The Seat Bolt Mod
By: Bob_98SR5
Written: 4/2/06
Vehicle: 1998 4Runner

Parts
Wing Nut"C" - 40mm (McMaster Carr Part #92625A529)
Sixty 1/4" washers (you need 54 to be exact)

Tools & Supplies
JB Weld (Two part liquid type)


Step 1: Removing OEM Seat Bolts
Lift up the cover in an upwards motion.The bolt also has an unremovable lock washer and regular washer built into the unthreaded part. Remove all the covers and bolts:


Remove cover (C) and remove bolt (B)

Step 2: Assembling the Parts
Take your Wing Nut C bolt and JB weld the 1/4" washers to the wing nut. Put on 13 of the washers and let dry. Repeat 4 times.


Remove cover (C) and remove bolt (B)

Test fit a set of two on one side and tighten until the angle of the wing bolt is diagonal. Fold the seats up and down to make sure there is clearance to do so. Here are some pics of the wing seat bolts installed:


Front view


Side view

Step 3: Optional- Cutting Plastic Covers
Steve Schaefer of Sonoran Steel figured out the correct cutting point. Use a 1.5" hole saw to make a hole as shown below


1'5" hole saw here


Hold on tight as the teeth make contact


Covers back on

So What's The Big Deal?
With the new seat wing bolts, you can now remove your seat bottoms without tools. With the seat bottoms folded up, you have about 5'5" of flat space from the tailgate to the backside of the seat bottoms. With the seat bottoms removed, you have an additional 12 inches of space. So what can you do with that space? Here are two pictures. One is of my sleeping platform (minus the bedding, of course) which is exactly 6'4" long and the other is a picture of three TJM 17 bumpers that could never have fit in my cargo area without removing the seat bottoms.


6'4" sleeping platform


Three TJM-17 bumpers with seat bottoms on top

For Sale - Sonoran Steel TIG welded Seat Bolts
Steve Schaefer of Sonoran Steel got the bright idea of making more professional looking TIG welded seat bolts. You can buy them on his website by clicking on this link. Here's a picture of them below:



Hey Steve, when are those royalty checks coming!?! :-D