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53 Cavalier

Seat Track Disassembly

Home away from home

Can anyone give me a bit of direction on how to disassemble my seat tracks so I can get them cleaned up and moving freely again? Do I need to remove the studs that the seat bolts to?

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Posted on: 2023/11/12 22:17

Fish'n Jim

Re: Seat Track Disassembly

Home away from home

Agedgrease-itis or -osis probably. Depends what you want to do.
I'd just soak them in a vat of carb cleaner or parts cleaner solvent with a little stiff brush work and that should brighten them up and degunk. Work the action, re-lube, and put back. Those rubbers don't look OEM and will deteriorate in cleaner. Measure before for replacement.
I'm sure if you take out all the screws and bolts, they'll come apart but is that necessary? And what happens if you lose a screw? Some have punched tabs that prevent them from over/off-tracking. A return spring should be in there or on the seat.
Stamped parts like this I usually send to the bead blast cabinet for a brightening & thread cleaning before reinstall.

Posted on: 2023/11/14 11:41

53 Cavalier

Re: Seat Track Disassembly

Home away from home

Quote:

Fish'n Jim wrote:
Agedgrease-itis or -osis probably. Depends what you want to do.
I'd just soak them in a vat of carb cleaner or parts cleaner solvent with a little stiff brush work and that should brighten them up and degunk. Work the action, re-lube, and put back. Those rubbers don't look OEM and will deteriorate in cleaner. Measure before for replacement.
I'm sure if you take out all the screws and bolts, they'll come apart but is that necessary? And what happens if you lose a screw? Some have punched tabs that prevent them from over/off-tracking. A return spring should be in there or on the seat.
Stamped parts like this I usually send to the bead blast cabinet for a brightening & thread cleaning before reinstall.

You're right, no need to disassemble them any further! I gave them a shot of degreaser, cleaned them up and hit them with the wire wheel. I gave them a coat of rust paint as well. I have the return springs, needed to replace one, and cleaned them up and gave them a coat of paint as well. I'll put some fresh grease in after the paint is dry. Then I'll hide my nicely restored seat tracks under my seat where nobody can see them.