burn_your_money
11-05-2006, 12:07 PM
Below are detailed pictures of how to dis-asseble your mk1 (and probably mk2) seats.
You will also see how to fix the non-working flip down seat problem
- Remove your seats from the car
- Starting with one of the front seats remove the trim cover
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval006.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval006.jpg)
Use a screwdriver to remove the plastic cylinders. As you can see someone has already unsuccesfully attempted to remove this trim piece and damaged it.
Simply pry it out from the back
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval006.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval006.jpg)
Once you have all the cylinders removed the trim piece should just pop off
Remove the following
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval009.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval009.jpg)
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval011.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval011.jpg)
Now pry the seat apart
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval015.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval015.jpg)
The recline adjusting knobs pop off. Use a long screwdriver to pop them off.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval013.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval013.jpg)
The fold down lever also just pops right off. Careful not to put a hole through the side of your seat
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval023.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval023.jpg)
Starting with the top half of the seat flip it over to the base. You'll notice four metal barbs holding the material.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval018.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval018.jpg)
Simply pry them up with a screwdriver and then straighten them with needlenose pliers
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval020.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval020.jpg)
The fabric can now be pulled over the barbs.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval021.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval021.jpg)
Carefully work the fabric up and off the seat. If you are only repairing the fold down lever you do not need to fully remove the fabric.
Here you can see the layout of the fold-down wires, if your's aren't working one of more of these will be broken
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval026.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval026.jpg)
The wires simply slide out, much the same as the heater control cables on non AC cars
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval028.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval028.jpg)
If you have headrests this next picture does not apply, you'll have to figure out how to remove your headrests yourself
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval025.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval025.jpg)
Now the top is dis-assembled its time to start on the base
There is one wire in each corner that holds the material to the fabric, simply bend it up
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval032.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval032.jpg)
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval033.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval033.jpg)
The material will now slide off. Onc you have the material off the frame you need to fold the frame open from the foam, as if you were opening a book.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval034.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval034.jpg)
You can see here that there is some hard cardboard that slides into the groove in the frame and holds the material
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval035.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval035.jpg)
Remove the material so it looks like this
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval036.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval036.jpg)
The fabric is attatched to the foam by metal wires and wire coils (major pain) I used side cutters to cut the wire coils. Zipties can be used for re-assembly. I cut the foam open to show what is going on in here
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval002.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval002.jpg)
Just snip that coil of wire that holds the 2 straigh pieces of wire together. There is 4 per side
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval003.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval003.jpg)
Your front seats have now been succesfully dis-assembled. You can use this time to swap on mk2 bases with the height recline options.
The rear seat is much more difficult then the fronts
Start by separating the 2 halfs (not sure how this works on Jettas)
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval039.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval039.jpg)
These screws suck and are a pain to remove to make sure you have the appropriate sized screwdriver
Remove the trim pieces
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval038.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval038.jpg)
Starting with the bottom piece cut all the metal coils (same as used on the base of front seats)
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval040.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval040.jpg)
VW has a couple more surprises. You'll notice the fabric is still attached, similar to how it was for the bases of the fronts. This however is easier. On the backside of the seat insert your needlenose pliers and pull the metal hook over the metal bar
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval044.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval044.jpg)
There are 4 slits in the foam, you'll know what I mean when you see it.
The fabric can now be removed. It's easiest to start in this corner
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval041.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval041.jpg)
Now its time for the top piece. No coils to cut here. The fabric is held on by its own tension, you need to press down on the black backing material and then reach in and unfold the hard cardboard
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval048.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval048.jpg)
You have to do this all the way around the seat. Once you get to the metal bars it's easiest to skip it, go to the center of the next two bars and start there. Then you can pull the material out from both sides of the bar. Chances are the cardboard will rip but its not a big deal
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval049.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval049.jpg)
Installation is the reverse of removal :P
You will also see how to fix the non-working flip down seat problem
- Remove your seats from the car
- Starting with one of the front seats remove the trim cover
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval006.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval006.jpg)
Use a screwdriver to remove the plastic cylinders. As you can see someone has already unsuccesfully attempted to remove this trim piece and damaged it.
Simply pry it out from the back
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval006.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval006.jpg)
Once you have all the cylinders removed the trim piece should just pop off
Remove the following
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval009.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval009.jpg)
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval011.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval011.jpg)
Now pry the seat apart
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval015.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval015.jpg)
The recline adjusting knobs pop off. Use a long screwdriver to pop them off.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval013.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval013.jpg)
The fold down lever also just pops right off. Careful not to put a hole through the side of your seat
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval023.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval023.jpg)
Starting with the top half of the seat flip it over to the base. You'll notice four metal barbs holding the material.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval018.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval018.jpg)
Simply pry them up with a screwdriver and then straighten them with needlenose pliers
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval020.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval020.jpg)
The fabric can now be pulled over the barbs.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval021.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval021.jpg)
Carefully work the fabric up and off the seat. If you are only repairing the fold down lever you do not need to fully remove the fabric.
Here you can see the layout of the fold-down wires, if your's aren't working one of more of these will be broken
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval026.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval026.jpg)
The wires simply slide out, much the same as the heater control cables on non AC cars
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval028.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval028.jpg)
If you have headrests this next picture does not apply, you'll have to figure out how to remove your headrests yourself
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval025.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval025.jpg)
Now the top is dis-assembled its time to start on the base
There is one wire in each corner that holds the material to the fabric, simply bend it up
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval032.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval032.jpg)
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval033.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval033.jpg)
The material will now slide off. Onc you have the material off the frame you need to fold the frame open from the foam, as if you were opening a book.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval034.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval034.jpg)
You can see here that there is some hard cardboard that slides into the groove in the frame and holds the material
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval035.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval035.jpg)
Remove the material so it looks like this
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval036.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval036.jpg)
The fabric is attatched to the foam by metal wires and wire coils (major pain) I used side cutters to cut the wire coils. Zipties can be used for re-assembly. I cut the foam open to show what is going on in here
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval002.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval002.jpg)
Just snip that coil of wire that holds the 2 straigh pieces of wire together. There is 4 per side
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval003.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval003.jpg)
Your front seats have now been succesfully dis-assembled. You can use this time to swap on mk2 bases with the height recline options.
The rear seat is much more difficult then the fronts
Start by separating the 2 halfs (not sure how this works on Jettas)
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval039.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval039.jpg)
These screws suck and are a pain to remove to make sure you have the appropriate sized screwdriver
Remove the trim pieces
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval038.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval038.jpg)
Starting with the bottom piece cut all the metal coils (same as used on the base of front seats)
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval040.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval040.jpg)
VW has a couple more surprises. You'll notice the fabric is still attached, similar to how it was for the bases of the fronts. This however is easier. On the backside of the seat insert your needlenose pliers and pull the metal hook over the metal bar
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval044.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval044.jpg)
There are 4 slits in the foam, you'll know what I mean when you see it.
The fabric can now be removed. It's easiest to start in this corner
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval041.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval041.jpg)
Now its time for the top piece. No coils to cut here. The fabric is held on by its own tension, you need to press down on the black backing material and then reach in and unfold the hard cardboard
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval048.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval048.jpg)
You have to do this all the way around the seat. Once you get to the metal bars it's easiest to skip it, go to the center of the next two bars and start there. Then you can pull the material out from both sides of the bar. Chances are the cardboard will rip but its not a big deal
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/th_seatremoval049.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/DIY/seatremoval049.jpg)
Installation is the reverse of removal :P