Fixing up a bent leather (vinyl) seat.. - Interior Tech - Tech Section

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Scrambler82
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Ok, I know you said about being the only ones but was thinking the design is different, should fit, wondered about a console, the little things !

Alway like to know the reasoning behind the decision, helps me when making my choices !

You said you got another back, is it in good shape ?

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Posted: Sun Feb 11th, 2018 08:40 pm

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The '06 seat design is slightly different when you get down to the bones, but any Ranger seat will fit from modern times. It's still a 60/40 bench, so no problems finding a center console.

I totally forgot to get a pic of the new one, but yes, other than a few extra cracks in the cover, it's all straight, i'm only taking the seat back frame to put in the other one i got.

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Posted: Sun Feb 11th, 2018 10:31 pm

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Scrambler82
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Good Luck with the project !
Keep the pictures coming !

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Posted: Mon Mar 19th, 2018 05:30 pm

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Well, new seats are in, if not fully cleaned yet, and the cover is a little loose on the foam right now, not sure why.

However, i think maybe the seat rails are different between '02 and '06 ?

I say this because when you get in the drivers seat, you feel like you're leaning to the back and left! :( Does anyone know why?

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Posted: Mon Mar 19th, 2018 08:19 pm

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Scrambler82
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MaDMaXX wrote:
Well, new seats are in, if not fully cleaned yet, and the cover is a little loose on the foam right now, not sure why.

However, i think maybe the seat rails are different between '02 and '06 ?

I say this because when you get in the drivers seat, you feel like you're leaning to the back and left! :( Does anyone know why?

IMHO... A person too heavy for the seat and sitting on the outside edge and always leaning towards the left side could be the problem but I was thinking how did it get bent... that could be the problem.

A friend of mine had a Ranger, he was to say the least too big for a Ranger and he leaned towards the console all the time. The Console Arm Rest was almost non-existent and when I borrowed his truck I had to lean toward the center because everything had formed to the owner.
My second thought was probably the reason but I am just writing for the fun of it !

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Posted: Mon Mar 19th, 2018 09:45 pm

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So, i guess do we have confirmation of the rails not changing, or the floor plan not changing between these years?

I know what you're saying with the leaning/heavy side, however it doesn't seem that way, padding is fresh and firm feeling and nothing appears bent, per s©.

One thing that i'm wondering about; the rear left mount for these seats seems to be further into the floor that the other seats, to the point where the trim cap (over the rear of the seat rail) seems to struggle to fit correctly as the bolted part is somewhat recessed.

Now the original seats aren't bent and it's all level, but that's what made me wonder if the rails are different, of only for that rear left mount on the drivers seat?

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Posted: Mon Mar 19th, 2018 09:46 pm

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Just an FYI; a K-bar with a leather sheath will slide into the seat belt buckle hole and not impede the operation of the seat belt.

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Posted: Mon Mar 19th, 2018 09:49 pm

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Wait, a what doing a what now?

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Posted: Tue Mar 20th, 2018 07:50 am

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Scrambler82
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MaDMaXX wrote:
So, i guess do we have confirmation of the rails not changing, or the floor plan not changing between these years?

I know what you're saying with the leaning/heavy side, however it doesn't seem that way, padding is fresh and firm feeling and nothing appears bent, per s©.

One thing that i'm wondering about; the rear left mount for these seats seems to be further into the floor that the other seats, to the point where the trim cap (over the rear of the seat rail) seems to struggle to fit correctly as the bolted part is somewhat recessed.

Now the original seats aren't bent and it's all level, but that's what made me wonder if the rails are different, of only for that rear left mount on the drivers seat?

The Tracks on my '03 are bolted to the Seat Pan and I think the newer seats have the Tracks welded to the Pan, so it will be hard to determine if the tracks are the correct shape or not ! See what you come up with, even if the tracks are welded to the newer pans you can still compare them and maybe even get a few measurements from the older tracks to compare.

I don't believe Ford didn't changed there floor pans since around the '94 model change, maybe '98, so IF you can take the tracks off of your original seats and compare them to the newer seat tracks you might find a problem.

It is hard to believe that the Seat Track didn't take some of the stress when the truck rolled, could be that easy.

Sorry can't suggest much more !

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Posted: Tue Mar 20th, 2018 03:52 pm

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OK thanks, i'll have to check how they're attached, still have old seats for the moment, so can unbolt and check, will obviously need to pull the new seat regardless.

If it is off, only other thought is to shim up that back left bolt? fender washers?

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Posted: Tue Mar 20th, 2018 04:07 pm

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Scrambler82
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MaDMaXX wrote:
OK thanks, i'll have to check how they're attached, still have old seats for the moment, so can unbolt and check, will obviously need to pull the new seat regardless.

If it is off, only other thought is to shim up that back left bolt? fender washers?
After you determine what is wrong and what it will take to fix, then the Fender Washers sounds good.

The only problem is if the seat pan is damaged and not the Track, shimming won't work without twisting and jamming the tracks !

Worst case... add the washers until it feels good and works ok, then Nail it !

Luck... a good afternoon in the sun project.

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Posted: Tue Mar 20th, 2018 04:13 pm

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If I pull that back track central over the hole,then the tracks jam,if I left it to 'bend' and ride the bolt edge, it's fine.

Guess I answered that it's bent, but not bent where it would cause a good solid half inch of height change.
I mean, my wife sat down and immediately could tell it was leaning left.

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Posted: Tue Mar 20th, 2018 04:33 pm

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Scrambler82
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So what you need to do is slide the seat in the position it fits you and then jack it up to level it and bolt it in !

Until you can locate another set of seats.

You have to decide who will be driving the truck and what position is best, either crooked with a sliding track, or static and level, the problem here is the welded tracks, if they were bolted on then some washers under the seat might help for a while.

Too bad the Seats weren't straighter, would have made things a lot easier.

Have you looked at Explorer Seats, maybe you can find some without power and cloth covers, since you have an extended cab the Explorer seat would work out.

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Posted: Tue Mar 20th, 2018 07:37 pm

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I think i need to check the rails, so far it doesn't make sense than any bending is causing this, it's not enough of a different for how much it's leaning.

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Posted: Fri Mar 23rd, 2018 01:09 pm

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The seat is a little better now that i stood the rear of the left rail a little more upright, it's not perfect, but works.

Greasing the rails and moving it around, letting the other bolt holes move where they wanted after securing the rear left, seemed to help.

I think i'll probably put a fender washer in there now though, i feel it's off a little - i can't tell if the distance/gap between the seat back and the B pillar should be the same for the drivers seat as it is for the passenger - that seems quite different.

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