Seat Trim Panel Reinstall Nightmare

[S33k3r]

There are 5 screws that hold that plastic trim panel in place. They only stick out less than 1/2 an inch beyond the plastic of the trim panel. To get them installed, They have to be lined up with the holes in the seat fram, and the leather and the padding have to be compressed to get the plastic/screw close enough to the frame to screw in. I have spent 3-5 days failing at this task. Does anyone have advice?

I can't get screws to center things in place. I tried centering things with cut coat-hanger, but they won't stay in place, even with silicon sealer. And they pulled out of the silicon sealer before I could get things to line up (the coat-hanger wire is too thin to properly hold things lined up).

Keep in mind that when you sufficiently compress the leather and the cushioning that you can no longer see the back of the plastic, the bottom of the screw, or the frame holes...

I **REALLY** don't want to pull the seat out. And, at this point, I'm not even sure that would really help.

Can someone please offer suggestions -- either on how they've done it themselves, or how they someone else did it?

[EDIT: This is on a 2004 Escalade Platinum, and the driver's seat if not obvious. Thanks again.]

Thanks!

 

[ReaperHWK]

Longer screws?
Get someone to assist and compress while you screw?
Get a strap and ratchet around the seat cushion to compress it?


Just quick thoughts.

 

[S33k3r]

Longer screws?
Get someone to assist and compress while you screw?
Get a strap and ratchet around the seat cushion to compress it?


Just quick thoughts.

Thanks. The compression isn't the issue. It is making sure the holes of the panel and the seat frame are aligned when I can't see the holes of the seat frame.

 

[mikez71]

Keeping tension on the screw with the screwdriver, while fishing for the hole doesn't work?
(Dragging the tip of the screw around the frame until it falls into a hole?)

Maybe the foam is throwing off your alignment more than you think..
If you push hard enough to see where your screw tip scratches the frame and adjust your position?

 

[S33k3r]

Keeping tension on the screw with the screwdriver, while fishing for the hole doesn't work?
(Dragging the tip of the screw around the frame until it falls into a hole?)

Maybe the foam is throwing off your alignment more than you think..
If you push hard enough to see where your screw tip scratches the frame and adjust your position?

Yup, tried that -- But thank you just the same. Finally figured out a semi-solution:

I can't remember exactly what it is -- it's out in the car at the moment, but will edit this when I bring it in [EDIT: 6-32 and 1 foot long]. Anyway, I have two rods that will partially thread and hold in the holes. Now my problem is that the lumbar support button case keeps getting stuck on the outside of the seat frame, no matter how many times I start with it pushed in.

On the flip side, I got to buy my first ratcheting wrench today.

I'll try again tomorrow. I'm likely going to look at one of my other seats to see how they are sitting in there. Wish me luck, please.

 

[mikez71]

Good luck!

And I can't wait to hear how you do it, otherwise I'm scared to try and replace my seat covers!

 

[NoReverseYukon]

When I found and replaced the fabric seat cushion for my brother in his 2006 Sierra, I ran into the exact same problem. Pissed me off to no end how something so simple could be so difficult. If I remember correctly, I used 2 long thin philips screwdrivers to align 2 of the holes while I got the 3rd to thread in. I then removed 1 at a time to get the others threaded. Luckily for me the Sierra only had 3 screws - not the 5 you are dealing with.

 

[Roilux]

When I found and replaced the fabric seat cushion for my brother in his 2006 Sierra, I ran into the exact same problem. Pissed me off to no end how something so simple could be so difficult. If I remember correctly, I used 2 long thin philips screwdrivers to align 2 of the holes while I got the 3rd to thread in. I then removed 1 at a time to get the others threaded. Luckily for me the Sierra only had 3 screws - not the 5 you are dealing with.

Ditto. I replaced the seat springs, seat foam and seat cover with a 5 screw setup securing the panel like the OP. Thin phillips were inserted in the front and rear holes to line up the two center holes. Once those were secured the rest lined up easily without a fuss. I didn't tighten any screw completely until all had a good start.


*edit* I looked for a photo where the screws attach and noted mine are slightly indented. If your panel (OP) is the same, a light touch should guide them home once the outer holes are aligned.

 

[S33k3r]

Ditto. I replaced the seat springs, seat foam and seat cover with a 5 screw setup securing the panel like the OP. Thin phillips were inserted in the front and rear holes to line up the two center holes. Once those were secured the rest lined up easily without a fuss. I didn't tighten any screw completely until all had a good start.


*edit* I looked for a photo where the screws attach and noted mine are slightly indented. If your panel (OP) is the same, a light touch should guide them home once the outer holes are aligned.

I wish my mess were as trimmed as nicely as yours! That's likely a large part of my problem.