Seat runner refurbishment

[Paul B]

I've now got around to sending the seats off for a re-trim.

While this is being done, I was hoping to refurbish the seat runners as they are a bit tatty and rusty.

The plan was to remove the runners from the rest of the frame and send them off for replating. There are a couple of roll pins which I assumed limited the runner travel. I've remove these, but it still won't come apart.

There are a number indents in the railwhich I now think may be providing the limit of travel. I could probably drill them out and get it apart, but not sure its a good idea.

Has anybody been here before? If so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks......

[iani]

imported post

Where have you sent the seats to Paul?

Ian

[Paul B]

imported post

Not fully decided either aldridge or John Cartlidge in Sandbach.

Goin go get them done in leather. The rest of the car will be in the standard vinyl, but wanted the seat is leather. Nicer to sit on and not so sticky in the summer!

John did some work for me on the Dolomite Sprint and was very pleased, so probably use him. I believe he is ex-Bentley.

[V Mad]

imported post

I just spotted this old post, and wondered if anyone else has problems with seat runners. I have come across quite a few which have very wobbly seats, and problems with the runners can cause this to happen.

To dismantle the runners you need to remove the roll pins, and then the ball and roller bearings can be shaken out the ends, but you will need lots of paraffin or white spirit to wash out the gritty grease that stops the bearings dropping out.

You should have four balls and two rollers in each runner; any missing will cause wobbliness. The balls can wear deep grooves in the runners, and this will make the seats wobbly too; nothing you easily can fix though.

The rear seat catch can be a cause also, so check that is adjusted correctly.

[Paul B]

imported post

Unfortunately, its not quite that simple!

After removing the roll pins you cannot get the rollers and bearings out. There are a number of 'pips' which are pressed into the runner to retain them.

You either have to bend the runner slightly to give enough clearance or drill out a couple of the 'pips'. You can then dismantle them.

I drilled out the pips and replaced them with short 4mm steel rivets. The reason I wanted to get them apart was to replate them as they were rather rusty. Very please with the result.

[V Mad]

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I agree they don't come out easily, but mine came out without drilling the pips (after a lot of cursing mind you!).

[Paul B]

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I guess it may depend upon how much wear there is in the runners.

[Alne Bob]

As I need to replace seat foam and diaphragm, I'm in the process of tidying up seat runners. They were unlubricated, rusty and lacked full adjustment.

The rollers (1/2" diameter) and ball bearings (1/4" diameter) do sit behind the "pips" and are, I assume, pressed into place during manufacture such that the rollers and ball bearings jump over the pips. I've seen another mechanism that's assembled this way, though I can't for the life of me remember where..

As I don't have access to a press large enough, I pressed out the roll pins and encouraged the sliders to separate with a lump hammer. I'll replace the roll pins (I can drill the runners out slightly to accept more readily available metric pins) and expect that assembly will be easier with lubricant and an understanding of how it all fits back together - in other words, where to hit it and how hard.

[sujitroy]

I recall seeing some article about this in the technical section

[dasadrew]

https://socforum.com/forum/forum/stag-owners-club/technical-section/body-and-interior/35959-stag-seat-refurbishment

[Stagintow]

"Pips" there is no need to drill them out I have just taken mine apart over Christmas (just take the roller pins out only) it is a pig of a job and has to be 100% clean to take apart !!! just push to one end then tap other end to get them to fall out they do come apart as putting them back when nice and clean is just the same a pig of a job.
But I would not put much grease if any when putting them back just makes things worse when dirt gets in.

[sujitroy]

I too did this job without drilling, but I this I think is due to the amount of slop in the system. In my case I have grooves in the runners due to binding rollers and stuck ball bearings

[MandM]

I Drilled mine as Drews article, worked a treat, thanks Drew