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Rattleing Seats!

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How do I sort it?

I have been getting a lot of rattle when driving:o. In particular its when I am on a rough road or go on bumps. I know its not the dash as  that's nice and tight. It appears to be coming from under the car. I first thought it may be suspension. Today I shook the seats and it looks like they are the culprit. Its not so much the plastic bushes that go on the runner as had the seats off and they seem fine although will change them too at some point. Its actually the back rest of the seats. There is so much movement. Its where it pivots on to the bit that you perch your backside on. Is there a cure fir this? I am sure the driving experience will be so much better if they are sorted.:P

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Check the screws are not coming lose, there is a couple of screws holding the back rest to the seat base.
1988 Mk1 Golf GTi Cabriolet 1.8cc DX, K-jet. Daily drive. 317,000 miles and counting
1978 Mk1 Scirocco GLS 1.6cc FR, Webber carb. Weekend toy.

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Thanks mate. will check!

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To remove the plastic covers on the sides of the seats there is a plastic pin which you have to push through, watch where it falls as you need to find it and reuse it. Once the pin is out the covers should easily pull off, if I remember there is 3 pins to find.
To refit, push the cover on and push the pins back into there holes till they are flat.
1988 Mk1 Golf GTi Cabriolet 1.8cc DX, K-jet. Daily drive. 317,000 miles and counting
1978 Mk1 Scirocco GLS 1.6cc FR, Webber carb. Weekend toy.

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there is a big plasticbush where the backrest locks to the base, sounds like those may be past it. if you loosen the screw you can rotate the bushes to get the clamps lockign over an unworn part of the bush if that makes sense
Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



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Thanks Guys, and rubjohnny, it doesn't make sense to me but may do once I look to see  a wha go on!

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tilt the seat forwqard and it'll be obvious :) even on 5 door they have them, you just have to release the 2 big latches at the bottom corners by hand
Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



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rubjonny said

tilt the seat forwqard and it'll be obvious :)even on 5 door they have them, you just have to release the 2 big latches at the bottom corners by hand
Black thing on the left is what is being mentioned, and this one was broken.

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They all start with GOOD Grounds.

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thats the one, theres a big black bush fitted over that metal post. if its not too far gone you can usually spin it 90degrees or so to solve the issue.

part number is 171881299C, heritage have em if you needed:
https://www.vwheritage.com/search/?act=search.searchResults&sType=quick&maxDisplayRows=15&searchText=171881299C&btnSearch=
Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



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The black bush is not worn. I turned them anyway and also the clips are fine. Still rattle like F**K! What else could it be? Its defo not the base as I held the seat down and they still rattle! Did I need to do anything to the side where the seatbelt clips to, as didn't check anything on that side?

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theres a bush on both sides if you mean you didnt check the seatbelt side?

apart from that look at the clamps themselves that go round the bushes to make sure both sides fully lock in position and hold firm, pop the plastic covers off as mentioned earlier to see fi there is anything obvious up with the backrest angle adjust mechanism
Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



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yeah didn't check the seatbelt side. I will check everything like you said. I recon sorting them out will make a massive difference to how it feels to the driver and passengers. It just doesn't make the car feel solid at the moment even though it is

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IF your seats fold over, check that your seat latches are fully engaged, some times they will rust bind and not fully seat to the bushing.

Also you may want to clean the pivot where the clip is, I use a thin coat of grease on it.  I have found that over the years, that I have to replace the slides and front catch about every 6-7 years, and I have rebuilt the seats from the cushions up.  

I know that they will squeak some, but don't usually rattle.  

If the seats rock side to side then the bushings are shot.
The one bushing has a finger on the outside to prevent the side to side movement, and if the bushings are out of place then the seat could rattle on the slide I suspect.
The fingered Bush goes to the outside rail.

Also if you get the slides on wrong (I HAVE SEEN IT) they become hard to scoot.

I also place a thin coat of grease on the upper and lower rail cups.

Here is a how to that I did for my seat rocks and is hard to slide.  

Cabriolet/Rabbit Seat rocks, and hard to slide | Volkswagen Owners Club Forum

There is also a big difference between a Cabriolet bushing set and a Golf.




What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

Where are my DIY Links?

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Briano1234 said

IF your seats fold over, check that your seat latches are fully engaged, some times they will rust bind and not fully seat to the bushing.

Also you may want to clean the pivot where the clip is, I use a thin coat of grease on it.  I have found that over the years, that I have to replace the slides and front catch about every 6-7 years, and I have rebuilt the seats from the cushions up.  

I know that they will squeak some, but don't usually rattle.  

If the seats rock side to side then the bushings are shot.
The one bushing has a finger on the outside to prevent the side to side movement, and if the bushings are out of place then the seat could rattle on the slide I suspect.
The fingered Bush goes to the outside rail.

Also if you get the slides on wrong (I HAVE SEEN IT) they become hard to scoot.

I also place a thin coat of grease on the upper and lower rail cups.

Here is a how to that I did for my seat rocks and is hard to slide.  

Cabriolet/Rabbit Seat rocks, and hard to slide | Volkswagen Owners Club Forum

There is also a big difference between a Cabriolet bushing set and a Golf.


Thanks so much for this. I will check!



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