Rusted Seat Guides

[Blackthorn]

Alright guys iv been looking and actually using the search button for once! But iv run into a brick wall.

My runners on my seat are rusted to the point i cant move them forwards or backwards. This is an issues as im trying to remove them and can only access the front bolts and not the rears. Im not able to fit any size wrench in there and im at a loss. And since this is inhibiting my youtube guide/ R3v Build / technical threads i need some desperate help.

My initial reaction is to just saw them out or remove them piece by piece but i was hoping someone online would give me a secret trick that makes this job much easier. I tried to attach some pics for refernces but they were too large. So here are the two direct links to the pics.

http://i.imgur.com/CnatNs2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hG3bvwR.jpg

By the way its just this once runner that seized. The other moves when i try to move the seat back and forth.


Thanks in advance yall!

[rcsoundn1]

Mine were really stuck bad. I used some spray lube for a few days. Let it sit in the sun sprayed again. Over and over. Just a little at a time. Look up the candle stick trick to see if you might be able
To use that trick

[Blackthorn]

Thanks bud, iv never heard of that trick but ill take a look.

[Kershaw]

Take the seats out, PB blast the shit out of them. Let it soak for an hour. Spray them down again and then use a hand sledge to knock them back and forth.

[bmwstudent]

Take the seats out, PB blast the shit out of them. Let it soak for an hour. Spray them down again and then use a hand sledge to knock them back and forth.

he can't get them out because they won't slide forward, the rear bolts are covered

[Blackthorn]

he can't get them out because they won't slide forward, the rear bolts are covered

Thos, can't get to the rears. Iv got sport seats waiting to go in.

[101]

PB Blaster, lots of time and a hammer / wood block to "shock" it loose worked for me.

[Kershaw]

Same deal. Just leave them in place and be more careful with the pb blaster. Also, maybe buy a carpet shampoo detail spray thing.

PB blast them. If you can jam something in the lock out for the rail sliders so you don't have to constantly lift it, that would be helpful. Then just go to town knocking it back and forth.

[Blackthorn]

Great idea on the wooden block. Im going to make a small one and use my impact hammer to knock it out. Ill let yall know how it goes this afternoon.

Thanks for all the help guys!

[MR E30 325is]

Great idea on the wooden block. Im going to make a small one and use my impact hammer to knock it out. Ill let yall know how it goes this afternoon.

Thanks for all the help guys!

How did it go?

[Blackthorn]

Well i hit a snag. I tried the impact hammer but it didnt even budge. I think my issue might be that the release leaver bracket might be rusted on the guide and not allowing it to lift and slide. Ive been hitting it with PB blaster for the past few days and ima take another whack at it tonight. Worst case I may just take a dremel to it and just cut the area blocking off the nut and take it off that way since ill already need to replace the guides.

Im still holding out that itll move after 5 min with the sledge. But thats just wishful thinking at this point lol.

[MR E30 325is]

Well i hit a snag. I tried the impact hammer but it didnt even budge. I think my issue might be that the release leaver bracket might be rusted on the guide and not allowing it to lift and slide. Ive been hitting it with PB blaster for the past few days and ima take another whack at it tonight. Worst case I may just take a dremel to it and just cut the area blocking off the nut and take it off that way since ill already need to replace the guides.

Im still holding out that itll move after 5 min with the sledge. But thats just wishful thinking at this point lol.

Yeah, you definitely have to make sure those the 'teeth' on the two brackets are completely disengaged before you attempt to beat through the rust.

I had a similar issue on my first E30. I would pull up the lever and one side would disengage, but the small metal rod underneath wasn't fully disengaging the opposite side.

[Blackthorn]

Yeah, you definitely have to make sure those the 'teeth' on the two brackets are completely disengaged before you attempt to beat through the rust.

I had a similar issue on my first E30. I would pull up the lever and one side would disengage, but the small metal rod underneath wasn't fully disengaging the opposite side.

Did you just manually jam it up? Or was there more BMW "finesse" involved.

[Blackthorn]

Update*

Looks like parts are indeed rusted closed. The bar connecting the two sides is bent in the middle allowing what little pressure i can apply from the rusted side releases the un rusted side. Im going to try and break off some of the rust and get movement back.

[Kershaw]

That metal rod is bent like that from the factory. That's why I suggested jamming something in there. Pry each side back by itself, jam something in there, then you can work on the seat without having to depress the lever.