Body/Trim: 70: Front Seat Squabs

[keithy1959]

Hi, can the drivers and passengers seat bases be swapped over ? ('99 V70) They look the same to me, but I can't figure how to remove them ?

Any advice much appreciated.

Richard

[ITSv40]

Are you talking about removing the upholstery from the seat frame or swapping the frame itself. The seat base upholstery is not handed, but the backrest is. Not familiar with removing V70 upholstery but C70 is very easy and they will be similar.

[SteveSarre]

Hi Richard,

Yes the V70 front squabs are the same Left and Right.
The cover is held on to a frame with the hog rings (steel rings) which you have to unbend or cut.
This is easiest if the seat is out of the car (4 bolts) but it is important that you disconnect the battery **before** you unplug the various connectors under the seat.

Some people say you should also do something like press the brake pedal when the battery is disconnected to be absolutely sure that you have discharged any power left in the various circuits.
Only reconnect the battery when the connectors are plugged back in.
If you don't do that, you will end up with an SRS light on the dash, which can only be reset by a dealer.

When you put things back together, you can use hog rings (from Screwfix) or I have used cable ties.

HTH
Steve

[SteveSarre]

BTW, the seats are heavy and awkward to lift in and out of the car.

[keithy1959]

Thanks for the detailed info - another little job to do.

Thanks again

[ITSv40]

I find the best way to remove the hog rings is to use a small pair of external circlip pliers. Push the prongs of the pliers into the hog ring and then gently squeeze the pliers to open the hog ring. Once opened up they can be rotated out of the upholstery. They can be reused by rotating back into the upholstery and then squeezed up with a pair or ordinary pliers.

Once you have all the hog rings removed from around the edge you will see five strong springs attached to the frame. Remove these springs - again I use pliers to grip the spring and unhook. Once the springs are undone the upholstery is ready to remove by easing up and unhooking the front edge from the metal base.

[Bob Meadows]

A descent alternate for those “fearsome” hog rings is small cable ties-just as strong and a lot easier to use.
Bob.