Removing Seat Bolts....Im stuck

[Shady 0]

Am removing my front seats to see if I can try free up the rails & adjusters a bit cos they are a bit stiff.

But Im a bit stuck. I cant get a socket or spanner on the back bolts (as per photos). Is there any kind of trick to get these bolts out? The curving black parts above the bolts stop me getting the socket wrench on the socket and the actual rails stop me getting the spanner on. Thats why I am stuck.

Im guessing there is another "special" tool for these...or am I just useless.

[Guest FrantiC]

Push the lever on the side (the one you use to angle the seat) DOWNWARDS. The whole seat will lift up and forward.

THEN you can fit a 17mm socket over it.

[Shady 0]

Ahhh...cheers man. Will go have a go soon, just making a feed.

Cheers

[tire 10]

You can do it with the right kind of ring spanner. Has to have a low profile (I think that's what it is called when the ring bit is thinner). Spanners with a low profile are usually the better, more expensive ones.

Even then, you've still got FA leverage so its kind of ghey.

None if this applies though If you've got coupe seats cause you can fold them forward and get a socket on them.

[Guest FrantiC]

I have a 4 door and the 4door seats lift up and forward with the side lever, as all e30 seats do and it gives the clearance required to fit a 17mm socket over the top. Ring spanner is FTL, Take forever in that space lol.

[Jamez 2147483647]

I have a 4 door and the 4door seats lift up and forward with the side lever, as all e30 seats do and it gives the clearance required to fit a 17mm socket over the top. Ring spanner is FTL, Take forever in that space lol.

+1

[hbmonkeyman 0]

I did it with a ring spanner.

Edit: Noo i did use a socket wrench and that lever thing on the side to move the seat foward. Getting my E30 mixed up with My Escort.. lol been so long since i owned either =[

Edited October 3, 2009 by S.J.T.C

[Nobimmer 694]

I posted this recently.

If you have SA rails (I think), you CAN'T get a socket in there no matter what you do. You need to use a good quality ring spanner that will fit between the rails. The factory E30 ring spanner fits. Otherwise get an el cheapo and grind the edges down.

[Shady 0]

Not tryng to bring back from the dead - just found it & realised I didnt reply.

I got them out (the same day as I replyed to FrantiCs comment), removed the seats (just like he said) then took the rails off the seats & wow there was so much crap in the rails (20years without a clean by the looks)!

I ran them under water for ages & crap just kept washing out. Quite a bit of surface rust but Im not & wasnt going to bother with that.

After a good 15min scrub (per rail) and refitting back to the seats (after drying & spraying with CRC), they move so much more freely. Also dusted out the middle lever bit that leans the seat back/forward and thats a bit more free (didnt really want to disassemble that part).

A 2 hour job (approx), and that includes: both seats removed, both rails removed/scrubed/dryed/refit & both seats refitted. And my seats now work alot better. Will still be looking to upgrade soon. But this will do for now.

Edited October 29, 2009 by Shady