sjfarbs

Hey guys.

Just curious about removing the front seats in the 84'. Have a couple of questions:

1. How many allen bolts are there? I see 2 in front and 2 in back, are my missing anything?

2. What size allen are they?

3. If I move my seat all the way back (they are power) I have clear access to the front two allen's. But if I move my seat all the way forward, access to the rear 2 bolts is not clear, looks very tight. Like they are under the seat bottom and would need to angle an allen tool just to get access, maybe even to tight for a socket with an allen head? Would you use a standard allen type wrench?

4. I assume these allen's remove the seat from the track right? Not the whole assembly from the floorboard.

I am sure you have been there and done that, so any insight would be great. Thanks!

Shawn

84' 928S
74' TR6

Mike Frye

Hey Shawn,

I'm pretty sure your seats are the same as mine. I think the allen bolts are 8mm and there are 4 on each track. The front ones thread into a plate that drops down into the track after you take them out (get your extendible magnet ready), the back two are into the track itself.


Be careful not to bugger them because they're a royal PITA once the heads are beat up, some have had to cut them out. We used an impact gun on mine and it worked great. If you raise the seat up all the way, then slide it back to loosen the fronts and front to loosen the backs, you should have barely enough room for a socket on a 90 deg. impact wrench IIRC.

sjfarbs

Thanks Mike...................when you say 4 on a track, the track is the whole seat frame right? So 2 allen heads on the right "rail" and 2 on the "left" rail yes?

Raise the seat all the way up, good call.............wasn't even thinking about that one!!!!

I am fingers crossed that they come out easy, but am aware of the "kid gloves" when trying to free them.

Any other tips on how not to strip? Would a liquid wrench do any good?

AaronSweat

I just removed my seats from my 81 and it wasn't too bad. Mine only had 2 bolts on each rail. The fronts were easy, I used an Allen wrench on the backs and used a screwdriver on the end to give me more leverage. I made sure to have the allen in completely on the head of the bolt at to turn the wrench slowly to not strip the bolts. Mine all came loose without stripping. I'll be puttin a little anti-seize on them before I put them back in.

Mike Frye

I'm pretty sure on mine each seat had 8 allen bolts, two front, two rear on each side or 'track'. It looks like some might not have all of those, I think Adam G. said his only had 1 in the front and two in the back on each track. Basically nothing is hidden though, what you see is what you get.

Also, don't forget to tilt it up and unplug the wiring instead of just pulling on it. I think I folded the seat back forward, then slid it back and rocked it up to expose the wiring under the front. Once it's unplugged you have to play a little Tetris to figure out how to angle it out. It also helps to have plenty of room to open the door. And lift with your legs, they're frickin' HEAVY!

JHowell37

Getting them out isn't difficult. It's getting those heavy bastards back in place that tests your patience.

123quattro

I just changed the seats in my 84. There are two allen head bolts per side of the track for a total of 4 per seat. The fronts are easy. The rears are a pain. I raised the seat back maybe half an inch up from the lowest position and used a 5mm (I'm pretty sure) L shaped allen wrench to get them. They were tight enough I had to use a boxed end wrench as a cheater. Once you get the four bolts out, tip the seat back and unplug the two wiring connects. After that, recline them forward and they should come right out. Takes about 10 minutes per side.

sjfarbs

Thanks guys............

Hey 123quattro, I was thinking about using Rob Budd at the 928 Leather Shop in your neck of the woods to recover my seats. Have you had any experience with that shop?

Tom in Austin

Know what? When I take my seats back, I'm headed to the hardware store for some FREAKIN!! hex-head bolts to replace the original allen heads mamma-jammas.

What is it with these guys and these disintegrating fasteners ?!?!?!?!?

SeanR

Biggest issue with these seat rail bolts is, if you don't get the allen key/socket in all the way, they strip easy.

Make sure you blow the dirt/crap out of the holes before you stick the allen in it.

123quattro

I have bought an interior carpet set from him. We've also had beers together at the 928 Irish pub night. I don't know him super well, but he seems like a good guy and his stuff looks nice. I believe he recently did an interior for a guy down in Florida. He'd be a better source to ask. Can't think of his name though. I think he has a garage full of low mile concourse type cars.

jpitman2

You can get small (4" long) ratchets that take 1/4" hex drive allen keys with different end sizes that are short enough to get a straight go at the rear bolts with the seat on full high setting. My 83 only had 2 bolts each rail. See second item on this link :-http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/subsection/12/category/123
jp 83 Euro S AT 51k

cold_beer839

You may want to hit each bolt with a little PB-Blaster or WD-40 a day or two before you attempt to remove them.

Rob M Budd

If the seat bolts strip, get a set of these Grabit screw removers. http://www.4grabit.com/Default.asp?bhjs=0

They work well. I've used them numerous times and they haven't failed yet.
I just used them on a set of seats in an 84 928 I did in Griffin, GA last week.

After you get the old ones out get a set of these seat bolt kits on this page. http://928leathershop.com/Nuts_&_Bolts.html They are hardened steel and won't strip easily.

Grabits will also work on the 3 hex heads used on the steering mount that must come out when removing the dash.

No affiliation with Grabit. Its just a tool I found that works the way its supposed to.