ZJ folding rear seat swap
Thread Starter
::Regional Moderator::
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 422
Likes: 1
From: clackamas,or
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: h.o. 4.0l
I will be tackling my interior soon swapping front seats as driver side is broke and adding a rear seat back in (gutted interior) I've had a zj rear for a while that I was going to put in my last xj but didn't. Now I'm going to tackle this project I have two write ups I will use as guides.
Was wondering if anyone as done this swap and do you have any tips or tricks if you were to do it again?
Was wondering if anyone as done this swap and do you have any tips or tricks if you were to do it again?
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 884
Likes: 46
From: Baltimore
Year: 2002
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L (AMC) Straight Six
Should bolt in. For the front seats, you shouldn't have to do any re-drilling of the floor holes (that's only if you were using WJ seats in an XJ). For the rear seats, I'm not sure if you'll have to re-drill anything.
Thread Starter
::Regional Moderator::
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 422
Likes: 1
From: clackamas,or
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: h.o. 4.0l
Drilling is required to install the zj rear seat as well as trimming the bottom seat cushions on the back side and sides. I know what's involved I've done my research. Was looking for some tips.
Also I'm not swapping zj front seats. Just the rear seat/split bench seat.
Also I'm not swapping zj front seats. Just the rear seat/split bench seat.
Thread Starter
::Regional Moderator::
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 422
Likes: 1
From: clackamas,or
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: h.o. 4.0l
CF Veteran




Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,144
Likes: 361
From: Andover, VT
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 L
This is a swap I've been interested in doing for awhile. Like you've seen, not many people have done it and documented it well. I think you might just have to go for it and figure it out as you go.
Do another write-up for us!
Do another write-up for us!
CF Veteran

Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,821
Likes: 61
From: Pasquotank, NC
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I am a bit of a perfectionist, I caught hell getting the backseat to fit like it was stock. When I bolted the brackets for the vertical portion of the seat on each side to the floor pan, the back was too reclined. I sliced the vertical section of the mounting bracket right at the bend (by where it bolts to the floor), bent the bracket forward a bit, and welded in a pie shape piece to fill it.
I would post a pic, but I'm out of country and don't have access to the jeep at the moment.
Also, tall people catch hell in the backseat. The ZJ backseat base is taller than the XJ setup. I'm 6'2" and my head is into the headliner sitting in the back. My daughter is only two though, it works. Coworkers catch hell when we go out to lunch though.
I would post a pic, but I'm out of country and don't have access to the jeep at the moment.
Also, tall people catch hell in the backseat. The ZJ backseat base is taller than the XJ setup. I'm 6'2" and my head is into the headliner sitting in the back. My daughter is only two though, it works. Coworkers catch hell when we go out to lunch though.
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Thread Starter
::Regional Moderator::
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 422
Likes: 1
From: clackamas,or
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: h.o. 4.0l
Thanks for the reply. Really only my kids ride in the back (2 and 11) so not worried about tall people much. And going to build a cargo basket for storage purposes. So any lost of space in the cargo will be fixed with the basket. I do have a stock rear seat but I left it in my old 89 since I trying to sell it.


