Bench seat adjuster

[chewed 71'er]

Where can I find a complete diagram of a bench seat adjusting mechanism? Mine does not work, and I can't tell if anything is missing, broke or otherwise.

[mt Al]

Can't help with the diagram, but I just fixed mine and have wrestled with a few others.

The lever at the bottom of the seat releases the catch on the rail on the drivers side and also pulls on a wire that's connected to the catch on the rail on the passenger side. Of course, both catches have to release when the lever is actuated.

When you move the lever, does the driver's side catch release, but not the passenger side?

The most common problem I've seen (on only 3 so far) is either a broken, missing or stretched wire from the lever to the passenger side catch release.

The wire on my burban seat was stretched. No problemo, just moved the seat forward, got in the back, untwisted the wire, tightened it and re-twisted it. I also put a few drops of oil on both rails and both catches. Works like a 5 legged mule now.

For a missing or broken wire, make sure to get some dern good stuff, not braided or anything that wants to stretch too soon. Some nasty fencing wire might do the trick.

For a stuck catch, put some penetrant oil on it and smack it around with a plastic mallet, cheap screwdriver blade or your mother-in-law's finger nails and it should release. Then put a few drops of the good stuff on the catch to keep it smooth. A few drops in the rails makes things nice and smooth when you wife gets in to drive it around.

The other problem I had was a broken lever, right at the axis. This was fixed by tossing the seat and replacing it with a solid, no head rest, no 60/40 bench seat out of a '94. I love it and recommend the switch on a non-original resto.

[chewed 71'er]

The adjusting wire is disconnected at the drivers side, not sure what holds it in place. Wire looks intact, possible piece of lever broken? Missing clips? Can't tell by looking.

[OhioDan]

The wire on my adjuster had a little spring around it. ( approx. 1" long X 3/16" dia.) The spring should be on the long end of the wire.Put the wire on, and then slide the little spring over the short end to hold it in place.

[mt Al]

The post that acts as the catch on the rail is held in place by the spring. The spring definitely needs to be there, but if you're only dealing with a wire that broke or fell off, you should notice a small hole at the end of the post (the post is pointing toward the passenger side rail. The wire goes through a hole in the post and is twisted in place to hold it tight, at least on mine.

Its a bugger getting your hands under there, especially in a pickup. You might want to take out the seat to fix it.

[Southpa]

Hmmmm...if I remember correctly what you are describing is a thin rod that runs the length of the seat. The rod has a little notch or hook on each end. The ends of the rod go thru holes in the seat railway, a spring fits around the end of the rod on the other side and a clip with a square hole fits over the notch on the end of the rod to hold it in place.

When I want to move my seat I have to have someone in the pass. side to help slide the seat forward. Otherwise, I move the driver's side forward then go the the other side and reach under the seat to pull on the rod to loosen the catch on that side.

[chewed 71'er]

Yeah Southpa, that's exactly how I have to adjust my seat currently. First problem is obvious, the springs and clips are missing, then I'll go from there. Taking the seat out is definitely the way to go.



Thank you for you comments, gentlemen.