Front Seat Tracks

[Joe Flanagan]

I went to install my front seat over the weekend and discovered that the track on the passenger side is missing its ball bearings. The driver side has them, so I assume the passenger side should, too. Short of finding another track, I was wondering if anyone had ever made a repair on something like this, like, with loose bearings from something else. I've never seen them in a hardware store. 

[DonaldSmith]

Been there, done that.  

 

 

seat track  2007, 11/13  DonaldSmith   '47 DeSoto front seat loose.  The left glide missing ball bearings.  Anyone?

BobT  bmatoft@gbronline.com   My seat track missing most bearings.  Bolted thru tracks to the seat in desired position.  Bought set of glides out of junk P15. Found enough bearings.  Bearings dealer have anything?

BobT  bmatoft@gbronline.com  Re: my parts car to shredder ...Donald Smith is looking for seat tracks/glides

seat track  2005, 12/10  DonaldSmith  judyanddon@sbcglobal.net   Thanks to steve m, OXU762X29@aol.com for sending seat track, some door cylinders and door strike. Mailing token of appreciation.  Used ball bearings from his track.  Description:

Track formed from two heavy gauge pieces, "CL" shape, with top of C touching the L. Pieces rotated 180 degrees to each other, forming two outer races for small ball bearings and middle race for large ones. Each end has two small bearings and one large one.  Travel of small balls limited by indentations in track. Travel of large balls restricted by heads of bolts to the seat, and heads of rivets that attach track to base that bolts to floor.  Disassembly:

Remove lever from the handle on side of seat to latch under track. Drill out rivet that connects lever to latch.   Slide track toward each extreme position, and push out upper bolts at ends.  Drill out 4 rivets that attach base to track, making room for large ball to move.   (If large balls do not come out, drive large balls to center of track, to provide slack for popping out small balls.  3/8 drive extension works well.  Small balls visible in their race. Use large screwdriver or similar to pry tracks apart and pop the balls out.   With small balls out, the pieces will separate, releasing the large balls.) Assembly:   Sort of reverse of disassembly.

Connect track to base with No. 10 machine screws at two middle holes. Leave end holes open.   Grease the race surfaces of track. Grease four small balls to hold them in place. Slip two pieces of track together.  Tape them, so they won't separate.  Drive large ball in each end.   Slide track toward each extreme, and install seat bolt and the end bolt to the base. Draw seat bolt home with nut and washer, so square end fits in square hole.

[Young Ed]

Joe its been a long time but I believe someone took a sample to a hardware store and bought extras.

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks. I think at this point I'll see if I can locate an entire track rather than try to repair what I've got.

[58prostreet]

Joe

I bought a box of each size for my '52 dodge. Let me what size u need and how many and I will send to you. If you're not sure, I have a extra track on shelf I can check.

Bob

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks very much, Bob. I'll take a look at the driver's side and see if I can get an idea of how many bearings and what size. At this point I only know that it's a combination of "large" and "small."

[DonaldSmith]

For each track assembly, four small balls and two large ones.  

 

See Post No. 2 above.  My explanation is tightly condensed.  You have to chew on each line to digest it.  I can explain if further, and post pictures, if that would help. 

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks, Don. I went over it in a little more detail this morning. Thanks for posting. 

[58prostreet]

Joe,

I checked this morning, and I have 5  of the 5/8 and probably 50 of the 5/16 ball bearings. If you want to pm or email your address I will be glad to send you what u need. You can them as i will never use them.

Bob

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks, Bob. I will PM you.

 

Joe

[JSabah]

On 5/5/2014 at 3:54 PM, DonaldSmith said:

Been there, done that.  

 

 

Disassembly:

Remove lever from the handle on side of seat to latch under track. Drill out rivet that connects lever to latch.   Slide track toward each extreme position, and push out upper bolts at ends.  Drill out 4 rivets that attach base to track, making room for large ball to move.   (If large balls do not come out, drive large balls to center of track, to provide slack for popping out small balls.  3/8 drive extension works well.  Small balls visible in their race. Use large screwdriver or similar to pry tracks apart and pop the balls out.   With small balls out, the pieces will separate, releasing the large balls.) Assembly:   Sort of reverse of disassembly.

Connect track to base with No. 10 machine screws at two middle holes. Leave end holes open.   Grease the race surfaces of track. Grease four small balls to hold them in place. Slip two pieces of track together.  Tape them, so they won't separate.  Drive large ball in each end.   Slide track toward each extreme, and install seat bolt and the end bolt to the base. Draw seat bolt home with nut and washer, so square end fits in square hole.

This was very helpful... thank you. I was missing one end of the ball bearings (1 large and 2 small) so fortunately I didn’t have to remove the latch or the seat bolts just one rivet which prevents the larger ball from coming out (or being able to put the new one in). I think it is important to note that the large ball bearing is what keeps the small ones in place so put the small ones in 1st then the large. Then just replace the river with a nut/bolt. As I mentioned ,there were 2 small and 1 large missing from my passenger side rail. Then I found one small bearing missing from the drivers side .... so for another $0.83 (4 bucks total), 20 minutes of work (including painting them)  and 2 trips to Home Depot, I got them all working like new.... and looking good too