How to Remove Bucket Seats
Removing bucket seats from your car is necessary when replacing the seats’ upholstery or the seats themselves. Bucket seats are bolted to the floor and are sometimes also secured under your vehicle. The metal sliding tracks are attached to the bottom of the seats, which make them bottom heavy. Having a helper available will make the removal of the bucket seats less challenging.
Things You Will Need
- Pliers
- Helper
- Ratchet Wrench
- Park the car on a level surface and employ the parking break. Make sure the area you park in has plenty of room to fully open the driver and passenger side doors. The wheels should be pointed straight. Turn the car off, making sure that the ignition switch is in the “lock” position.
- Disable the car’s air bags by disconnecting the negative battery cable. Place the negative battery cable where it cannot reach the battery terminal. It will take approximately two minutes for the air bags to become disabled.
- Slide the seat all the way forward so you can reach the rear mounting bolts located on the floor. Remove the mounting bolts using a ratchet wrench or a pair of pliers.
- Slide the seat all the way back so you can reach the front mounting bolts located on the floor. Remove the mounting bolts using a ratchet wrench or a pair of pliers. The tracks will be loose from step three, so use caution when pushing the seat back.
- Disconnect any electrical wires connected to the seats. Take hold of the seat by reaching over the seat to grip the side near the center and slowly lift the seat toward you and the door opening.
- Tilt the seat sideways – the headrest and backrest should be pointing out of the vehicle and remove the seat from the vehicle. Place the bucket seat aside in a safe location.
- Repeat the previous steps to remove the other bucket seat.