Gangster Seat Lean?

I

Irishguy

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 7, 2018
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239
Location
Lick Skillet, AL
As I'm slowly "fixing" stuff that either is downright broken, worn out or just doesn't suit me on this "new to me" 1997 Wrangler I have noticed that the driver's seat back seems like the right side leans back more than the left side. Also the left side of the drivers's seat bottom where previous owners have slid their butt cheek up and over it is quite flattened. Other than that the seat is pretty nice.

I was going to take it to a local upholstery shop and have them build up the seat bottom, but I was wondering about the seat back and if this is a common problem and it's structural or if it's kind of like the seat bottom and simply needs to be built back up with replacement foam.

The seat covering is in pretty decent condition with just two small tears in the tan colored side. The main seating areas that are green are fine. I was going to get the upholstery guy to just sew them up when he repairs the seat foam.

Any suggestions?
 
If it's the seat back bolster that is flattened, then it just needs to be built back up like the bottom. I had the bottom of mine redone when I first bought the Jeep and I want to say it was around $125.
 
Could be the PO was heavy. I had a work van once and the door never closed properly. It finally went to the shop and they found the welds inside the door were all broken. Previous driver weighed north of 350 lbs. and he used the door to pull himself in. Needed to replace the door. If that might be the issue you may want to look for a replacement seat.
 
Irishguy said:
As I'm slowly "fixing" stuff that either is downright broken, worn out or just doesn't suit me on this "new to me" 1997 Wrangler I have noticed that the driver's seat back seems like the right side leans back more than the left side. Also the left side of the drivers's seat bottom where previous owners have slid their butt cheek up and over it is quite flattened. Other than that the seat is pretty nice.

I was going to take it to a local upholstery shop and have them build up the seat bottom, but I was wondering about the seat back and if this is a common problem and it's structural or if it's kind of like the seat bottom and simply needs to be built back up with replacement foam.

The seat covering is in pretty decent condition with just two small tears in the tan colored side. The main seating areas that are green are fine. I was going to get the upholstery guy to just sew them up when he repairs the seat foam.

Any suggestions?
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My drivers seat seems to lean a little toward to drivers door. Actually the seat itself does not lean, it is just the left side bolster on the bottom is flatter than the right. So it feels like the seat is leaning when I am sitting in it. Its uncomfortable and I find myself continually moving toward the right side of the seat (where the seat belt is buckled). I should take mine to an upholstery place too...but too many other places my money is going on this thing to do that right now. That will come later...much later...

I am sure the upholster shop can rebuild the foam on the bottom of your seat. As for the back...if its the foam on the right side back bolster they can fix it, but it the seat frame is tweaked, then that might be another matter... where it might be less costly to source a used replacement seat...
 
Serbonze said:
If it's the seat back bolster that is flattened, then it just needs to be built back up like the bottom. I had the bottom of mine redone when I first bought the Jeep and I want to say it was around $125.
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Nope. I looked at the back of both seats today while getting some equipment out of the back of the Jeep and the right side of the driver's seat is definitely pushed back more than the left side of the passenger's seat.

I'm now 100% certain it's a structural issue with the seat frame.

I'm on call this weekend so I can't go north and build on the cabin, so I may pull the seat out, start taking it apart until I find the issue and break out the welder and have a go at it.
 
My Cherokee had a busted seat back on one side from to P.O. I think he also ate part of the steering wheel cover on that Jeep.

Took me abut 6 months to get used to sitting straight after 6 years in my Cherokee
 
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This is actually a common problem. Had to deal with it in my wife's Cherokee, and found many of the seats in the wrecking yard rigs had the same issue. Pull the upholstery off the seat back, and you'll likely find the frame has broken around the welds. I had extra metal bracing welded in when I had my buddy repair them at his shop. He fixed the broken driver's side, and added the extra bracing to the passenger side as a "just in case". :thumbsup:
 
This is going to sound strange, but could you put a washer or two on the left side to tilt the seat or at least make it seem more even? Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
 
A.J. said:
This is going to sound strange, but could you put a washer or two on the left side to tilt the seat or at least make it seem more even? Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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You know... It doesn't sound strange at all. That's one of the first things I thought about, however I think I'm going to take the seat out this weekend and check for any structural issues first and if there are any broken welds address that with my trusty little Harbor Freight welder.

I actually have a 1" lift for both seats that I'm planning on installing. I'm not a short guy. I'm 6'-0" tall, but for some reason I feel like I should be sitting a little higher in the Jeep.
 
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I'm sure you'll check when you had the seat out... but a few years ago when I was installing seat covers, I realized several support wires under the seat had rusted and were broken... had to replace quite a few. Recently just bought leather seat covers, and waiting for them to get here. I saw several videos of using a regular household garment steamer on the seat foam. It helps to "unflatten" it - reshaping it to its original size /shape. That may help too.
 
mines ganster to the right lean, with the console top cracked....so they were leaning to the right, all elbow in........but it feels so right?:) the passenger seat back, is like bendable? Are they made of jeep cardboard?
 
Many vehicles have this. I've repaired sooo many Fox body mustang ones... They tend to pop at the spot welds of the frame halves in those... I'd imagine these do the same thing. I've only had to trash one in all the ones I did. My SVO mustang, the dude musta leaned, pulled, grunted, groaned, etc to get his big ass installed in the vehicle... Even the console came out in several pieces. (Luckily I had a spare) The seat frame was welded/brazed (imagine grapes), and even blown away in spots by some hack who should never be near a welder... I usually clean the cracked area with a flapper wheel on a grinder, and use my flux core welder for this. Even go around edges where the halves meet in some stitches. Spritz it with some cheap spray paint and send it.
 
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