Foxbody Driver's Seat Issues---Need Advice

1

1992MustangGT

15 Year Member

Sep 6, 2008

166

14

19

Washington State

Mar 18, 2023

#1

• Mar 18, 2023

• #1

Ok guys, has anyone had this issue with their drivers seat in their Foxbody? Here’s the problem. The right side of the backrest (closest to the center console) seems to flex (push back) when I lean against it. The left side (closest to the door) doesn’t do this, it stays solid and doesn’t move. As a result, my back is sitting slightly twisted in the seat and is extremely uncomfortable.

When I had the seat reupholstered, I inspected the backrest frame and could not find any cracks or any place where it was broken that would allow this flex. Does anyone know where the problem is? Is this just a matter of the metal becoming fatigued? What did you guys do to resolve the issue? I was considering welding a piece of angle iron or flat steel to the frame somewhere along the backrest to give it some support and keep it from flexing. I’m just brainstorming for a solution, but it would be awesome if you guys could offer advice from experience you’ve had. Any ideas where the problem is and how to fix it? Thanks guys!!!

 

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

Founding Member

Oct 28, 2001

5,832

3,964

183

Claremore, OK

Mar 18, 2023

#2

• Mar 18, 2023

• #2

Called the Foxbody seat gangster lean. Three things can cause it which are broken seat back frame or bottom frame, broken floor board, or in my case there was a bolt in the hing area that was sheared. Do a search...

How to Fix a Leaning Seat?

if the floor is cracked a little, weld it up and install subframe connectors w the seat brace. that will stiffen it up alot.

stangnet.com

 

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1

1992MustangGT

15 Year Member

Sep 6, 2008

166

14

19

Washington State

Mar 18, 2023

#3

• Mar 18, 2023

• #3

AeroCoupe--Thanks for the info. I will definitely be taking the seat apart again and see if I can find anything in these areas.

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,225

17,911

224

Massachusetts

Mar 18, 2023

#4

• Mar 18, 2023

• #4

Yup. Something is cracked or the welds in the hinge area are busted. You might have to pull it apart and put weight on the seat back to see what it is that needs repair.

I had one like this and purchased an SN95 seat back off eBay and replaced it completely. Was close enough to be a near direct swap.

 

Reactions: 1992MustangGT and General karthief

1

1992MustangGT

15 Year Member

Sep 6, 2008

166

14

19

Washington State

Mar 18, 2023

#5

• Mar 18, 2023

• #5

Finding the problem is the hard part. Once I find where the problem is, repairing it is simple. So your feedback is extremely valuable. So thank you guys for the help on where to look.

 

4G-KDMP

10 Year Member

Jul 23, 2005

935

19

39

CA

Mar 19, 2023

#6

• Mar 19, 2023

• #6

1992MustangGT said:

Finding the problem is the hard part. Once I find where the problem is, repairing it is simple. So your feedback is extremely valuable. So thank you guys for the help on where to look.

Click to expand...

Places to look.

 

1

1992MustangGT

15 Year Member

Sep 6, 2008

166

14

19

Washington State

Mar 19, 2023

#7

• Mar 19, 2023

• #7

Thanks for the picture. That helps a lot.

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,225

17,911

224

Massachusetts

Mar 20, 2023

#8

• Mar 20, 2023

• #8

I've also seen cracks and such in this area

 

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90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands

SN Certified Technician

Mar 2, 2015

6,945

5,816

213

Mar 20, 2023

#9

• Mar 20, 2023

• #9

I welded my old seat up. It was cracked and spot welds had failed. Used a HF welding machine. Worked well and didn't fail again. With the turbo couoe seats I have in my mustang now I try to keep from shifting weight at my left shoulder when banging gears. Years ago ( 90s easy 2000s ) you'd see folks at the track with stuff wedged behind the seat. A couple friends of mine have totalled mustangs because of seat failures. I was there when one of them hooked up and next thing you saw was him air grabbing for the steering wheel. Didn't end up good at all.

 

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ALMOST STOCK

Founding Member

Sep 23, 2000

1,250

41

88

CA.

Mar 22, 2023

#10

• Mar 22, 2023

• #10

1992MustangGT said:

Ok guys, has anyone had this issue with their drivers seat in their Foxbody? Here’s the problem. The right side of the backrest (closest to the center console) seems to flex (push back) when I lean against it. The left side (closest to the door) doesn’t do this, it stays solid and doesn’t move. As a result, my back is sitting slightly twisted in the seat and is extremely uncomfortable.

When I had the seat reupholstered, I inspected the backrest frame and could not find any cracks or any place where it was broken that would allow this flex. Does anyone know where the problem is? Is this just a matter of the metal becoming fatigued? What did you guys do to resolve the issue? I was considering welding a piece of angle iron or flat steel to the frame somewhere along the backrest to give it some support and keep it from flexing. I’m just brainstorming for a solution, but it would be awesome if you guys could offer advice from experience you’ve had. Any ideas where the problem is and how to fix it? Thanks guys!!!

Click to expand...

You might check here , this was the problem I had.

 

96pushrod

I think they're a little easier to get off

5 Year Member

May 15, 2018

1,530

871

133

Savannah

Mar 22, 2023

#11

• Mar 22, 2023

• #11

When we took a friend’s seats to get reupholstered the driver frame was cracked. The upholstery guy said almost every one he sees ends up being cracked somewhere, especially if a larger dude drives it.

 

1

1992MustangGT

15 Year Member

Sep 6, 2008

166

14

19

Washington State

Mar 22, 2023

#12

• Mar 22, 2023

• #12

90sickfox—Speaking of air grabbing for the steering wheel….that reminds me of something that happened to me. I was driving the Stang one day and all of a sudden the left side of the seat broke and I was sitting on the floor. When I got the seat apart, I saw that a weld broke. So I got out my welder and welded it and it’s been fine ever since. But now I have the gangster lean going on on the right side. The crappy thing is I just had these seats reupholstered so I’m hoping I can get the upholstery off without damaging it. It will be a while before I get to it though. I’ve got too many irons in the fire right now.

Almost Stock—Thanks for that picture and info. I will look to see if there’s any crack in that area.

96Pushrod—I can believe it. I also have two 67 Cougars that I put foxbody seats in and they also have the gangster lean going on. Ironically, all three seats are leaning on the right side for some reason. Coincidence??? So once I get some other projects done and I can work on the seat in my Mustang, I’ll also do the same repair to the seats in my Cougars. On second thought, I might just do one of the seats in one of the Cougars first as a test run just in case I screw up the upholstery. Those seats need reupholstered anyway. Then once I learn the trick to getting the upholstery off and back on and figure out how to repair the seat frame, then I’ll tackle the seat in the Mustang.

 

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Q

quitzonsandy

New Member

Mar 24, 2023

1

1

0

Mar 24, 2023

#13

• Mar 24, 2023

• #13

When we took a friend’s seats to get reupholstered the driver frame was cracked. The upholstery guy stated practically every one he sees ends up being cracked somewhere, especially if a larger dude drives it.

basketball stars​

 

Reactions: 1992MustangGT

1

1992MustangGT

15 Year Member

Sep 6, 2008

166

14

19

Washington State

Mar 24, 2023

#14

• Mar 24, 2023

• #14

Seems to be a common problem

 

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

Founding Member

Oct 28, 2001

5,832

3,964

183

Claremore, OK

Mar 24, 2023

#15

• Mar 24, 2023

• #15

You think you got seat problems?

user6044463560353 on TikTok

Fox down but i walked away little sore barely cut crazy asf heart broken worked so hard on this car i dont think this will buff out #latemodelresto #carsoftiktok #car

www.tiktok.com

 

1

1992MustangGT

15 Year Member

Sep 6, 2008

166

14

19

Washington State

Mar 24, 2023

#16

• Mar 24, 2023

• #16

Daaaam!!! That's more than just a seat problem.

 

87cooper

Member

Aug 10, 2023

31

11

18

Boise

Aug 19, 2023

#17

• Aug 19, 2023

• #17

AeroCoupe said:

Called the Foxbody seat gangster lean.

Click to expand...

I have this !
This is a repair I will have to do!

 

S

slow84lx

clean it good before insertion

Jul 3, 2005

372

180

63

Dallas, TX

Aug 20, 2023

#18

• Aug 20, 2023

• #18

Had this problem many years ago. At the time lx seats could be found for next to nothing. Got one and swapped upholstery on the bottom. It wasn't difficult and solved the problem.

 

Scrapla347

Active Member

Apr 23, 2020

201

67

38

Florida

Dec 28, 2023

#19

• Dec 28, 2023

• #19

I had that gangster lean and it turned out to be a tear in the metal securing the front seat stud. I bought that reinforcement bracket from LMR and now it's rock solid. My only issue is the kit lifts the front portion of the seat up slightly so leg and head room can be a pain if you are a tall or big guy like myself.

 

87cooper

Member

Aug 10, 2023

31

11

18

Boise

Jan 3, 2024

#20

• Jan 3, 2024

• #20

Started on this yesterday. Noticed a small hairline crack (1/4) inch in the flloor pan, but when I applied force I saw no flex. Will check out the seat frame next and report back.