Removing seats..is there a simple way I'm missing?

[Dischordant]

Got my car back =) Time to sort the interior! However step 1 - removing seats already has me stumped. From what I can see the bolts for the seats are in the runners which make them mighty hard to get to/fit a spanner on to. Is there something I'm missing or anyone find a good technique for doing this?!

Will make a blog of doing all the interior (carpets/leathers/doorcards/steering wheel/audio) as I go in the hope it benefits someone else some day - but I apologise in advance for the masses of queries heading this forums way to enable me to achieve it

Many thanks!

Darren

[B3NNL]

I'm afraid it's a case of getting a flat head screwdriver in the runner and jamming it between the bolt head and the runner, then getting your helper to undo the nut from underneath the car. An impact drill will definitely help! My original ones had to be cut off as they had corroded so much.
When you do get them off and back on, use stainless steel bolts and nuts, I also had the bolts spot welded onto the seats so in future I wont need the jamming screwdriver piece.
Good luck.

[nawarne]

Seats are bolted through from runners.

Probably need to spray exposed threads and nuts with WD-40 or similar. Bolt heads can...should be able to be held by wedging a screwdriver between flats of bolt and runner upstanding...then wind off nuts from underneath of car.

That's what worked for me anyway!!

Nick

[Basil Brush]

Echo what they said about the screw driver. I found it helps if you put it in the OS gap for fronts and NS for rears when slackening then the bolt trying to turn pulled the screw driver further in rather than pushing it out.

[stlol]

Agreed, they are a st to get out.
I used zinc plated allen cap head bolts to replace mine, loads easier to get the Allen key in.

[Dischordant]

You legends =) The screwdriver trick worked a treat! - passenger seat out ready for a redye!

[phillpot]

Few suggestions here for when you come to re-fit them

[Dischordant]

Very much appreciated =)

Well much as I'd love to replace the rusty bolts that are currently in the runners I can't see a way actually get them out the runners as the chair itself seems in the way. I can't undo the nuts in the runner as the space is too tight to use a spanner.

Any advice otherwise I'll leave the current bolts as is - any recommendations on getting the rust off?

Many thanks!

Edited by Dischordant on Sunday 27th April 18:26