DIY: How to remove the front seats

[h0yitsdom]

looked around and saw no pictures or anything for the visual learners as a disclaimer if you die or your car explodes, not my problem.

this is only for the passenger side right now until I can get to the driver side which won't be until saturday most likely. my car is a 96 corolla DX but should be similar for other years

tools needed:

10mm socket for battery terminal
14mm socket for seat bolts
flat head screwdriver or some other pry tool

step 1:
disconnect battery as a precaution in case the air bags want to explode
using the 10mm


step 2: find the black covers, 4 in total, and begin prying them up. it's easiest if you slide the seat all the way back, undo the front, slide it forward and undo the back 2.
to pop off the plastic cover i stuck the flathead in 1 side then pulled it towards the seat and that popped it off

then you remove the bolts with the 14mm

same deal with the other side near the center console


step 3: rear seats, the covers are a bit more difficult since they are sideways kind of, still use the flat head to pry them off after sliding the seats all the way forward


14mm bolt again to remove the last 2 bolts

step 4: to actually remove the seat i pulled the handle to tilt the seat forward like so

and then lifted it out through the front passenger door.
on the passenger seat there was no cable or wires to undo, just the 4 bolts. i can't say the same for the driver side as i haven't actually looked at it yet

step 5: awe at the dirtyness of your car thanks to previous owners

[Steelballz]

taking them out to clean them is it lol?

not sure if they're in america at all, but toyota (corolla) levin semi-bucket front seats are a direct bolt-in and very comfy yet supportive when fast-cornering...might be tempting to think about

[h0yitsdom]

I've actually been trying to find some new mini cooper seats lol but yeah I'm cleaning out the interior

[Kiwi-Corolla]

Added to the DIY sticky

[trife96]

I'd like to add, if you mess with the adjustment lever after they are unbolted, the tracks can easily become one notch off, in this case, hold the handle up and slide each track individually all the way back or front. So they will both be lined up again.

[itreflop117]

after you remove the front seats, how hard would it be if you wanted to put in Sparco or Recaro sport bucket seats?

[trife96]

Not too many seat options out there for the 7th Gen Corolla...aftermarket seats will most likely require custom mounting brackets to be fabricated.

[h0yitsdom]

yeah i'm sure its not TOO difficult but you would have to lineup/measure the existing holes and compare it to the seat bracket on whatever seats you are trying to make fit. or you can make new holes in the floorboard

[sequoiasoon]

Originally Posted by itreflop117

after you remove the front seats, how hard would it be if you wanted to put in Sparco or Recaro sport bucket seats?

Originally Posted by trife96

Not too many seat options out there for the 7th Gen Corolla...aftermarket seats will most likely require custom mounting brackets to be fabricated.

Originally Posted by h0yitsdom

yeah i'm sure its not TOO difficult but you would have to lineup/measure the existing holes and compare it to the seat bracket on whatever seats you are trying to make fit. or you can make new holes in the floorboard

The shipping costs is the crappy part for those on here. I still have my FloFit seats AND the custom made (out of stainless steel) brackets to let them bolt right in that I want to get rid of to somebody that could use them (other than the recycle joint). They are not light weight and at current prices good for at least lunch and some beers.

[h0yitsdom]

i'd take some new seats but your on the other side of the US