Rear 16mm seat bolts stuck

[StuCollinsUK]

Hi guys, trying to swap my drivers seat out but the rear 16mm bolts are completely seized/stuck. I've tried soaking them in WD40 and some freeze removal spray, but not getting anywhere. One does look particularly rusty, the other not so much - but neither are budging unlike the passenger seat!

Should I just take it to a garage who will have something a bit more powerful than skinny arms and a socket wrench?

Cheers!

 

[t-tony]

They are usually fairly tight mate. I use 12" long 3/8" ratchet and they always give in.

Tony.

 

[mrscalex]

You may well find it's the access & tool you are using rather than the corrosion. They can be difficult to remove anyway unless you go about it right.

Get the seat as far forward on the runners as you can. And tilt the back forward as far as it will go. Sounds obvious but sometimes the latter at least is missed.

Use a 1/2" drive ratchet. Make sure the socket is properly (squarely) on the bolt - easy to get this wrong and it just slips off. If you can get a breaker bar in there great. I've never tried as it's tight for space and I've never needed it yet despite some horrible looking bolts.

 

[Pingu]

I assume that you don't have access to an impact air wrench (if you do, start on the lowest setting and build up to higher settings). Unless you are very competent, I'd recommend you take it to a garage and let them deal with the problem.

Take care, though, as the captive nuts are only tack welded to the floor - and they are inaccessible without cutting the floor open and re-welding it. As it would be the only thing stopping the seat leaving the car in the event of an accident, the repair can not be bodged.

 

[StuCollinsUK]

Thanks for the guidance, essentially couldn't get the leverage with my ratchet and didn't want to end up rounding the bolt off. Took down my local formula one auto centre, they cracked it off in 30 seconds and all is good! Thankfully appears to be just the bolt that has gone rusty, bit of orange dust around the hole in the floor but the chassis itself seems great. Thanks again.

 

[t-tony]

At least having tightened it yourself you know you'll be able to undo it Stu.

Tony.

 

[FRANKIE]

Hi guys, trying to swap my drivers seat out but the rear 16mm bolts are completely seized/stuck. I've tried soaking them in WD40 and some freeze removal spray, but not getting anywhere. One does look particularly rusty, the other not so much - but neither are budging unlike the passenger seat!

Should I just take it to a garage who will have something a bit more powerful than skinny arms and a socket wrench?

Cheers!

Just read this thread now. I had the same problem with my 1.9. I was installing a new top and didn't want the seats in the way. I was able to remove the driver's (LHD) seat and two front and one rear bolt on the passenger's side but the socket kept slipping off the last rear bolt on the passenger's side. Had to leave the seat in and work around it................Frankie

 

[Pingu]

Put some copper grease on the threads.

 

[handsomejackuk]

seat in highest position also helps... 1/2 inch t bar and short extension works for me

 

[StuCollinsUK]

Just read this thread now. I had the same problem with my 1.9. I was installing a new top and didn't want the seats in the way. I was able to remove the driver's (LHD) seat and two front and one rear bolt on the passenger's side but the socket kept slipping off the last rear bolt on the passenger's side. Had to leave the seat in and work around it................Frankie

If you're a righty maybe you had the same issue as me - left hand side was a breeze but the nearest bolt on the right... maybe a funny coincidence! Also +1 for the copper grease, will apply some when the seats come out (again) for the inevitable bushing replacement.

 

[Alin S]

I had the same problem on one of my seats. I used a ball joint impact driver adapter and it was off in a few seconds.

Then used copper grease when reassembling.