1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Do your seats wobble?

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Old 05-15-13 | 03:23 PM
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Do your seats wobble?

The upholstery on my seats is quite decent, the foam is shot, but really what gets me the most is how much my seats wobble.

the seat rails wobble side to side, front to back, but worse still is the reclining seat back bounces around like crazy!

How much wobble do your seats have? I was planning on getting these re-upholstered and re stuffed, but now i'm thinking that would be a waste of $700
Old 05-15-13 | 03:37 PM
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When i had my fb my seats didn't wobble any... U might have a loose screw or something. My video game seat Wabbled and i tightened the screws and that worked heh heh.
Old 05-15-13 | 03:50 PM
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I've taken them out, shampoo'd them, re-installed. all bolts are as tight as can go. I know for a fact the seat rails are bent out, when the seats were out you could rattle the rails around.
Old 05-15-13 | 04:17 PM
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Can you use a clamp to tighten the rails? My seats have the slightest wobble, but I haven't examined or addressed it. I wanna get some mazda speed 3 seats ultimately.
Old 05-15-13 | 04:17 PM
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Not sure how much of a fix there can be for the poor things. Mine aren't too bad, but I'm sure once I'm making decent power they'll be moving too much for me. I'll eventually go to racing seats but I'd end up using the seat rails again anyways, so not like it would make too much of a difference.
Old 05-15-13 | 04:37 PM
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Mine are as tight as a drum. 325,000 miles too.

fm
Old 05-15-13 | 04:55 PM
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Mine wobble like all hell and it bugs me.
If you find a fix let us all in.
Old 05-15-13 | 05:12 PM
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Honestly I'm kinda thinking this might be my fix:

Cipher Euro Racing Seats Maroon Leatherette Carbon Fiber w/ Black Stitching - Pair [CPA2001PCFMR] - $899.00 : Cipher Auto!, Automotive Parts Accessories & Universal Racing Seats

Old 05-15-13 | 06:55 PM
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I got my drivers side from a junkyard because the original broke in a rear end wreck. Wobbles a bit and i would love to know how to fix it!
Old 05-16-13 | 11:18 AM
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Lightbulb

Decent price for a pair of seats, although it seems like you need to figure in the cost of a set of RX-7 rails for it (which will be the only fix for your loose seat bracket problem). They don't show prices for the rails on the site, which is strange.

They weight 28 lbs per seat...add the extra 10 lbs or so for the rails, I suspect you'll get no weight savings from a "racing seat". But I don't suppose that's really what you're after.

fm
Old 05-16-13 | 01:21 PM
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Seat rails from Cipher are $220 and 100 % bolt in
Old 05-16-13 | 02:04 PM
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Seems like on older rails it's not really the outer rail 'spreading' as much as it is the ball bearings in the glides wearing a groove into the track from endless movement, and no lube to speak of.

The ***** are of much harder metal than the rails.

So it's more a matter of time and repositioning than it is absolute miles or age alone.

The seat rails are made from very heavy-gauge metal. I'm guessing it would take a lot of force to bend them tighter, and one tiny bit too much and you're hosed.
Old 05-16-13 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by DivinDriver
Seems like on older rails it's not really the outer rail 'spreading' as much as it is the ball bearings in the glides wearing a groove into the track from endless movement, and no lube to speak of.

The ***** are of much harder metal than the rails.

So it's more a matter of time and repositioning than it is absolute miles or age alone.

The seat rails are made from very heavy-gauge metal. I'm guessing it would take a lot of force to bend them tighter, and one tiny bit too much and you're hosed.
Exactly. i dug up some old threads about people attempting to clench them down with no results. Its such heavy gauge their attempts did nothing.
Old 05-17-13 | 02:14 AM
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When I bought my car, the "rail" by the driver's side door was broken in half but the track was intact if that makes sense? Basically the seat would only mount in 3 places sans the font drivers side and when I let the clutch out it was a mess. Found new tracks in the junkyard and problem solved. Fc tracks fit but you have to drill 1 hole per seat, if thats all you can find.

Last edited by xMUZZx; 05-17-13 at 02:19 AM.
Old 05-17-13 | 10:25 AM
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Originally Posted by xMUZZx
When I bought my car, the "rail" by the driver's side door was broken in half but the track was intact if that makes sense? Basically the seat would only mount in 3 places sans the font drivers side and when I let the clutch out it was a mess. Found new tracks in the junkyard and problem solved. Fc tracks fit but you have to drill 1 hole per seat, if thats all you can find.
Good to know! I'll keep an eye out - maybe drop by the Pull'N'Save this weekend and see what I can find.

Update to what i posted earlier, Cipher no longer makes their own rails and brackets, the new ones are much more expensive:
MAZDA RACING SEAT BRACKET - $140.00 : Cipher Auto!, Automotive Parts Accessories & Universal Racing Seats

Brackets are now $140 per side and sliders $50 per side
Old 05-17-13 | 10:30 AM
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I like to tinker.......

Would it be possible to take the rails apart and replace the ***** with slightly larger ones to remove the free play?
Old 05-17-13 | 04:38 PM
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Originally Posted by rwatson5651
I like to tinker.......

Would it be possible to take the rails apart and replace the ***** with slightly larger ones to remove the free play?
I would say yes. And that that would be a true tinkerers treasure trove of titillation.
Old 05-20-13 | 10:02 AM
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my seats wobbled tremendously to the point where i felt i had rocking chairs in the car. the frames are as tight to the floor and to the seats as possible. i concur that the ball bearings and grooves are worn in. my solution is real simple, like it or not. i never move my seat once i set it and no one else ever drives the car, so once i got it into position, i bought a hefty 1 inch diameter wood chisel and - while lifting/pushing on the seatback - wedged it in between both halves of the track. seat is rock solid now and it cost me $8. plus the end of the chisel has a nice black and gold translucent handle on it and everyone thinks its some kind of lever or pull handle for some magic modification i installed in the car. so yeah, its totally ghetto, it totally works, it was totally cheap.
Old 05-20-13 | 10:48 AM
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Honestly I really don't like those Cipher seats. I dont think they match the FB style at all. I want some old skool Recaros in burgundy!
Old 05-20-13 | 10:57 AM
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Captain, that is genius defined!
Old 05-20-13 | 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Cookboy
Captain, that is genius defined!
thank you sir!
Old 05-20-13 | 11:59 AM
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hey captain! sorry to thread jack, but i forgot to follow up on the rear seat i bought from you. it fits perfect, went in like a charm, of course with a little modification, but i fooled my buddy who used to have an fb into thinking they were original. he was all like DUDE U GOT A 2+2!
Old 05-20-13 | 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by bikeordie092
hey captain! sorry to thread jack, but i forgot to follow up on the rear seat i bought from you. it fits perfect, went in like a charm, of course with a little modification, but i fooled my buddy who used to have an fb into thinking they were original. he was all like DUDE U GOT A 2+2!
thats excellent news sir. send me some photos when you get time and toss me a +1 itrader if you can. thanks!
Old 05-20-13 | 12:45 PM
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how do i do the itrader thing?
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