The title says it all. In the last 6 years, I've broken this wire for the third time. Is there any reason why I couldn't replace the thin tensioner wire with something thicker -- like coathanger wire -- or perhaps use nylon webbing? Am I missing something here, or is this just built-in obsolesence?

Rob

You guys have obviously played with the car seats. My Back foam is not happy. IPD sells replacement foam. Is it something I can do with no special tools? You guys have obviously had the skins off enough to get to the lumbar what does it take to get in there?

200 '88

Hi, Tony!

Unscrew the lumbar support tensioner (my affliction...) and take off its escutcheon. Then get in the back seat and with heavy wire cutters cut the so-called hog rings at the bottom of the seatback upholstery. These rings pass through the fabric and hold together thin rods (as I recall) in the bottom skirt of the front fabric panel and the back fabric panel. When the rings are cut, pass the skirt for the front fabric panel through the gap between the seat back and seat base until it's at the front of the seat back. Then it's simply a matter of working the fabric up to the top of the seat -- like taking off a tight sweater. You'll need to remove the headrests to get the fabric all the way off, but if you're replacing the foam, you shouldn't need to worry about this.

Reinstallation is just the reverse: pass the skirt for the front panel through the gap between the back and base, to the rear, and then re-attach the front and back panel skirts with cable ties this time (since you've cut the hog rings).

Rob

That sounds a lot more painless than I would have thought. Thanks

I used coathanger wire after breaking the d@#% thing about 5 times. Hasn't given me a problem in 2 years. I didn't have to modify anything, though a little force was required to pop the thicker wire in the back support.

Rob,

Check to make sure that the plastic "dog bone" is in place on the inner side of the seat. It's about the size of a toothpick and prevents the sharp edge of the holes in the seatframe from cutting the wire at the bottom of the "U".

Skip

'80 242GT ProRally

'93 850GLT

Coat hanger wire worked for me. But you'll find that some of the molded plastic pieces have holes 'n channels sized specifically for the original wire. These must be opened a bit to accommodate the larger diameter wire.

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)