Hi CF, im new here... just bought my 01 cherokee classic a couple days ago for a mere $1900...

To cut to the chase here... My driverside seat rocks left and right and the position its in while sitting in it without rocking is too leaned to the passenger side... i took the seat out completely and put screws in one of the back bars because it looked like a weld snapped... put the chair back in and theres no differnce... in fact i think its worse!

If anyone knows why this happened or how to fix it id greatly appreciate it... thanks!

 

Welcome to the forum! It just so happens I pulled my driver seat today for the same problem. I take it you don't have a welder, if you tried to use screws...sadly, the only way to fix a broken weld is to re-weld it, I'll be tackling mine tomorrow. If you can't weld it, try your local junkyard or look for a parts out XJ to get a seat from. It shouldn't cost too much going that route...

 

There's been lots of complaints on this very problem you report. It's your seat bracket that's broke on your XJ.
From what I read you just need to suck it up and by a new one. Cause when you repair it it seems, it just breaks in a different spot. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. It seems to be quite common though.

 

The metal is low quality and fairly thin, I plan on beefing it up a bit to prevent it from breaking in another spot ( I read the same things as you, LOL!)

 

i do actually... just a small harbor freight one, but i didnt know where it was broken at where i put the screws is an assumption... so it was for temporary purposes. also i didnt know how to take the rails off the chair and i didnt feel like setting my chair on fire with the welder by accident (we just got the welder like a week ago or a little more so neither me nor my brother are pros at it yet)

but yeah if you could post some pics in this thread showing where youre making your welds and just little details you know? that would be fantastic. thanks.

i figured... my brothers 96 has a lean... doesnt rock but it leans... was thinking of maybe getting some after market seats instead lol. but id rather fix it cause my seats are in really nice condition... i was honestly amazed at the deal i got on this jeep. only real problem is the freaking heater core needs to be changed... thats gonna be fuuunnnnn...

 

The seats are simple. There are three bolts and one nut that hold the seat to the truck. Then you have to remove the seat cushion to get at the four nuts that hold the seat frame to the seat track. Once you have that apart, you can see the break in the seat frame and weld it from there. I have welded my seat 3 times now, last time is the charm. I fed a lot of weld in that s o b.

 

How do you take the cushion off. Is there a video anywhere of someone doing all of this? That makes it air easier lol. But thanks. I'll do that

 

I haven't dug that far yet... but I did see there are some plastic "rails" (for lack of a better term) that wrap around a metal rod welded to the frame on the sides and front underneath. I believe you just slide the plastic up and off, and the fabric comes off, then the foam, then you just have the frame. I'll get some pics once I get started and post then. Which welder did you get? I have a HF MIG/wire feed, want a Miller when funds allow, but for the $$ love my HF welder, it built my rear bumper and my beadlocks just fine...

 

On my 97' model the covers are held on by a combination of the zippers and then basically hog rings & metal wires. I removed mine pretty easily due to the fact that my Jeep's PO treated the inside that a frat boy party room. Go slow take your time it should make sense. Just as an also/FYI my interior is the grey fabric and after soaking it down with fabric stain pre-treatment, two washes thru my Maytag washer it looks pretty good. soaked the foam with Febreze, good to go. Good Luck.

 

Be careful removing the rear bolt from the driver's seat--they are known to rust. I just got a new seat for my '98 out of a 2001 being parted out, and I am still fighting a broken rusted bolt there that goes into the frame. So frustrating! It will take a lot of patience to drill it out...yours might be OK though. Good luck

 

To add tothe mix, here's a thread I did on another forum about driver's seat restoration:

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/dri...n-info-137411/

 

I had the same problem. I sprayed some Lucas penetrating oil and with a 13mm socket made for stripped bolts (it spirals so as you turn it it actually bites into the bolt ) and some pure farkin strength I got that sob outta there. Before I put it back I cleaned the foot of the chair and sprayed it w. rustoleum black. Looks much better.


And thanks everyone else. Btw my welder is a 90amp I think... Mig wire feed flux core

 

Thanks for the link! Unfortunately I will be unable to tackle mine today...rain turned to snow, moisture and welding don't mix

 

That sucks. But at the same time im jeleous lol I want snow

 

I finally got my bolt out last night. I had to grind the bottom part of the bolt in half so I could get a wrench around it, and with a good grippy pair of vise grips, lots of heat and PB blaster and patience, I was able to get it out. Damn rust!!!!! I didn't paint anything yet because I eventually plan on ripping the interior out to do some sort of Rhino-lining of the interior.