Hello.

 

Ever since I bought my car around a year ago, the driver's seat has been a bit, shall we say, 'saggy' on the base. I'm guessing the previous owner was a larger person as it's 'only' done just over 80,000 miles.

 

Anyway, over the course of the year, the seat base has become less and less supportive, and finally this week, I think something has collapsed inside. It could just be the foam that's deteriorated, but it feels like I'm sat in a small bucket with my knees in the air when driving.

 

As a temporary measure, I'm probably going to get a cushion or something, to add some extra support. At some point, I'd like to fix it in a more permanent fashion.

 

Those who've done seat swaps and the like... how easy are the seat to dismantle? And can it be done without taking them out? I thought I could swap the padding with that on the passenger side?

 

If that's not a possibility, I know stuff from the same generation Polo/Ibiza will fit as a straight swap. Will stuff from a MkII fabia also fit? If so, how easy is it a job to do?

Also, if anyone's encountered the same issue, maybe there's an easier fix I may not have thought of?

 

Thanks in advance for your time!

Easy enough to swap bases over (passenger to driver etc). Best to remove the seats, then the surrounding plastic and pull the seat cover from the little channel it's in.

Do you have a vrs or normal fab? As I may be doing another conversion soon so will have standard ibiza (same as fab) foam and covers available if that's any help?

Thanks! Do I need to be careful to prevent triggering the airbag when removing the seats?

 

It's just a normal fabia, so if the seats are easy enough to remove and strip, then I suppose that will be something I can look at in the spring when it warms up a little. HOw easy are the covers to sap over? Being a complete novice at stuff like this, I wouldn't want to bite off more than I can chew.

Have you got air bags in your seats? If so, I think the usual procedure is to disconnect the battery for 30 mins (?) before unplugging the connector under the seat. Obvs, if you don't have seat air bags= no worries.

Really easy mate if it's just the bases you're worried about. It's one of those things that's a bit hard to explain without photos, but it's a lot easier than it sounds.

Like I say, all going well I'll have decent surplus foam available over the next month or so you are welcome to if you want. Or you could message dominorising as he's just done a seat swap and has some foam and covers he's trying to shift, so he may poss just send you the one base?

Cut the red or yellow wire first and you will be fine

Nah. Air bags will only go off if given a charge . Simply unplugging it will do no harm. Just disconnect the battery first. No need to wait half hour or anything

Edited 12 December, 201312 yr by fletch101

Okey doke. I've no idea whether or not the seats have airbags in, so I guess not.

 

I may take you up on the offer of the Ibiza foam/covers Mr. Pulse. Maybe message me when you're ready to get shut of them?

 

I did find this and this, which seem silly cheap for a full set of seats. They do a fitting service too. I guess 3 door seats will be fine in a five door car also?

Those seats are cheap. Not quite so cheap as the mint 2006 seats I managed to win but then butchered though

 

However you can't get cheaper than just removing your seat/s (easy), removing the trim, then fabric and foam, and removing and replacing the foam.

Its realistically possible to remove the seats and repair it in about 2 hours, provided you have a good idea on what is required and there is lots of information on here, but its not really that difficult anyway. I just kind of winged it and used some of my not so common sense.

 

Yes I've got spare drivers foam. You can have it for £5+post.

There is a guy after (as far as I'm aware) JUST after the newish condition 2006 seat fabric I've liberated too, but so as long as he's fine with just having only the material that its yours - and its available right now ?

 

(i've pressed the point to clarify whether he wants fabric, or fabric and foam with some lack of clarity back so I've no problem assuming not needing the foam at this stage)

Do you need it ?

Do you need it ?

 

 Ok sure. I'll send you a PM. Thanks 

By the way, I really appreciate how helpful everyone has been so far. Not many forums are this friendly/helpful.

 

So, if I go down the taking seats out, and replacing the foam route, are these the things I'll need to get the job done (bar normal tools like screwdrivers/pliers etc) ?

 

M10 SPLINE BIT 12 Point Socket 10mm Hex Drive 30mm long

 

and four? of these seat bolts to replace the old ones. I may as well stick one of these in there too, while I'm at it. 

Yes, yes and yes. Might aswell get this though for a couple more quid, as you have the other bits then for future http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=290794691630

But yeah I did the same with the bolts and storage box. You may need a little torx bit too to get the screws out of the plastic trim, but I may be getting confused with the octavia seats.

Yes, yes and yes. Might aswell get this though for a couple more quid, as you have the other bits then for future http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=290794691630

But yeah I did the same with the bolts and storage box. You may need a little torx bit too to get the screws out of the plastic trim, but I may be getting confused with the octavia seats.

Brilliant. thanks. I already have a multitool with a variety of normal torx bits on, so I'm fine for that. I just need to get cracking with some replacement foam, or a replacement seat, get those bolts ordered etc and I'm good to go. 

might be worth a mention when i took my seats out i was also a novice like you i cross threaded one of my bolts on the driver side so now my seat knocks abit so be careful putting them in again. Also have a look at local breakers yards for a replacement seat you might get lucky like i did and get the sports set for £60  :p

Edited 13 December, 201312 yr by Torteption

might be worth a mention when i took my seats out i was also a novice like you i cross threaded one of my bolts on the driver side so now my seat knocks abit so be careful putting them in again. Also have a look at local breakers yards for a replacement seat you might get lucky like i did and get the sports set for £60  :p

I've made the cross threadery mistake before working on bicycles. I tend to be pretty careful nowadays. Finger tight as far as I can go before even thinking of using a wrench is the general rule I follow. If it won't go in finger tight, try again until it will! 

 

I've done bits and bobs so far. Fitted the elegance cup holder and a connects2 and I've resealed both rear doors successfully, but nothing quite a big as ripping the seats out. I like to prepare with as much knowledge as possible before starting a job... same goes for my day job.

Remember if you are stripping the fabia seat back to the subframe to swap/replace the base foam anyway you don't have to stick to Fabia replacements

 

you could get a whole Bora interior for £50

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Golf-MK4-Bora-Complete-Black-Grey-Sport-Interior-Seats-and-door-panels-/231046346035?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item35cb6f7533

That does look tempting, but I think I'll stick to swapping the base foam or the entire seat/s. It'd have to be done in a day as I couldn't do without the car for much longer. I'm more interested in being comfortable than swapping for anything flashy.

 

Sport seats would be nice, however, as I reckon they'd offer more support on twisty roads. they tend to sell for a pretty penny though I think.

 

 

Sport seats would be nice, however, as I reckon they'd offer more support on twisty roads. they tend to sell for a pretty penny though I think.

 

Oh yea! The expression is, "like hens teeth" too, I think.

That does look tempting, but I think I'll stick to swapping the base foam or the entire seat/s. It'd have to be done in a day as I couldn't do without the car for much longer. I'm more interested in being comfortable than swapping for anything flashy.

 

Sport seats would be nice, however, as I reckon they'd offer more support on twisty roads. they tend to sell for a pretty penny though I think.

the difference between them is amazing the sports hug you if you were near to edinburgh i'd give you my old driver side seat if you could get the cross threaded bolt out for me.

I'm going to post a really good foam base from my 2006 seats purchase, which he bought for a small amount

 

Getting out the threaded bolt may require removing all the others then forcing the seat up and attempting to unscrew it at the same time or something ! Or maybe an air gun on it or something. Its gonna be a mess afterwards and you are going to need to helicoil or tap a bigger thread ?

 

If that / brute force doesn't work then you may be faced with having to drill it out mate !

 

Mine was a bit like that on one of mine but thank god it actually tightened up. Maybe I made a new thread lol.

Hence I'm really nervous about removing it again, despite actually having patterns on needing to get the seats out again to improve them I kind of don't really want to !!

Thanks again for all the help in this thread, and to dominorising for flogging me the foam base.

 

I just need to get all those other bits ordered, then I can get cracking with the foam transplant in the new year, being careful not to tear anything, or cross-thread anything. 

funny enough my passenger side was properly stuck so me and a mate decided to kick the seat from the car and it worked i'm currently using a hammer and chisel to get the crossed bolt out not making much progress  :(

Maybe use an Impact Driver and a liberal application of WD40 to the bolt? I know they tend to do more harm than good... but if you've already resorted to kicking it to bits... 

only kicked the passenger seat out  :p  it was when i was putting the drivers side in on the last bolt due it going dark and cold i rushed it thanks for the info will be raiding my old man's toolbox

Rushing = three to four times as long to resolve what should have been a simple job lol

 

Anyway Gary the foam is now posted - hope you get it !

Anyway Gary the foam is now posted - hope you get it !

 

Thank you!

I managed to get everything swapped over, following this guide http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/154853-fabia-vrs-seat-cover-removal/ and using small cable ties to replace the hog rings in the base.

 

It's much more comfortable now. Thanks for all your help!