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Seat Runner Fixing Method

Posted: 31 Dec 2020, 07:26
by BigBlueVan
Hi All,
The seat runners which were installed in my van were only bolted in using M6 capheads and nutserts.
This does not look standard and there was plenty of additional holes drilled in proximity to them making me think they had been removed at some point as there was evidence of some patch repairs being performed in the past.

What method is acceptable to pass MOT etc for the fixing of these runners..
Welded in or nut and bolt?

Regards.

Re: Seat Runner Fixing Method

Posted: 31 Dec 2020, 07:45
by Rosie n' Jim
Mine, when standard were spot welded. Probably about a dozen in total, in two rows. I assume your nutserts are much the same as a rivnut? Depending on how many are used, they should be of a similar strength. Especially if the nutserts are steel rather than aluminium. 

Re: Seat Runner Fixing Method

Posted: 01 Jan 2021, 14:30
by BigBlueVan
Yeh nutserts and rivnuts are the same thing. Being as you have confirmed they were welded at factory I might just refit them that way to avoid any issues. Thanks.

Re: Seat Runner Fixing Method

Posted: 01 Jan 2021, 18:43
by Aidan
to put that into context our seats are only fixed to the upper runners by 4 off 6mm HT bolts through the frame into welded half to 3/4 nuts, a lot of 80s era Recaro seats were only secured to the runners the same way, then they went to 6 off, nowadays I think seats might use M8s to bolt them to the runners

Re: Seat Runner Fixing Method

Posted: 04 Dec 2021, 14:57
by bperfrement
Just wondering what you did in the end with how to refit your seat runners? I’ve just removed the swivel plate on mine which were bolted to custom heavy duty brackets and then bolted in place. I’ve removed the brackets and swivel and looking to refit the runners in the factory location. I can see a series of holes like you mentioned and assumed they’d been riveted in, but welding makes more sense for strength.

That said I did wonder whether riveting the small holes and then using M8 bolts at each end of each runner would be sufficiently strong. Any thoughts or just forget that and weld back in?


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Re: Seat Runner Fixing Method

Posted: 04 Dec 2021, 16:14
by davidoft1
As the seat runners are only holding the seats i they don’t need to be secured like modern seat runners that have seatbelts in built , 2 or 3 stitch welds on the outer edges each side is ample , it’s difficult to weld them in as original as grinding welds inside the runners in near impossible , you can colt them in with a few counter sink bolts too

Re: Seat Runner Fixing Method

Posted: 04 Dec 2021, 21:38
by bperfrement
Thanks. Yeah I was thinking a couple of M8 high tensile steel bolts per runner should prob be ok.


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Re: Seat Runner Fixing Method

Posted: 04 Dec 2021, 22:51
by davidoft1
bperfrement wrote: 04 Dec 2021, 21:38 Thanks. Yeah I was thinking a couple of M8 high tensile steel bolts per runner should prob be ok.


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, dont think you’ll be able to adjust the seat if you bolt then like that, maybe counter sunk

Re: Seat Runner Fixing Method

Posted: 04 Dec 2021, 22:57
by bperfrement
Countersunk


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