Help with driver's seat tilt mechanism.

[lugueto Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lugueto]

Hey guys,

Yesterday while on my way to college I was rear ended in traffic pretty badly, a Chevy Avalanche hit me at about 60km/h while I was at a full stop, needless to say it was a seriously hard hit. My car was the only one that walked away on its own, the Avalanche had its airbags go off and needed a tow truck to leave, and I hit the Suzuki Vitara in front of me because of the hit which also needed a tow truck (thank you, ARB). While I need a new bar, a lot of body work and a couple of minor repairs on the exhaust and gas tank, there was no mechanical damage whatsoever.
However, there is a little detail that is really bugging me: After all was said and done and the authorities cleared the scene, I noticed my seat was not in the tilt position I usually drive in, which is at the most vertical setting before it completely tilts forward. I figured it had moved back with the hit, so I tried to readjust it. It turns out, that this is still the last position before it tilts completely forward, only its noticeably more leaned back. Comparing to the passenger's seat (which is in the same position I drive in), it is two or three notches angled more to the rear. I dont know if im making myself clear due to my shitty english...

What is wrong with the mechanism?? Is it fixable?? Has this happened to anyone before?

Thanks for any input,

Luis.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

With a hit like that Id be requesting new seats through their insurance. It obviously had some thing to do with the hit and even it you get it working again you will probably find it will buggar up some time down the way. I would be mentioning it to the smash repairer so it gets replaced with a new one. I have seen some seats snap in accidents from the force, maybe yours is fractured some where...........Cheers Steve

[lugueto Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lugueto]

I was hoping it could be fixed... damn

Im not looking forward to the back and forth with the insurance company, back here they tend to be more like battles than business.\

Any other input? or should I just request a new seat?

Thanks,

Luis.

[jss Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close jss]

New seat for sure. I wouldn't even think twice about it.

Cheers
James

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Request all seats to be replaced, including the rear seats, it is a safety thing, the seats could fail if someone sat in them as the stresses forced onto these seats in an accident is beyond comprehension.

[lugueto Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lugueto]

I was thinking the same thing. The thing is, the situation here in Venezuela affects the availability of replacement parts. Finding basic mechanical and body parts sometimes is a challenge. When you try to find something that is not usually replaced (i.e, seats) it becomes pretty damn near impossible. I will try to find someone who radically modded their 90 and usually has competition seats and remove the second row and try to get it from them..

I dont think the other seats suffered, as they had no one on them at the time of the collision. I did check them and are solidly mounted. I will try to find new ones, but I doubt the insurance will cover it (that's another factor, insurance companies here suck..)