charged... ... ... . :-laf

 

[jleons]

Hello

I had the same problem back in 2002 with the seat just wearing out with 190,000 miles on my 1996 Dodeg Ram.

I replaced the foam twice and the repair did not last long - following TDR readers who replaced there worn out seat's. Finally found a company, AIRHAWK.

They provide a inflatable seat cushion @ 22"x22". This seat comes with a air pimp to inflate the seat cushion and it works great. It has lasted since 2002 and I have seen many on OTR trucks at trucks stops around the country.

Give them a look @ AIRHAWK. COM.

Thanks

JL

 

[kscheffler]

Does the air hawk cusion stay in place or does it fall out of the truck every time you get out?

 

[jleons]

Hello

That is an excellent question.

More info: This seat is constructed out of a heavy Polyurethane plastic. Weight 3lbs and has a durable fabric zip-on cover. I do have to pump it up every month or so. It has a non-skid base and is easy to clean. I have replaced the cover twice since new.

The only time it slipped out is when I got excited when pheasant hunting and it slid out of the seat with me.

It has served me well and highly recommend due to it's quality of materials and long lasting construction, and comfort. On long hauls; I do not get tired and and my comfort is important to me.

No. I'm, not a dealer

Thanks

JL

 

[kscheffler]

I wonder if an airhawk could be installed in lieu of the factory seat foam; just run the seat air fill line to a point where it could be accessed?

 

[kscheffler]

Is the 22 x 22 inch the size you recommend for our seats?

 

[crasher]

I swapped a set of brand new seats from a 2002-2004 (somewhere in there, I disremember which) for the '97 seats that looked like your pictures.

Mistake.
I've hated the seats since I installed them. The '97's were so much more comfortable.

I wish I'd have fixed mine.

 

[mwilson]

I owe you all more pictures of this, if all of my stuff would quit needing attention due to the cold weather I might get them posted..... :-laf



Will try to get them on tonight or tomorrow, it came out really good.



Mike.

 

[ktimmer]

Guys



I have had an Air Hawk since 2005 and it was/is an excellent seat with a couple of qualifications. It comes with a patch kit for a reason. You will probably eventually put a hole in it BUT once you do and fix it, send it back to the factory per the directions. The patch will work fine for awhile but will eventually fail. The other thing is the way it fastens to the seat. It fastens to the seat with an included bungee cord but it is not long enough and once you get it on the seat you may think you need a little bigger one. I have the 22 by 22. The main thing is to remember when you get into your truck make sure you do not have any sharp objects in your pocket. Trust me here!!



It is a very comfortable seat once you get it adjusted to yourself though. Good luck.

 

[MAYoung]

I hope that you thaw out soon since I desperately need to "raise" my seat as well. The fabric is ok since I have always used seat covers but I do need to build it up. A salvage yard wants $275 for a "reconditioned" left-hand seat cushion only.



M. A. Young

 

[jleons]

From what I have heard AIRHAWK was originally designed for motor cycles - than someone in the company expanded it to the trucking industry - I don't know how it would work installed under the seat cover, don't think it would be wide enought to fill the seat cushion 100%.

My AIRHAWK just works great on top of the seat, it really works great, and I have had a lot of good comments from people who just had to give it a try.

GOOD LUCK

JL

 

[SRath]

I hope that you thaw out soon since I desperately need to "raise" my seat as well. The fabric is ok since I have always used seat covers but I do need to built it up. A salvage yard wants $275 for a "reconditioned" left-hand seat cushion only.



M. A. Young

Your underseat wires, the "cheese slicers", have cut into the bottom of your cushion. If your top upholstery is ok, as you say, then the foam is too. So before spending big bucks, first try just removing the seat and cutting a piece of carpet to slip between the wires and the underside of the foam. You'll be amazed at how much higher and firmer the seat is. You have nothing but a little time to lose.

 

[mwilson]

Finally!!!

Ok all,

Sorry for the delay, too much going on.



To recap, this is what I did to replace my trashed driver's seat cushion. I got a right hand pristine cushion and cover from a salvage yard for FREE and figured out how to make it work.

Pictures in page one of this thread show how pitiful the driver's side was.



First off to use the right hand cushion and cover you will need to open up the seam on the left so that the seat will tilt ahead. I cut it about 2", didn't really need to as later on I discover that an 1" would have been just fine.

My dear wife then used "Bias Tape" to do a quickie stitch job so that the newly opened seam wouldn't keep opening every time you set in it..... :-laf



Set the cushion into place, it sets on the wires perfectly.

You will have to use a set of side cutters and trim the plastic locking strips both left and right so they will snap on over the diagonal brace shown.

 

[mwilson]

Seat cushion fastened into place.



Next you will have to trim some foam from the left hand side so that the seat recline lever can travel.

I was in a hurry so grabbed a coping saw, worked pretty good. Took off an inch or so in width.



Poke a hole where the recline lever post has to come out through.