1987 seat removal

remroc · 03-11-2008, 11:55 AM

New member here. Just bought a 1987 Carerra (my first 911). I need to recover the passenger seat. I can't get the seat to move forward to remove the rear bolts. The power system doesn't work fore and aft. The Allen wrench manual system doesn't move the seat either. How can I get to those rear bolts? thanks

88911coupe · 03-11-2008, 12:09 PM

I think I had this problem as well some time ago on my '87 cab. IIRC, I found an old set of allen wrenches and just cut off a section of one which I then put into the allen bolt and broke it free with a box end wrench. It was pretty tight in there.
Good Luck and welcome to the loony bin of Porsche fans.

Shadetree930 · 03-11-2008, 12:17 PM

If I recall correctly, the rear bolts are covered by the seat rail mechanism when its stuck like this making access impossible? Thus the OP's dilemna.

I have the very same problem. Looking for the magic solution.

Shadetree930 · 03-12-2008, 04:39 AM

Bump.

falcon · falcon's Garage

Interesting. I just removed my passenger seat yesterday. I have electric seats but can move the seat forward and back manually via lever in front. I also moved the seatback forward. I just barely was able to squeeze an allen wrench (short end) onto the bolt head and used a small diameter metal tube about 8 inch long as a cheater bar. I was able to break the torque on the 2 bolts at the back of each rail. As you know, each set of allen wrenches are different sizes so cutting the short end of the wrench per Bucks' recommedation above is a good idea. The material on the seat "gives" a bit but it's still tight.

Shadetree930 · 03-12-2008, 06:55 AM

A lever? Is this new in '88? Unique to Cabs? Did I overlook the obvious? Any seat experts?

Zeke · 03-12-2008, 06:59 AM

Four way electric seats move by a lever. I don't know how he may have gotten 8 way seats, but I suspect he is missing something about moving the seat.

remroc · 03-12-2008, 07:18 AM

The '87 that I can't move the seat on has two 4 way switches on the passenger side and three on the drivers side (the extra is for the lumbar support, I think). The car came with seat options 437 and 438 which according to the red book are "comfort seats". The only seat covers I see are for standard or sport seats. Yet every picture I see of a '87 the seats look like mine whether they are manual or electric. Are comfort seats just the same seats but electric?

Shadetree930 · 03-12-2008, 08:28 AM

I am running 8 way seats as well. I would be estatic to find out there is a lever somewhere under there but having spent a bit of time in that area I must be missing it if its there.

So ... if indeed there is no lever and if the bolt heads are cover by the seat hardware how does one go about pulling the seat to change out the mechanisim?

javadog · 03-12-2008, 09:10 AM

Just to clear up some of the confusion, some electric seats offered height adjustment of the bottom cushion only, with fore/aft travel and backrest angle adjusted with levers. The other electric seats had electric motors for all of the adjustments. Thus, the four-way or eight-way nomenclature.

Those of you with eight-way seats don't have a lever to move the seat fore/aft on the tracks. I've never had to work on a car with eight-way seats, so I can't offer any advice except perhaps to try to bypass the switch, in the event that the motor is good and the problem that is keeping it from moving is related to the switch, wiring, etc.

JR

don911 · don911's Garage

I've changed seats in my 87 a few times. I don't think there's any way to get the bolt out or even cut the heads off without moving the seat. I think you're stuck getting your seat working first. I would try replacing the switch first. If you can get it moving, the best procedure I found is to remove the front bolts first and then the rear. There's an angle on the front bolts that keep the seat from moving too far forward. Once the front bolts are out, the seat moves farther farward so accessing the rear bolts is easy/easier.

Shadetree930 · 03-12-2008, 11:38 AM

I think Don has it correct. No way to gain access if stuck in full-reverse position short of detonating the explosive bolts that Porsche surely had the foresight to install.

In my case, all the electronics including the motors are good. Its a stripped plastic gear that may be cause (or symptom). Barring the lack of explosive bolts, I am thinking that cutting the drive shaft for the fore-aft drive (the one with the stripped gear) will allow the movement of the seat with the Allen wrench method. Any experts out there?

remroc · 07:21 AM

OK, I got the seat out. After I took the plastic shield off I discovered one of the two push on connectors was off and wala! the seat moved forward ( a little shaky but all the way after several tries). One of the rear bolts was missing and I got the other out. Disconnecting the electric cord was a pain, but it is out and on the way to the upholstery shop. Thanks.

Shadetree930 · 03-12-2008, 12:34 PM

OK, I get to hijack the thread completely now!

Experts? What is my best option here?