The Stig

Folks,

I'm in the process of fitting a forward facing infant seat in the rear of my '91 C4. I've read all the posts about LATCH and lap belt retro-fit etc.

Here's the deal - I'm trying to remove the seat back on the passenger side for a better car seat fit. The driver's side seat bolt comes off without a problem, but the passenger side bolt (outside, not tunnel side) will not budge. Completely seized. I've tried an impact wrench, vice grips, channel locks, WD-40, old fashion brute force and nothing works.

I'm running the risk of stripping the head soon. Any advice on how to unlock this bad boy?

Thanks in advance

Marc Shaw

When I took mine out to put in a DAS roll bar, it was in pretty snug.

I hit it with PB Blaster every night for a week then used a 1/2" socket with a 6" breaker bar.

Marc

The Stig

Marc - I must be missing something. The rear seat back bolt is perfectly round and slotted. I can't use a socket on it - nothing to grab on too. Its bigger than 1/2" as well. My set up must have been different to yours.

I'll head to crappy tire for the PB Blaster though. Thanks for the tip.

Marc Shaw

Hmm....sorry, I was thinking of the hex bolt for the seatbelt.

I took the seat backs out too but that bolt just came out easily with a flat-blade screwdriver.

993James993

If it were mine, I would put a screwdrive into the slot, then strike the back of the screwdriver firmly with a ball pean hammer. The shock should break it free. Don't go overboard.

darth

Have you tried an impact screw driver? Can you get some heat on it?

Bill
90C2

hawk911

just watch the carpets......

The Stig

Thanks everyone.

I tried with the impact screw driver too. Still nothing.

I'll give the heat & hammer technique a try tonight. Fingers crossed. Otherwise the infant seat goes in the trunk!

darth

Have you tried using a cold chisel on the outside edge of the head and stricking it with a hammer tangentially in the direction to loosen the bolt. Often just the vibration set up by imapacting the bolt is enough to unseize it.

Hope this helps
Bill
90C2

1990-964

When I removed my seatbacks I first hit the head of the screw with a drift to try to break the tightness then clamped vise-grips to the shft of the screwdriver to give me more leverage when turning the screwdriver. They were very tight, but did come out. You may find that not only is there more room with the bacs out but that there is not really a need for them anyway as the back panel is padded and at a much more comfortable angle for someone sitting back there anyway. My son is out of car seats now and he has more space without the seatbacks. Good Luck!

The Stig

A thousand thank yous. The combination of heat, cold chisel, the odd hammer blow and the penetrating catalyst did the trick and released the bolt from its deathly grip on the seat back.

All the best.

boxsey911

The chuck of my impact driver comes off which means you can attach a 1/4 inch socket wrench to it. I then used the biggest flat bit from my imact driver set in the chuck to get it un-done. As you say it's very tight.

meek

I remember when I removed mine that cold air was whistling through the threaded hole. I guess that is why they rust; exposure to moisture from outside the car. Not the best design feature Dr. Prof. Porsche and co. I used new bolts and plenty of grease when I put them in.