Now I've done it - front seat removal

[ismlv]

I was able to find a place to look at the service manual instructions
for the front seat removal. Got the passenger side out with no
problems. 3 back bolts for driver's seat came out ok as well as
outside front one. Inside front one -- big problem. I believe that
seated inside the hole is a nut.... that is "stuck" to the under body
of the car but that's not supposed to be loose. Well, I believe we
snapped it loose. Boltis still in tact just fine, but it's stuck in
the nut which is now freely spinning... can't see anything under the
car either to hold on to to get it out...

Any ideas???

 

[S]

Hi again ismlv!

Any ideas???

Bummer. Yea, there's a "captive" nut under there; probably all bound
up with the tranny/shifter/crossmember hardware somewhere. I've seen
'em strip, but never break loose, tho I suppose it's possible.
You really only have two options, and one of 'em isn't very good.
You _could_ use a sharp chisel or even a cutting torch to cut the head
off of the bolt. Since you probably wish to keep your interior and
sanity intact, you will have to get the car up on jackstands, find the
nut, and hold it with a pair of vice grips while a subcontractor
removes the bolt. Keep 'em on the payroll, 'cause you're gonna need
them again when you put the seat back in.
Is it possible that the bolt is stripped or broken? Try grabbing the
head with your vice grips and simultaneously turning and pulling out
to see if you can get something to happen. If the captive nut is
stripped you can get a helicoil insert to fix it; if it's broken you
might be able to drill it out once the seat is out of the way. Good
luck!

ByeBye! S.

Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101