1994 EB Seat Upgrade

[Fless]

I'm new to the forum and have had some fun looking through the threads; they certainly are interesting. I see some good ideas and fixes here, and wish I'd found it before I took on some of the work I've done already.

My for-the-most-part stock 1994 X EB has the front row power bucket seats with perforated leather, with the typical tears between the perfs on the driver's seat. All power functions work fine. But I can't seem to find any original (1st Gen) seats that are in good shape, and don't want to spend the money at the upholstery shop -- doubt they could match the material and I wouldn't mind having a bit more support.

I'd like to know if anyone has any info on later-model seats that would fit properly either as a full unit, or bolt onto my powered seat frame (what model & year?). Trying to minimize mounting and electrical modifications but get a newer seat. I don't particularly need/want to add heaters, and they wouldn't have to be leather if the cloth material doesn't clash too much with my tan interior.

What about the electrical connections -- do the 2nd Gen or later seats have different connectors than 1st Gen? I can't remember if this has seat occupancy sensors for safety belts, so that might be an issue. (This is my second vehicle and is used mostly for getting to hiking trailheads and some 4wheeling, so it's not an everyday drive.)

Open to thoughts and suggestions, as well as war stories -- er, experiences....

-- Fless

 

[arco777]

2nd gen seats should work. I don't know about the connectors but I believe even the tracks bolt right in.

I have cloth seats on both my 94s and prefer them actually. I know it seems like a downgrade but they do last forever and are easy to find in good shape. Every time I buy a junkyard seat I take the fabric off (easy on the Explorer seats) and run it through the washing machine a few times. Cleans lots of crud out, brightens their colors and makes them smell good. Just a though.

 

[Fless]

Thanks, Arco777. I'll start looking for some better 2nd Gen seats.

I'm curious, though. Before I go and tear one apart, how much seat disassembly is required to take the fabric off, and have you seen any published instructions for that? Are there hogrings or other upholstery fasteners involved?

 

[arco777]

The Explorer basic cloth seats (non-bolstered version) are extremely easy to disassemble. 4 bolts remove the seat base from the tracks, then one bolt undoes the hinge. The fabric comes off pretty easily with a few plastic clips which are sturdy and reusable. No hog rings, no special tools required. It will all make sense once you tear into it.

The drivers seat foam on most first gen Explorers is a bit tired and squished by now. What I do is I find a good passenger seat in the junkyard, take it apart and remove the fabric, and buy just the foam. Usually the cashier only charges me a dollar or so. It interchanges with the drivers side seat foam.

Welcome to the forum by the way!

 

[toypaseo]

My ex-Ford mechanic neighbor has a 91-94 Explorer has the similar, or same, seats as my 96 XLT. Appearance-wise, they are the same. I can't remember for sure on the bolster air adjustment. His did have the extendable leg cushion piece as mine. As far as I know, his seats were the ones that came stock when new.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

Any seat track will work from 92-97 (remember, 91's had a different floor pan, and thus the tracks are different) but the seats themselves, any 91-01 explorer seat will bolt to your existing power seat track. if it's still functional, you need not buy a new track when you buy a new seat. The only exception to this is if you want to install memory seats, which does require the memory seat track.

 

[IAmTodd]

I used '98 Mounty seats on my '94 tracks. I had to change out the switches for the lumber because the plugs were a different orientation.

I then put '99 Limited seats with tracks and all (removed memory). Very simple to switch seats around in these.