Seats not level

[danstarley]

One thing about my '88 is the way the seats slope inward. Both front seats seem to lean toward the car's center. I've noticed this on a few photos of other cars. Are the floor pans shot; the seat frames bent; or what? You can see this on the photo in my album. Thanks.

[hanksgt]

Same problem in both my McLarens. I found an article in a Mustng mag stating the seat frames crack, and how to weld them. Took one set apart and they were solid. The floor pans look good. Not sure after that, but you're not alone.

One thing about my '88 is the way the seats slope inward. Both front seats seem to lean toward the car's center. I've noticed this on a few photos of other cars. Are the floor pans shot; the seat frames bent; or what? You can see this on the photo in my album. Thanks.

[GQ 1949]

The same with mine and I have a 85 vert, I think its factory defect.
Although I havent check my seat frame either, Its my drivers seat
that is the worst. The floorpans are rock solid.

GQ

[rlyons13]

The "gangsta" lean. Along with the frames cracking, the inner pivot point starts to wear as well. Check the floors first. All the 87-Up Mustangs received the police reenforcement, but that doesn't mean the floors still can't crack. If you verify the car is still sound, try moving the seat back around as you move it through its normal range of motion.

Don't know what to tell you if you do find the problem, as we (my nephew and I) used to have a collection of good seats and just swap in a good one in either his or my car and sell the one with the lean. Unfortunately, we're out of seats. I never messed around with trying to fix a leaning seat.

[mustang marty]

I have noticed that when the seats lean toward center some of the spot welds in the seat back frame have pulled apart. Hard to notice unless you are looking for it.

FWIW, I recently fixed the lean on my 2001 by replacing the frame for the seatback with one from a 83 convertable. I did this when I found a part on my 2001 seats had an E4 part number. Side by side backs were very very similar. The only thing I had to do was weld on the seatbelt guide support to the top. The 83 didn't have it since the seat belt guide attached to the headrest. The seat cover fit perfectly.

Also I noticed that the 83 seat frame was made of thicker metal and had better welds than my 2001 seat. Good for a guy my size. My guess is it will last longer