Seat Track

[vettn71]

Has anyone pulled their seat transmission apart? My 16,000 mile 90's passenger seat won't move back and forth. I don't see anything jamming it, so I thought I'd disassemble and see if anything is hung up inside

jim

[Ccmano]

Easy to do. Problem is getting the parts. There's a guy from Canada that periodically sells the transmission parts to rebuild it yourself for about $50 on Ebay. But he's not currently selling. I've done two now and it's not hard if you have any mechanical skills at all. There's also an outfit on Ebay currently selling the entire transmission for $150 which is not too bad. Don't make the same mistake I did an buy an old and supposedly "good" seat frame with the transmission. I got one that was broken from the get go, the other I installed and it broke in a matter of weeks. These old plastic parts inside the transmission just don't hold up.

Here's what the guts of the transmission looks like with the typical broken parts.
H

[vettn71]

Great info and pictures. How did you remove the transmission from the track?

Jim

[Ccmano]

The seat track separates into a right and left side when you remove the C-clips that hold the shafts in place. When you look at it, it will be obvious. Once separated the transmission can be removed.
H

[vettn71]

Super! Thanks

Jim

[Pete]

I have 2 working seat tracks for sale $200 for both Left/Right came off my 1991 Z

Pete

[vettn71]

Well, I am a practictioner of the BFH mechanical maintenance method, but I don't want to bust this thing up, if I can help it. There was one C-clip on the one smaller cross-shaft and the two cotter keys. It's loose, but won't separate. What am I missing? The photo shows where I'm at.

Jim

[Ccmano]

The only thing holding it together now is the motor drive shaft tubes. If you look at the motor there are two screws between the three tubes where they attach to the motor. Remove those screws and the two halves should come apart. Remove the bolts that hold the transmission to the frame, I think there are three that go through the center of the case. The transmission case is is riveted together along the outside, those need to be drilled out to separate the halves.
H

[vettn71]

I did remove those two screws, but it's hanging together. I pried one of the pins that had the cotter keys in it apart. I really thought it would be much easier, which is why I'm sure there's something simple I've missed.

I appreciate the offer of the seat tracks, but my car only had 16k on it, so I'm sure it's an age thing. The passenger seat was rarely operated.

[Ccmano]

Originally Posted by vettn71

I did remove those two screws, but it's hanging together. I pried one of the pins that had the cotter keys in it apart. I really thought it would be much easier, which is why I'm sure there's something simple I've missed.

I appreciate the offer of the seat tracks, but my car only had 16k on it, so I'm sure it's an age thing. The passenger seat was rarely operated.

It's probably just stuck at the center shaft where you removed the C-clip. Try a few taps with a mallet on the inside of the frame that the motor is attached to.
Looks like you took the transmission bolts out already. You may want to put those back in to hold the transmission firmly while you tap on the opposite frame.
H