Hi guys. Yes, I did a search on this but came up empty. I have an 87 trans am with manual seats. Two levers near front for sliding seat forwards and back and the other for tilting base of seat. Those work.

The side lever used to recline the seat forwards seems to be internally broken. Both passenger and drivers side seats are the same. It will recline back from the default position but won't 'recline' forwards. If memory serves, it probably engages teeth in the mechanisim as there should be a clicking sound, which I haven't gotten in a while. Tired of driving with a pillow to keep me more verticle.

Anyone have a solution, sticky for me to read, old thread, or advice? I took off the plastic cover and can remove the seatbelt for better access but I really don't see that it exposes what I need to get at. Really don't want to have to replace the whole seat either but.....

Any help is appreciated. Thanks guys

 

Anyone?

 

You'll have to remove the seat recline mechanism as an assembly (bolted on if I remember correctly) and replace with another from junk yard. There is an extreme amount of spring tension on that coil spring that you see and even the factory manual doesn't address tearing it apart. It only states to replace the assembly. Think about physics involved in the spring tension. It supports the weight of the seat back plus a little bit more with only a short distance of leverage.

 

Thanks coconut that tension thing does make sense. I'll be heading to the junkyard soon to find one to swap it out with. Can I only pull one from a camaro/firebird or its it more of a universal part from montes/sunbirds/etc.

 

THat I'm afraid I can't answer with any certainty!!! I would say it is probably interchangeable with other bodies. My suggestion would be to pull one of yours and bring with you to compare....