Date:         Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:32:02 -0500
Reply-To:     Bill Glenn <idahobill@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Glenn <idahobill@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Swivel seats -- how not to make them wobbly

The plastic bushings for the swivel seats are part #251-881-319; four are
required per seat.  Go Westy had them, sold out, and do not expect to find
any more.  Van Cafe lists them, is out of stock, and does not expect to get
them.  I found mine at a dealer, but not recently; it never hurts to try.
They are hard, molded plastic; they snap into holes on the seat swivel
plate, and provide both the separation and the "slip" between the metal
plates of the swivel.

The bushings are small, with a surface area of perhaps 0.25 square inch
each, and thus bear up to 250 lbs./sq. in.  They must be in good shape,
clean, and properly lubricated to provide easy rotation of the seat swivel.
Lacking new ones (or some good used ones), machining some from
appropriately hard and durable plastic (nylon?) may be your only option.
The tolerance between the opposing plates of the swivel mechanism is
critical; any material that is not hard enough, durable enough, or slippery
enough will not work.  Even with the proper bushings, I have found it
necessary to substitute metric nylok nuts for the stock nuts and lock
washers when attaching the swivel plate, so as to allow reduced torque
without the nuts coming loose, resulting in slightly more space between the
plates, and thus easier rotation of the swivel.

For anyone contemplating disassembly of the seat swivels for cleaning and
lubrication, or removal of the front the seats (swivelling or not) for any
reason, consider a complete degreasing/cleaning of the seat tracks, of the
base track as well as on the seat track, and replacement of the plastic
seat track guides, two per seat, part #251-881-213, about $10 per pair.
These guides provide a bushing between the steel seat track and the steel
base track, and are necessary for smooth operation, again, properly
lubricated.  I found these guides at the VW dealer, and they are also
currently listed at Van-Cafe.

There is no reason to tolerate your seats not working smoothly; the
disassembly/re-assembly work is easy.  Most of your time will be spent
cleaning the hardened grease/dirt combination off the tracks (and from
inside the perforated, tube-like portion of the base track), and the
swivels, if you have them.