Broken Drivers Seat Frame

[ActionAl]

I have a 2004 sedan with a rocking chair for a drivers seat now. I took it into the dealer for an estimate to fix it and was told the frame is broken and it would cost a little over $1200 to fix it. OOCH!

I'm not a big guy, about 200lbs, so I'm not sure how I broke the frame. I do know that when I had my car repaired from being rear-ended a few years back, I complained about the drivers seat being up higher and it wouldn't lower to where I remember. The body shop sent it to a local Infintii dealer, it felt better but again not as good as I remember.

Is it possible that something in the frame was bent and the dealer just bent it back? So, now after a few years the frame broke from me jumping in and out?

Anybody else has a broke drivers seat frame and have it repaired?

I think $1200 for a new seat frame crazy. Any ideas on how to get this repaired for less?

[socialconflicts]

just consider a complete new seat for that price! lol
seriously i would just go to an auto place and find a messed up G and replace the needed part. im sure they wont overcharge you there.

[azt108]

I'm not surprised by the quote. Could you take a picture? It would help us help you. If its something that's welded on to the body of the car it might be an issue. However, if it's something as simple as a broken bolt, or a derailing, that's not so bad.

[Mustang5L5]

I had my driver's seat frame replaced under warranty. I felt it rocking, so i took it in and they replaced it. No idea how much it cost...but $1200...wow.

I'm 200 lb too and mine went around 35K miles

[azt108]

Originally Posted by socialconflicts

just consider a complete new seat for that price! lol
seriously i would just go to an auto place and find a messed up G and replace the needed part. im sure they wont overcharge you there.

That's not a bad idea. So when you say frame, does that mean the the railing and connecting parts between the car and the seat are intact and it's just the seat itself that's just messed up? If that's the case then your better off just purchasing a seat and bolting it on yourself.

[cremaster]

i've had my seat track replaced/repaired 3 times!! (under warranty) and it's about to go out AGAIN. i'm only about 160 pounds.

[ActionAl]

Originally Posted by azt108

That's not a bad idea. So when you say frame, does that mean the the railing and connecting parts between the car and the seat are intact and it's just the seat itself that's just messed up? If that's the case then your better off just purchasing a seat and bolting it on yourself.

Yeah...its just the seat rocking. The rails don't move at all. I guess I'll have to see how to seperate the seat from the frame so I can get a better look myself. I've got 132K so no warranty factory or extended.

[ActionAl]

I finally made some time to pull my rocking drivers seat out and figured out the cause...a bolt had fallen out for a bracing arm. This caused excessive stress on a relatively thin part of the frame, which cracked from the stress.

I'm including pictures including the bolt that fell out laying next to the bracket it was suppose to be holding.





Lower right side of drivers seat showing the full side including the bolt laying near the spot it belongs.



Lower front bracket and frame of drivers seat with shot of bracket with bolt that was missing and showing the torn frame brace.



Close-up of bolt and the bracket where it belonged



Close-up of torn frame brace from underside angle



Close-up of torn frame brace from side angle



Close-up of torn frame brace - looking from the front





Next I'll post my repair separately when it's completed (including pictures).

[socialconflicts]

damn that thing tore up, im sure u can find the part at a junk yard unless u decide to weld it back in.
GL

[Blue Dream]

Anxious to see the pics of the repair. Props to you for taking time to troubleshoot the issue and figure out the fix.

[SILVERAZG35]

How hard was it to take the seat out?

[ActionAl]

Originally Posted by SILVERAZG35

How hard was it to take the seat out?

Easier than I thought. 4 bolts hiding under plastic snap on covers. Getting the 3 cables disconnected was more trouble some. Taking off the front plastic cover, held by 2 phillips screws and few hidden snaps which attach it to the side plastic cover, gave me better access to cutting the wire ties. The connector locks are a little tricky, a small tip screw driver helps.

[AARONHL]

Is this the same problem all creaking, loose seats have?

[ActionAl]

Originally Posted by AARONHL

Is this the same problem all creaking, loose seats have?

It could be...If your seat is making noise or moving, I'd pull it and see if the bolts are loose on the supports before the frame gets over stressed.

[SkyWay]

I had the same exact thing happen to my 04 drivers seat. I took the seat out and welded the bracket and have never had a problem since.