What is it for?

[Mertz]

These hinged metal flaps are behind the back of the seat back. I thought maybe they are supposed to hold the back of the seat in place but there is no where on the seat for it to go. What’s it supposed to do?

[Sniper]

Vehicle?

[greg g]

Bumper jack retainer?

[46BulldogDodge]

In trucks the flap is welded to the seat back frame, allows the seat bottom to be adjusted forward/backward on the seat base.

[9 foot box]

   It broke off the seat back at the first of three rivets that hold the rest of the hinge on the seat back. You can see that mine has a reinforcement added. 

[Ivan_B]

Yep, you can clearly see the broken edge 😅

[Mertz]

So it would have been screwed on after the seat was in place and the upholstery worked around it. I don’t think I can reattach it know. 

[Ivan_B]

Well, you can fabricate a replacement for the broken hinge part, or weld a new piece of metal to the existing hinge.

[46BulldogDodge]

Remove the hinge pin to free up the broken part or unscrew the top half of the hinge.  The piece could then be welded to the seat back frame....or else fashion new metal to be that lower half of the hinge.   On my truck the original hinge was replaced by a typical "T strap" hinge available from the hardware store.  The hinge doesn't normally receive a lot of stress...unless something larger is stored behind the seat. 

[Mertz]

There will be no welding to the original strap now that the seat has new upholstery. I think I’m going to try to bolt it on or have a piece welded and then bolt it to the frame. I have to see if I can unscrew it from the cab. 

[Eneto-55]

13 hours ago, Mertz said:

There will be no welding to the original strap now that the seat has new upholstery. I think I’m going to try to bolt it on or have a piece welded and then bolt it to the frame. I have to see if I can unscrew it from the cab. 

Is there room to get a portable spot welder into there?

[Mertz]

It’s very cold here so I don’t go out much and I moved the seat to the unheated shop. I will go out and see what’s exposed of the hinge on the seat back. It looks like it broke at a rivet or spot weld so I think I will try to remove the piece on the seat and have it welded back together. I don’t have any welding equipment and am not a welder.