quick question about fitting seats

suburban_ennui · Post by **suburban_ennui** » Fri May 18, 2007 6:41 am

I'm going to buy some sec.hand MX5 seats as the upholstery on my pair is quite tatty. Just a quick questiion - how easy is it to take the old ones out and put th new ones in? I assume that you just need to unhook the speakers and remove a few bolts? or os it more complicated?

Post by **jif** » Fri May 18, 2007 7:52 am

just 4 bolts for the older cars (17 or 19mm I think), although you may need a breaker bar to get them loose the first time !

MatBat · Post by **MatBat** » Fri May 18, 2007 8:34 am

I've just taken mine out, I'm pretty sure they're 17mm, you might be wise to spray them with penetrating oil overnight beforehand though. A friend of mine found this out the hard way (not on an MX5 though)

Bazza · Post by **Bazza** » Fri May 18, 2007 10:13 am

Have you considered having them re-upholstered..?

I have wondered what sort of costs would be involved.

Post by **zorruno** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:39 am

Don't underestimate how difficult it may be to get the bolts out on an early model. I broke two (not-too-expensive) sockets on one of my seat bolts.

I ended up buying a high quality socket specifically for the task and had to use my large torque wrench and a good WD-40 soaking.

... and I was only trying to get the seats out to make vacuuming a bit easier

MatBat · Post by **MatBat** » Fri May 18, 2007 12:32 pm

I get the feeling mine have been in and out a few times (that sounds dodgy). They unbolted very easily. They're insanely heavy!

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Fri May 18, 2007 9:16 pm

Four 17mm bolts plus you may have another the same size on the transmission tunnel (you will see it easily if you slide your seats all the way foward)
If your speakers are connected, try unplugging them BEFORE you try lifting the seats out. The seat runners can do serious damage to the paintwork, so carefully does it....

Ian

MatBat · Post by **MatBat** » Fri May 18, 2007 9:30 pm

Hmm, just put my seats back in today, they were 14mm bolts, look original too.

Anthug · Post by **Anthug** » Sat May 19, 2007 7:47 pm

Those bolts are on the wrong angle, a manufacturer mistake.

But with love them none the less.

Mazdaspeed seat - 'VERY good'. I'm after the passenger one.

A.