NEW Tracker Seat

[gumby_ct]

Alrtighty then...95 Tracker 155k/mi. I really love driving this thing but it is killing my back. I guess after 155k/mi the springs have seen better days. The drivers seat seems to lean towards the door resulting in twisted hips & lower back - resulting in pain. I have done some searching and found that some think the Tracker seats are superior to the Sammy seats and found how to install Tracker seats in a Sammy. But nothing on replacing Tracker seats with something a little more comfortable. I can find used seats from another Tracker but wonder if they won't be in the same or similar condition.

On to my questions...
Has anyone had their seat rebuilt by an upholsterer? Do you think that would help? Are there any seats that would bolt right into a Tracker? I looked at the seat in my Metro (which I find comfortable) but it looks like it would require mods beyond my ability. I haven't even been able to determine if the high priced racing seats (like Ricaro's) would fit or be worth the money. Does anyone have ANY experience in this area?

Any thoughts at all would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Gumby Damit

[HAWG]

TRY WWW.PURESUZUKI.COM THEY HAVE SEAT FOR TRACKERS THERE. let us know if you find any other source or type of seat to fit. I need one for mine too. Have the same problem you described

[gumby_ct]

I thank you for the link. Some very nice seats - I certainly wish I could afford them. Don't they know people driving Trackers don't have alot of money? Some good stuff there at puresuzuki tho, saw the bumper winch mount I was looking for too. Back to the seats...

It seems they all compress in the same spot - drivers seat near the door. A piece of metal there that cuts thru the foam. Likely from getting in/out. Went to an upholster who told me to get the foam from the dealer and he would put it in for approx $80. So on to the dealer who tells me oh its discontinued. All the discontinued items are bought by a place he called "Vintage Auto Parts" (in WI?)- "they can charge whatever they want, must pay in full & it's not returnable". He calls for a price - IN STOCK - $265 plus $20 cuz it's oversized? Oh I don't need the whole seat just the foam piece! That is just the foam? yea just the lower piece - its separate from the upper. You are kidding right? Noooo, He says -They charge whatever the market will bear. They can rot on the shelf for that price.

So I go to another upholster who says he can do it for $100. Well ok maybe. Then I find these people who are parting out a Tracker (well kinda) taking 2 to make one. Have 3 sets of seats (the parts car came with extra seats) - ALL doin the same thing. Not as bad as mine but almost there. One combo had the 60/40 split rear seat - tempting but I wasn't sure of any advantage it would offer.

Honestly the seats don't look bad in the vehicle but if you take the seat out, lay it on it's back and look at the bottom (where you sit) you will see the right side is noticeably lower than the left side. Wonder why your back is bothering you? Your hips are twisted!! If it's like mine you can feel the metal frame right thru the - well where the foam used to be.

The best ones were black with this bright orange/red center. (why did they make soooo many different colors?) While it wasn't as far along as mine, I didn't want to change 3 seats ($120) if it wasn't going to fix my low back problem.

So I think I will go back to the guy for $100., and ask if he can also add some lumbar support. I love driving this thing, it just bothers the hell out of my back. It's tuff to get old.
Gumby_CT

[trackerguy]

I don't know if you saw this page but it might be what you want...
http://www.fortunecity.com/silversto...e/924/id35.htm

and here is a set on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-GE...QQcmdZViewItem

[gumby_ct]

I did see it on a different site (I think, w/o the pop-ups). What they are saying is that Tracker seats are more comfortable than the Samauri seats...really can't imagine that and how to fit the Tracker seat into a Sammy. The red seat pictured is just like the ones I looked at.

Hey, thanks for thinking of me.
Gumby_CT

[trackerguy]

Originally Posted by gumby_ct

I did see it on a different site (I think, w/o the pop-ups). What they are saying is that Tracker seats are more comfortable than the Samauri seats...really can't imagine that and how to fit the Tracker seat into a Sammy. The red seat pictured is just like the ones I looked at.

Hey, thanks for thinking of me.
Gumby_CT

Hey, you are welcome, here are some more seats on ebay but pickup only ....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GEO-T...QQcmdZViewItem

But, they will ship these
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUZUK...QQcmdZViewItem

[viperh]

Re-upholstering the Tracker seats are easy as long as you know how to use a sewing machine. I had my wife show me and I re-upholstered it myself. I went to wallmart and bought material on sale @ 1 dollar a yard. Then bought stuffed animal stuffing you can put the cushioning where you want. I have all the seats done except the driver's seat if you want I can make a write-up. It costed me close to 20 bucks to re-upholster the entire tracker. I have a 91. Plus you can get whatever material you want. Let me know if you want the writeup and I'll have it up in a week or so.
Also take the passenger seat and move it to the driver's seat (at least it wont lean towards the door anymore).

[gumby_ct]

a write up!! I can't believe there isn't something already....the answer is YES. Esp. since they all seem to wear in the same spot in the drivers seat. I am sitting on the edge of MY seat. I can't wait.
Thanks,
Gumby_CT

To be clear...I am more interested in the padding of the seat or maybe some lumbar support of the back. For myself I am not interested in changing the fabric. Mine look like the ones on ebay here -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-GE...QQcmdZViewItem

[viperh]

Originally Posted by gumby_ct

a write up!! I can't believe there isn't something already....the answer is YES. Esp. since they all seem to wear in the same spot in the drivers seat. I am sitting on the edge of MY seat. I can't wait.
Thanks,
Gumby_CT

To be clear...I am more interested in the padding of the seat or maybe some lumbar support of the back. For myself I am not interested in changing the fabric. Mine look like the ones on ebay here -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-GE...QQcmdZViewItem

Your best bet would be to use a seam ripper and rip the seam on the side it leans toward add stuffing.. Sit.. move stuffing untill it is confortable them sew it back up with needle and couch thread. just my if your not looking at re upholstering the whole thing.

[gumby_ct]

I took the seat out today with the intention of trying to swap the passenger & driver's seats. I couldn't figure out a way to separate the mounts from the seat...so that is a NO GO.

I was able to get the fabric away from the foam but I wasn't able to get the foam out. I could feel some sort of metal rod support within the foam where it was compressed on the door side.

Mine (1995) has these plastic type of clips (maybe 'C' clip?) holding the fabric. Pulling these off was surprisingly easy. They were different than the metal ring clips I saw on the seats I looked at last weekend (likely from an older Tracker & much easier to get back on). Then I took the thin seat cushion I had been using, rolled it and stuffed it in to see. I was able to pull the fabric back over. Not real pretty & maybe too firm but felt better.

Next is a trip to Walmart to see what kind of padding I can get. Ran out of time today. I doubt my work will be as good as a professional upholsterer job but I will give it a shot. I may try to add some lumbar support too.

Give it a try HAWG, you will be surprised.
Gumby_CT

[viperh]

Originally Posted by gumby_ct

I took the seat out today with the intention of trying to swap the passenger & driver's seats. I couldn't figure out a way to separate the mounts from the seat...so that is a NO GO.

I was able to get the fabric away from the foam but I wasn't able to get the foam out. I could feel some sort of metal rod support within the foam where it was compressed on the door side.

Mine (1995) has these plastic type of clips (maybe 'C' clip?) holding the fabric. Pulling these off was surprisingly easy. They were different than the metal ring clips I saw on the seats I looked at last weekend (likely from an older Tracker & much easier to get back on). Then I took the thin seat cushion I had been using, rolled it and stuffed it in to see. I was able to pull the fabric back over. Not real pretty & maybe too firm but felt better.

Next is a trip to Walmart to see what kind of padding I can get. Ran out of time today. I doubt my work will be as good as a professional upholsterer job but I will give it a shot. I may try to add some lumbar support too.

Give it a try HAWG, you will be surprised.
Gumby_CT

The metal bar you felt is a bar that hold the fabric to the seat at that point.