Author Topic: Sagging Seats  (Read 7596 times)

AGT

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Sagging Seats
« on: November 09, 2005, 05:48:05 »
Guys
I am trying to collect the parts for an interior refurb.

The driver's seat (LHD car)has sagged such that I can barely see over the top of the steering wheel.

I have ordered new seat pads (guaranteed not made in Mexico) from my local MB dealer but had less success with the sprung seat frame. The dealer managed to identify part no 113 910 11 22 and to get a price (STG£371) but has called this morning to say that the part is no longer available from Mercedes Benz. The SLS website shows this part but with no part number indicating that SLS cannot get it either.

I have read the thread about repairing springs and/or packing the seat base with "pool noodles" but had been hoping to obtain a new base. Has anyone managed to obtain this part in recent times or does anyone know of a likely source (Europe or USA)?

Regards
Andrew
Andrew

1966 230SL

ted280sl

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Re: Sagging Seats
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2005, 09:29:23 »
Andrew,
  Replacing seat pads will make a huge difference. My old seat pads were destroyed and I was sitting in a hole. The supporting springs were pushed out of the way. Replacement of the seat pads restored my seat. It is possible that your spring can be damged but, you will not know that until you remove the old seat pads. If your springs are damaged each of the individual springs can be replaced. I found replacement springs in a local upholstery shop.
  I have assumed based upon your posting that you are repairing the lower portion of the seat and not the rear section of the seat. The pool noodle insertion procedure has been championed by a number of our members for the seat backs. When I removed my rear seat cushions I found that some of these springs were broken. These springs can be weleded. I had mine welded and have been quite satified with the results. My seats are non pool noddled.
Ted 1969 280SL 4 Speed

Chad

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Re: Sagging Seats
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2005, 09:47:32 »
For a w123 wagon I went the pool noodle route. It worked really well.  
Here is a writeup by someone that I used (note w123 chassis):

http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/W123SeatRepair

I recently took the w113 seats to a furniture upholstery guy who has worked on several antiques for me. He has an old Mustang so is interested in old cars too.  None of the springs were broken, but they had lost the "spring." He rebuilt everything using the original horsehair padding + his own stuff.  Turned out beautiful and feels great, and for somewhat less than buying new padding and messing around with tired springs myself.  I vote go to a specialist, honestly.  It turns out they can sometimes work with what's there and get a great result.

-CD-
1967 230SL, 113.042 10

Lindsay

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Re: Sagging Seats
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2006, 03:14:55 »
My driver's seat was sagging as well, plus it felt as if something was poking me in the back. The M-B Tex didn't look too bad from the outside so I decided it probably just needed a few new horsehair pads and I'd be set to go.

The seat came apart easily enough thanks to all of the descriptive posts I'd read here. Once I pulled off the original cushions I was in for the real surprise. The back frame had no less than 4 of the supports broken AND several large pieces completely missing. The bottom frame was not much better with one poorly repaired broken spring and two overly stretched & sagging ones.

The Back Frame is a basket case and isn't even worth trying to weld. Since the few pieces left that weren't broken had to handle the full weight, they are fatigued and on the verge of failure. The horsehair is falling apart due in part to the missing support pieces as well. The backside of the M-B Tex material looks pretty tired so I won't be using these again.

OK.....my quick re-padding of the seats has turned into quite the adventure. I figure that my best bet at this point is to find another decent seat for a late 280SL, unless someone knows of a reasonable source for both frames.

Once I find them I'll then redo both seats in Leather (just can't resist that smell of an all leather interior).  Hmmm.....I guess this means I'll be fixing the rattles in the doors when I pull the door panels off to replace with leather ones......then the dash wood will have to be refinished when I have the dash recovered in leather......at that point the carpet will look old in comparison so that will have to go. I guess this would be a good time to send the Becker Stereo off to Ed Ebel for a rebuild during this downtime.

Wow.......all of this because of a pain in the back!


Download Attachment: SeatFrameA.jpg
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Download Attachment: SeatFrameB.jpg
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Download Attachment: BottomFrame.jpg
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Lindsay (Southern California)
1971 280SL
180G, 396 G  Top
M-B Tex  Blue

mdsalemi

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Re: Sagging Seats
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2006, 08:04:40 »
Note to Lindsay--if leather smell is what you are after, be careful and shop around...I have a full GAHH leather interior and they are known for having NO LEATHER SMELL at all--and I'm not kidding.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid
2024 Ford Mustang Mach Ex PEV

harleydan

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Re: Sagging Seats
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2006, 12:24:29 »
I initially had the reverse of sagging seats...hard and high seats that was a result of a seat rebuild before I bought the car.  The place that services my car recommended to bring the seats to a place that specializes in automobile upholstery and they would be able to build it back as original.   The result was the seats was a lot more comfortable and looked as the original (using MB tex but could have opted for leather).  If I had to go it over again, I would stiffen up the sides of the seat near the legs to get a more modern and sportier feel/support without sacrificing the original look too much.  At least if you bring it to such a place you can specify what you want and get it more customized to fit your needs/wants.

Danny
1970 280SL Euro 4-speed

Ben

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Re: Sagging Seats
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2006, 05:27:10 »
quote:
Note to Lindsay--if leather smell is what you are after, be careful and shop around...I have a full GAHH leather interior and they are known for having NO LEATHER SMELL at all--and I'm not kidding.



..........funny you should mention that ! Leather is an expensive option on most new Mercs over here, but based on my experience sitting into an older leather trimmed Merc I chose it for my CLK when I ordered it !

There is NO SMELL !    NOTHING !

Its very dissapointing !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

66andBlue

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Re: Sagging Seats
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2006, 10:12:26 »
quote:
Originally posted by Ben
.......... There is NO SMELL !    NOTHING !
Its very dissapointing !

Ben and Michael,
try this: Leather seats in your car? Restore the scent of fine leather with Naturex Leather!
http://www.naturex.ca/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=114
or use it as an aftershave! :D

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

hauser

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Re: Sagging Seats
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2006, 11:56:48 »
Andrew, try running a search on 'pool noodles' might give you some suggestions on firming up your seats. Here it is!

http://index.php?topic=3378

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.