$400 to replace seat track?

[shawnblais]

Brought my 2000 XLT to the dealer yesterday, to see about fixing my seat. I'm not sure how to explain exactly what's wrong with it, but I will try to explain. There is a bracket with a round hole that somehow attaches to a round peg under the seat. This bracket detached, so now the seat rocks back and forth, but only on one side, the outside of the driver's seat. The dealer wants $319 for the new seat track, and 90 to install it. Are there any other (cheaper) options out there to repair this?

 

[alphabets13]

i may be wrong, but i thought there was a recall on this? you may be able to get this done for free. i know there was a recall on the seats, something about a bolt, no too long ago either. someone may chime in here and tell you for sure, but i know it's something like that.

 

[Nick26]

i have it right in front off me, its saftey recall 03S04 goto the dealer, give them your VIN and see if this is available for you.

 

[98EBinMO]

Shawnblais,

Recently my power seat in my 1998 EB had developed a popping noise if you pulled on the back of the seat, or shifted your weight while driving. I took it in for the recall and asked if they could check out the popping while they were at it.

When I went to pick it up, they told me it took a while to find, and was where the back of the seat met the bottom... you can see the bolt if you pull back the covering... anyway, they said it was stripped.

I asked why I couldn't simply put a nut on the back of the bolt and tighten it up to take up the slack since the bolt has a shoulder and cannot overtighten.

They said the bolt wasn't long enough and charged me $25 for their trouble! grrrrrr...

Since I figured I had nothing to lose, I went to Autozone and bought a pack of 8 x 1.5 metric nuts and threaded one on the bolt (which was PLENTY long and went all the way through. I tightened the nut and voila! it hasn't popped since!

P.s. the pack of metric nuts was $1.49- a little cheaper than the $425 for the seat base and $100 labor they wanted!

I guess the moral of my story is NEVER TRUST THE DEALER! Even if I couldn't have fixed it that easy, any mechanic could have welded the frame for WAY LESS than $500!

Good Luck, and I hope this helped!

 

[shawnblais]

Originally posted by 98EBinMO
Shawnblais,

Since I figured I had nothing to lose, I went to Autozone and bought a pack of 8 x 1.5 metric nuts and threaded one on the bolt (which was PLENTY long and went all the way through. I tightened the nut and voila! it hasn't popped since!

P.s. the pack of metric nuts was $1.49- a little cheaper than the $425 for the seat base and $100 labor they wanted!

I guess the moral of my story is NEVER TRUST THE DEALER! Even if I couldn't have fixed it that easy, any mechanic could have welded the frame for WAY LESS than $500!

Good Luck, and I hope this helped!

I thought about doing that, but the problem with mine is that the part that broke is a pivot, not a bolt. There are no screw threads that I can thread a nut onto. I was thinking, however, of having a bolt welded onto the pivot, so I could thread a nut to hold to bracket in place.

Is the seat track hard to replace? I can get it on Ford Parts Network for $207, MUCH better than $319. I might just do it myself if its not too hard. It looks like four bolts to remove the seat, but I couldn't get a good look at how the seat track attaches.



Click here for pictures of the broken part

 

[shawnblais]

Anyone have any advice?

 

[Nick26]

did you try looking it up to see if you qualify for the recall??

 

[shawnblais]

No recall..the part that was recalled is the recliner bolt, in the back part of the seat. My problem is with the front so it's not covered.

 

[Carl D.]

Seat track should not be hard to replace, first you have to remove the seat, 4 bolts and one seat belt bolt, then pull seat out. Turn over and remove seat track bolts4-6 depending on model. Put new seat track in place and reinstall all bolts. Should take about 1hr, baring any stuborn bolts.