BodybyFisher Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 About two years ago, I needed to retrieve something from the passenger seat and I knelt with one knee on the drivers seat and I felt the spring snap. Since then it feels like I am sitting in a hole and I am sitting low. I pulled the seat out today, its only three bolts but the front has 4 hooks that need to be disengaged. It was a little cumbersome, but I got it out. It was not obvious at first what was wrong, I didnt see any broken parts or springs and all either attachment points were fine. I pulled out the old spring by detaching it from its 8 attachment points. What i discovered was that 6 of the 8 attachment points were bent allowing a lessening of the spring tension. In addition three of the springs where slightly collapsed. About a year ago I ordered a new spring unit. I installed the spring unit, bent all eight attachment points to fully grasp the spring unit and reinstalled the seat. I am now sitting high and my butt is supported and I am no longer sitting in a hole, the seat feels great. This was not a hard job to complete, just order the spring unit from the dealer and bend all of the attachment points to fully grasp the unit. Sorry I didn't take more photos, it was hot and I hate working in the car when its hot.. Here is the old seat spring unit Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Nunnally Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 That should make a nice difference. How hard was it to take the seat apart? Did you take the driver's seat out of the Cadillac first then disassemble the seat? Bruce 2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Follow me on: Twitter Instagram Youtube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted October 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 I removed the three bolts holding the seat in and pulled the seat out of the car and turned it upside down exposing the bottom of the seat cushion and the spring unit. This job was very easy to do. Plus I am about $2.00 richer from all of the lost change under the seat... Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted tcb Posted October 5, 2007 Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 Did you have to disconnect any wiring for the seat motor, or not necessary? If you had a heater element, would this have been a bit more difficult? I'm surprised the foam bounced back, after being pushed into a "U" shaped hole. 1989 FWD Fleetwood, Silver 1995 STS Crimson Pearl on Black leather 1997 STS Diamond White 1999 STS Crimson Pearl 2001 STS Silver 2003 STS, Crimson Pearl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted October 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2007 Did you have to disconnect any wiring for the seat motor, or not necessary? If you had a heater element, would this have been a bit more difficult? I'm surprised the foam bounced back, after being pushed into a "U" shaped hole. Yes, I had two wiring harnesses that needed disconnecting, pretty straight forward. I don't know how heated seats would have complicated this job, I am sure there would have been another wiring harness. There was no damage to the seat foam at all, it just was not being supported well. Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted October 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2007 I just found this schematic of the front seats, I replaced part #8 Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stefank Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 BBF, great that you could fix your seat problem! I had a similar situation in my SLS, but when I took the seat out and apart, I found that the foam has disintegrated. In my case I felt the rear seat frame (metal) in my butt, and the whole seat cover has moved forward, so that the left hinge was visible. I stuffed in some extra foam, and could regain some of the original shape, but still not very comfortable. Does somebody know whether the seat foam (bottom) is still available? I guess not... And over here it is impossible to find a Cadillac on a wrecking yard! Best Stefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted October 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 BBF, great that you could fix your seat problem! I had a similar situation in my SLS, but when I took the seat out and apart, I found that the foam has disintegrated. In my case I felt the rear seat frame (metal) in my butt, and the whole seat cover has moved forward, so that the left hinge was visible. I stuffed in some extra foam, and could regain some of the original shape, but still not very comfortable. Does somebody know whether the seat foam (bottom) is still available? I guess not... And over here it is impossible to find a Cadillac on a wrecking yard! Best Stefan yes, the seat cover moved forward for me also and my tailbone was hitting the frame, it looked like the cover was pulling loose, once I fixed the spring unit, the problem went away. It has to do mostly with the metal tabs, being pulled out of where they are locked.. I think mine has pulled out again, I think those tabs are weak, I am planning on getting a new seat from the scrap yard. You might try to devise some way of holding the spring unit solidly to the frame, my body detail guy brazes or welds something to the seat frame to improve the hold of the spring unit.. Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stefank Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Mike, when I took my seat apart some weeks ago, I checked the seat frame / springs, it looked okay to me. I'll take some pix tomorrow and post them here. This seat is really easy to remove and take apart, but not of the highest quality I must say. Best Stefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted October 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Yes post some photos, especially of the points where the spring assembly attaches to the frame, see if you can show me all 8 attachment points, Mike Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stefank Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 Hello Mike, took the seat apart again today, but couldn't find anything really out of shape on the seat frame, see attached pictures. Added some more generic pieces of foam material into the cushion to regain original shape, worked out okay. Seat is more comfortable now, and I'll leave it like it is for now. Best Stefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted October 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 Stefan, you are the man! Great photos! The four tabs in the second photo might be pulled out a bit, and you might find the seat more supportive if you bent them fully to grab the catch at the end of the spring. My clips were bent on both ends, I weigh 235 lbs or 106.6 kg, so I am quite a LOAD for those tiny clips... I think my seat is sagging again, UGH.... Time for BODYbyFisher to hit the gym.. Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stefank Posted October 13, 2007 Report Share Posted October 13, 2007 Hi Mike, thanks for the kind words. I hope my seat will hold up for a while, the load is a little bit less :-) but not much thou. Best Stefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted October 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2007 Hi Mike, thanks for the kind words. I hope my seat will hold up for a while, the load is a little bit less :-) but not much thou. Best Stefan No problem, I hope you know that if you ever needed a seat frame or other hard to get part in Germany, I would ship it to you.... That should make you feel better, given the scarcity of used parts by you. Cheers, Mike Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stefank Posted October 14, 2007 Report Share Posted October 14, 2007 Mike, thanks a lot fo your offer, that's always good to know! Stefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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