Front Seat-Backs

[D87 SMW]

Rather confusing thread title and not exactly an immensely technical question...

The seat-backs which adjust using the knob on the inside (middle of car) of the front seats can sometimes become quite loose and rattle if you rock them back and forth.

My question basically is, is there any way to stop the seat-back from rattling/being loose? I would have thought there would be nuts to tighten behind the plastic adjuster knobs but I thought I'd ask for opinions on here first.

TIA :spanner:

[e692wtt]

My survey would say 'wear and tear' and not much can be done.

However, there's a comment in Haynes' about front seat backs on higher mileage Mk II (1989-on) Montegos coming loose allowing excess play between the backrest and the seat squab (never seen this mentioned in a Haynes' Maestro manual).

The problem is that the torx-headed backrest-to-seat bolts become loose, the cure is to fit hexagon-headed bolts (available from Austin Rover dealers :laugh: ) in place of the torx-headed bolts and tighten to a torque of 29 to 40 lbft (40 to 50Nm).

I reckon it only applies to the 'Mk II' (Roverised) seats - but food for thought? :)

[MGTurbo#261]

On the Metro seats the bolts work loose and wear, I have replaced them on a couple of cars with success.. The mechanism does wear over time though so they will never be as good as new..

To get totally movement and squeak free seats you will need to trade it in for a ZR :cool:

[D87 SMW]

Thanks for the replies. I was mainly asking about this having just bought a 'box velvet' interior minus the drivers seat, which was past it.

Now I am looking for another front seat of the above kind, does anyone know if these are interchangable? As in, the adjustment knobs face the middle of the car making them 'driver or passenger only'. I seem to recall people saying they've swapped seats over like this to minimise wear.

I'll have a look behind the plastic cover and see if this is possible.

:spanner:

[ChrisM]

It takes 10 minutes to swap the bits over to change the seats, Steve :)

[exminiman]

if you need them i`ve got some old clubman seats that are`nt needed...not sure hor interchangeable they are but they are there if you want them

[exminiman]

might be able to use the inner bits and swap covers and cusions round????just guessing