cr4x4cruiser
Observer
So,
We have 1999 Montero SR, and just had to have the Air-Ride seats... found the seats cheap enough at the local boneyard, months back. I decided I had no need for the worn-out seat cushions [bottom and back] and am rather cheap, so we simply got the actual air-ride seat bases instead. I would regret this decision... twice!
** Our Montero is/was factory-equipped with a Power Driver's Seat & Manual Passenger Seat **
Removed our SR's stock leather passenger seat bottom/ foam/ metal seat frame from the manual seat base as well as separated it from the seatback, and took it over to the upholsterer. Had him swap out the - metal - seat frame [around which the foam is molded]. Not even a half-hour later and we were good to go. We simply bolted the seat bottom frame and the seatback together once more, bolted them to the replacement air-ride seat base and installed w/o any issue. My better-half swears it brings a level of comfort she has never experienced, even on city streets.
I was planning on redoing the leather skin and foam on the driver's seat [slightly squished from previous use/ age] so I put it on the backburner, due to the holidays. I was even able to acquire a couple more air-ride seat bases in the meantime. Fast-forward to now... we removed the driver's seat, only to find out that the POWER SEAT is definitely not similar in size and shape to the AIR-RIDE seat!
I am pretty sure you will find most all Gen 2 & Gen 2.5 MANUAL & AIR-RIDE seats are extremely close in their dimensions and fitment [the upholsterer had no problem simply slipping the foam and leather back over the AIR-RIDE seat frame].
BUT, the POWER SEAT will NOT be close AT ALL!
You will require a COMPLETE SEAT BOTTOM & SEATBACK!
The power seat base [which contains all of the motors/ electrical connectors] is narrower than the manual or air-ride seat base.
Seat Bottom Frame Dimensions;
AIR-RIDE: 18.750" Deep x 17.250" Wide [MANUAL units are almost identical to AIR-RIDE - insignificant #'s]
POWER: 19.250" Deep x 16.500" Wide
> Note that the mounting points [quantity = 4] located on the floor are all in the same location, no matter what type of seat is installed at the factory.
>> You may still use the Seat Heaters, but the power-seat heater unit will need to be retrofitted to the air-ride foam... there is no issue for the heaters when swapping out manual for air-ride seats.
It is the configuration of power [electrical] seats that changes everything.
So...
MANUAL to AIR-RIDE = no problem.
POWER to AIR-RIDE = replacing the complete seat!
Check out the pictures for comparison...
The power seat frame is on the left, while the air-ride seat frame is on the right.
These are the actual metal frames to which the foam and seat covers are attached [what your backside will rest upon].
Picture #1 [top left] displays the seat frames standing up, as facing the front [the front of the seat is facing the sky].
Picture #5 [bottom left] displays the seat frames as they would appear if you looked underneath the actual seats while in the vehicle.
*** Sorry, but I have no idea how any/all of this may/may not work with Gen 1 Monteros ***
Hopefully, this will save others some aggravation, time and money.
As well, I hope I have explained this in a manner that most anyone can comprehend w/o much effort...
- Wm.
Yeah, constructive criticism is so welcome...
1] The original seat bases were found in a junkyard... sorry if we didn't have any wifi devices available at the time to decide which was the best route to go, choosing only the seat bases or the whole seats.
2] We preferred to keep the original - mostly pristine - condition seats, rather than choosing to recover the worn-out junkyard finds.
3] While I do attempt to research most anything in depth I only have so many hours in the day to get by.
4] What is the number of posts on a topic before it becomes moot?
5] I seriously would appreciate if all posts on any given topic were placed in a file/ folder after some period of time... say, once a post is created it is filed after 30 days. All related posts on the same topic could now be found in a single file/ folder. Examples: All posts related to engine noises be in the same folder, All air-ride seat posts in another folder, all body-lift issues in another, etc.
6] If this is posting is deemed to be a waste by the powers that be then kindly send this post to file 13...
We have 1999 Montero SR, and just had to have the Air-Ride seats... found the seats cheap enough at the local boneyard, months back. I decided I had no need for the worn-out seat cushions [bottom and back] and am rather cheap, so we simply got the actual air-ride seat bases instead. I would regret this decision... twice!
** Our Montero is/was factory-equipped with a Power Driver's Seat & Manual Passenger Seat **
Removed our SR's stock leather passenger seat bottom/ foam/ metal seat frame from the manual seat base as well as separated it from the seatback, and took it over to the upholsterer. Had him swap out the - metal - seat frame [around which the foam is molded]. Not even a half-hour later and we were good to go. We simply bolted the seat bottom frame and the seatback together once more, bolted them to the replacement air-ride seat base and installed w/o any issue. My better-half swears it brings a level of comfort she has never experienced, even on city streets.
I was planning on redoing the leather skin and foam on the driver's seat [slightly squished from previous use/ age] so I put it on the backburner, due to the holidays. I was even able to acquire a couple more air-ride seat bases in the meantime. Fast-forward to now... we removed the driver's seat, only to find out that the POWER SEAT is definitely not similar in size and shape to the AIR-RIDE seat!
I am pretty sure you will find most all Gen 2 & Gen 2.5 MANUAL & AIR-RIDE seats are extremely close in their dimensions and fitment [the upholsterer had no problem simply slipping the foam and leather back over the AIR-RIDE seat frame].
BUT, the POWER SEAT will NOT be close AT ALL!
You will require a COMPLETE SEAT BOTTOM & SEATBACK!
The power seat base [which contains all of the motors/ electrical connectors] is narrower than the manual or air-ride seat base.
Seat Bottom Frame Dimensions;
AIR-RIDE: 18.750" Deep x 17.250" Wide [MANUAL units are almost identical to AIR-RIDE - insignificant #'s]
POWER: 19.250" Deep x 16.500" Wide
> Note that the mounting points [quantity = 4] located on the floor are all in the same location, no matter what type of seat is installed at the factory.
>> You may still use the Seat Heaters, but the power-seat heater unit will need to be retrofitted to the air-ride foam... there is no issue for the heaters when swapping out manual for air-ride seats.
It is the configuration of power [electrical] seats that changes everything.
So...
MANUAL to AIR-RIDE = no problem.
POWER to AIR-RIDE = replacing the complete seat!
Check out the pictures for comparison...
The power seat frame is on the left, while the air-ride seat frame is on the right.
These are the actual metal frames to which the foam and seat covers are attached [what your backside will rest upon].
Picture #1 [top left] displays the seat frames standing up, as facing the front [the front of the seat is facing the sky].
Picture #5 [bottom left] displays the seat frames as they would appear if you looked underneath the actual seats while in the vehicle.
*** Sorry, but I have no idea how any/all of this may/may not work with Gen 1 Monteros ***
Hopefully, this will save others some aggravation, time and money.
As well, I hope I have explained this in a manner that most anyone can comprehend w/o much effort...
- Wm.
Yeah, constructive criticism is so welcome...
1] The original seat bases were found in a junkyard... sorry if we didn't have any wifi devices available at the time to decide which was the best route to go, choosing only the seat bases or the whole seats.
2] We preferred to keep the original - mostly pristine - condition seats, rather than choosing to recover the worn-out junkyard finds.
3] While I do attempt to research most anything in depth I only have so many hours in the day to get by.
4] What is the number of posts on a topic before it becomes moot?
5] I seriously would appreciate if all posts on any given topic were placed in a file/ folder after some period of time... say, once a post is created it is filed after 30 days. All related posts on the same topic could now be found in a single file/ folder. Examples: All posts related to engine noises be in the same folder, All air-ride seat posts in another folder, all body-lift issues in another, etc.
6] If this is posting is deemed to be a waste by the powers that be then kindly send this post to file 13...
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