Recliner Broke! Help Plz!

[unknownzi]

Hi
My Ford Focus ZX3 year 2000’s seat recliner handle broke off on the passenger side. I brought the car to the shop and was told the entire seat has to be replaced because the recliner broken off is a one piece shaft and cannot be welded. I then brought my car to my friend who’s a mechanic who was able to weld the handle and the seat back together with quick dry J&B welding glue. Unfortunately the handle broke off again after several uses.
So if I can get your opinion on how I can fix this I would greatly appreciate it.
My questions are:
1.Is there a better way to weld the handle back to the seat and secure it there tightly?
2.I have tried several websites to see if they sold the recliner mechanism and was unable to find the necessary pieces. What are some good websites for car parts?
Thanks for reading and your help.
Zi

[Moppie]

Originally Posted by unknownzi

Unfortunately the handle broke off again after several uses.

Which is exactly why the dealer said they need to replace the whole seat.

You can either keep fixing it with JB weld, or you can buy a new seat.

[MagicRat]

Try an auto dismantling (wrecking ) yard. Usually, passenger seats are in very low demand and you can get an entire seat for not much money. Negotiate the price!!
If they do not have your colour, you may be able to pick up another colour and swap over the parts you need. Obviously make sure the new seat's recliner mechanism is not broken as well............. (maybe there is a defect in the seat design and they all break?)

[unknownzi]

Thanks for your help guys.

MagicRat
-What are some good websites for these wreaking yards?
-I believe the recliner mechanism works since the seat did bend back and forth after the weld.

I looked up some websites and they did that recliner did have a flaw design on those models of Focus during 2000's. But it is that the seat automatically gets pushed down without the lever. Unfortunately, my case is that it was broken off by a accidental knee as passengers leave the back seat.

[MagicRat]

IMO the internet is not the best way to solve this particular problem. Most yards have a high turnover of stock and either do not have the manpower to continually update their stock on-line or only list the popular parts, like engines and transmissions.

The demand for ordinary passenger seats is so low, most yards assume they will not be sold, and will be scrapped along with the car.

Look in the local yellow pages under autos - wrecking /dismantling and telephone them. Ask if they have this model in stock, and in what colour.

Likely, seats from other years of Focus models will fit yours. You do not necessarily have to look for a 2000 Focus because wrecking yards should have access to an interchange manual (Hollanders) which will tell them (and you) what other years of Focus seats will fit.

Don't expect them to ship the seat to you, or if they do, it will cost you.
You likely will have to pick it up yourself. Some yards will allow you to remove the seat from the wrecked car yourself. This is a good thing because you can likely get your pick of seats and you will save big money over them doing the removal.

Finally, most yards are on a network, so if they do not have one in stock, they can refer you to a place that does.

[unknownzi]

Thanks MagicRat!
Much appreciated. =D