2003 seat help?

[Walkenvol]

Picked up a 2003 sport v-8 4wd in an auction. Appears the PO must of been a large person as the driver's seat bottom is not nearly as comfortable as the passenger's. The upholstery still looks good.

Any suggestions short of sourcing a salvage yard replacement and swapping over the upholstery? If I go that route, what year models work as when I search on car-part.com it appears the seats had an airbag starting in 2004? If I'm stuck with only 2003, is there a difference in the passenger seat bottom and the driver's seat bottom as they look the same to me and I'd assume a passenger seat would be much less used vs a driver's seat? Is it worth the effort to hunt down an electric model as my current one is a manual adjustment?

Also, when searching seats are listed as either LH or RH....which is drivers and which is passengers?

Thanks!

 

[Walkenvol]

Bump...still looking for some seat knowledge.

 

[Sungod]

There was a post a while back from someone who swapped their seat cushions. If I remember correctly they just had to cut some holes, but the cushions were the same. Maybe you can try that first.

If you do go the used route, the drivers side would be the left side. I would probably seriously consider getting a passenger side just because the chance of wear would be much less.

 

[Walkenvol]

Thanks Sungod...I'll attempt to search out the post.

I thought about the cushion swap but I believe its actually the springs underneath the cushion that are stretched out of shape.

Anybody know what years the seats are the same as the 2003? Maybe the 2002 and earlier possibly since apparently the 2004 incorporated an air bag into the seat?

 

[chitown40]

not all of the later years had airbags in the seats. I have a 2006 SR5 without airbags.

 

[M1911]

I have an '03 with the air bags.

 

[bcolts]

I have a 2003 with cloth seats. Are yours leather or cloth? I was able to rejuvenate my cloth seats by taking a steamer thing like you would use on curtains and use it on the cushions. Forget if I found that tip on here or you tube. Worked surprisingly well.

 

[Walkenvol]

They're cloth and the cloth is in good shape. The driver's seat back was bent in the accident so I had the upholstery off of the frame when I straightened it. The foam looked ok also. One of the seat back springs was broken and I spliced it back together. The back feels fine. The bottom looks fine but doesn't provide even support as it's sagged in the middle and pinches your bottom in from the sides. The passenger side sits excellent. I believe the springs under the foam are stretched out from a heavy person sitting in it repeatedly.

It appears to be that a lightly used passenger seat without air bags would serve as the ideal donor. The foam and springs appears the same on each side and I could reuse my existing frame and upholstery ?

 

[fogcitysurfer]

Are you still working on this? I just replaced the seat bottom cushion on my 2003. Got it from toyotajaxparts.com for under $200. The springs under the cushion looked good after 150k miles. They are not rigidly attached to the seat frame, they are clipped on in the front and sort of pivot in the back. Hard to explain. So Im not sure that new springs would help you, although they come off easy and you probably could order new ones. I have to tell you that the new cushion and Clazzio seat covers made ALL the difference for comfort in mine. Well worth the money. I have the Toyota leather and its terrible, very stiff. Good luck!

 

[Walkenvol]

Been trying to piece together a rear bumper so the seat has not been on the top of the list lately. From your experience it sounds like I should try swapping parts of the passenger seat over to determine if its the foam or the springs or both?

Thanks for the input! Wish someone knew if the Gen 3 seats shared the same cushion bottom as that would really expand the used parts pool. I can't say for 100% sure, but it appears the passenger seat bottom foam is the same as the driver's side.

 

[fogcitysurfer]

Been trying to piece together a rear bumper so the seat has not been on the top of the list lately. From your experience it sounds like I should try swapping parts of the passenger seat over to determine if its the foam or the springs or both?

Thanks for the input! Wish someone knew if the Gen 3 seats shared the same cushion bottom as that would really expand the used parts pool. I can't say for 100% sure, but it appears the passenger seat bottom foam is the same as the driver's side.

The OEM cushion that I bought online looked universal. I think it would work either side.

 

[Walkenvol]

Picked up a passenger seat from a salvage yard yesterday as donor parts to refresh my driver's seat. Disassembled the donor seat last night and washed up the upholstery in the laundry sink. Was planning on using my old upholstery but I guess I'll let this dry and see which ones look the best.

Fogcitysurfer - I think you are right in that the bottom cushion and upholstery along with the back cushion and upholstery appear to be the same between the drivers and passengers seat. I haven't disassembled my driver's seat but from memory the seat springs are also the same. Actually, it appears if I could figure out how to switch the seat back tilt handle from the right side to the left side then the rest of the seat frame is the same also except for the lumbar adjustment.

 

[Frontline]

Worse case, take it to a local car upholstery shop. It is usually less than $200 to have them fix a seat if the material is not torn. We have had a number of our car seats repaired as they wear out and we keep our vehicles for at least 300k before looking for new. The 4Runner is scheduled for mid January for our local shop to completely customize the seats and make them comfortable. Am not a huge guy only 225 but these seas are killing me.

 

[Walkenvol]

Frontline - this salvage yard passenger seat was $50 and the internal cushion / springs look like they've hardly been set on? Wonder what the average percentage of time a car/truck is driven with someone in the passenger seat - for me probably 10% +/-. Maybe your shop makes the seats better than new but for $50 and a little DIY time you can restore it to factory type condition, at least on the structural / foam portion. If your upholstery is worn on the driver's side then a passenger seat's upholstery is a direct swap if you can locate the same upholstery in a donor vehicle.

What specifically is the problem with your seat? on mine, its like the center section provides little to no support and you're being mainly supported on the outer parts of both thighs so it sort of pushes me to the center. Quite uncomfortable after a bit. I'm hoping different springs and foam on the bottom will restore it back to comfortable.

 

[Frontline]

Frontline - this salvage yard passenger seat was $50 and the internal cushion / springs look like they've hardly been set on? Wonder what the average percentage of time a car/truck is driven with someone in the passenger seat - for me probably 10% +/-. Maybe your shop makes the seats better than new but for $50 and a little DIY time you can restore it to factory type condition, at least on the structural / foam portion. If your upholstery is worn on the driver's side then a passenger seat's upholstery is a direct swap if you can locate the same upholstery in a donor vehicle.

What specifically is the problem with your seat? on mine, its like the center section provides little to no support and you're being mainly supported on the outer parts of both thighs so it sort of pushes me to the center. Quite uncomfortable after a bit. I'm hoping different springs and foam on the bottom will restore it back to comfortable.

I have a few blown discs in my back so very sensative to bad seating. Bought the truck last week knowing the interior had to be redone. My driver seats is well used and leather is torn. However, even in the passenger seat the seat bolstering kills my back. This is why I have a good relationship with my local shop they modify all my vehicles. I drive between 70-100k a year and it is essential that I can be pain free after driving for long periods of time. I offered insight because I have found that most people think that it is cost prohibitive to have an car upholstery shop fix their seats. Cheers. $50 is an awesome price.

 

[bcolts]

Worse case, take it to a local car upholstery shop. It is usually less than $200 to have them fix a seat if the material is not torn. We have had a number of our car seats repaired as they wear out and we keep our vehicles for at least 300k before looking for new. The 4Runner is scheduled for mid January for our local shop to completely customize the seats and make them comfortable. Am not a huge guy only 225 but these seas are killing me.

Just did this on Tuesday. $167 to pull out seat, take off cover, repair/replace foam and put seat back. I feel like I'm driving a new car! Best cash I've spent on the runner since I've had it. At 256,000 miles I can't complain about needing to get it done. And by the way, the seat stripped to the frame was very substantial looking.

 

[Walkenvol]

Frontline - good to know that an upholstery shop can offer some customization to help alleviate bad issues at such a reasonable price - way less than I would have figured. Good luck with those back issues. I've remained lucky with mine (knock on wood), but a few of my loved ones have suffered through it. $200 would be a bargain for some relief while driving!

Bolts - did the shop provide the foam? Did they mold the shapes from big blocks of foam? If so, your price is a real bargain also! I don't find those type deals around me.

Well, I can confirm that the seat bottom springs, foam, and upholstery and the seat back springs, foam, and upholstery is the same between the drivers and passenger's seats. Again, I got a passenger donor seat and successfully swapped over the above to my drivers seat. Only mod was 2 holes had to be cut in the side of the bottom upholstery to accommodate to seat bottom raising and tilting mechanisms. While apart, I also found my drivers seat frame was broken at a weld where the seat back pivots which I welded back in place.

Seat feels good as new and I'm very happy with the results. Paid $50 for the donor seat and had to invest a couple hours to track it down and I don't enjoy the salvage yard experience as in my area they are mostly shady characters and strike me as crooks. Spent around 4 hours with disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly. If a shop would have handled all this for me for $167, then that is a better deal if your time is worth much. Oh well, I do get the satisfaction of a DIY well done. Hope this helps someone in the future.

 

[bcolts]

Walkenvol,
They did carve up new foam where needed and put it in place. I was surprised at the price as well. Credit to you for going with the full on replacement and having the skill to DIY.

 

[Walkenvol]

Walkenvol,
They did carve up new foam where needed and put it in place. I was surprised at the price as well. Credit to you for going with the full on replacement and having the skill to DIY.

You got a great deal!

Not much skill required with this DIY...1or2 out of 5. Only thing requiring any skill was the welding but that will be rare. The nice thing about DIY on this project is I've got laundered upholstery so I'm not sitting on the PO's germs!

I've now got a heated seat bottom without anything powering it. Got to decide if I want to go there cause if I do I'll have to add one to the passengers seat also.