Zig zag springs

Cody Lunning

I got a bench seat in from a customer that says he doesn’t like how the drivers side sinks when he sits on it. It’s out of a 55 Ford pickup and from what he says is the original seat from the truck. It’s been recovered recently and I can see that some of the springs just have mechanics wire holding them to the frame. None appear to be broken, or too rusty looking. I’m wondering if they haven’t been changed out at some point. But in the drivers area they do look like they don’t arch back as high as the rest of the seat. Never having worked with these before, what are my options? Do I get new zig zag springs and replace them in that area? I see one towards the middle is doubled up and one spring on top of the other, seems pretty stiff. Is that something that should be done or is that something that was hacked together? Or is this just the nature of the beast and how seats are without a full rebuild? Any advice would be great. I would say he’s of average weight. Not skinny, not super heavy if that matters.

Hal Bast

I often find bad springs on the drivers side. If it was me I would strip the seat down to see what is all there. If the springs are held to the frame with wire, something is wrong. You can buy spring stock in a coil and replace them as needed and put in whatever arch want. Also edge wire can be installed across the springs to tie them altogether, I use paper covered wire to keep the noise down. I'm not sure about that seat but a lot of them have short bent springs on the side fastened to the edge wire which are prone to breakage. They can also be made from the coil springs. It kind of sounds like maybe a hack job to get the car out the door.

Jens Jesberg

@Cody Lunning if the springs are still in good condition, you may not need to replace them at all. You may be able to bend them back into position (depending on the structure of the springs) by bending them up again. The easiest way is to use the right tool... 2 pliers also work.
but we had a similar topic one year ago. There I once posted photos to the tools. The tools are not exactly cheap but pay off pretty fast.
If you have the springs in position again, but notice that the spring effect has diminished a little, you can still pull burlap or something similar over the frame. This distributes the pressure on the springs better. I always do that, so that the cussion won't be pushed through the springs over the years.

The springs can also be connected to each other. You can take anything from cable ties to metal clips or wire. I bought this tool for a big order. With it the connecting goes damn fast. And it is cheaper and more durable than cable ties or similar.

Cody Lunning

Thanks both of you. I’ll get the cover torn off and see what is all there. Just looking from the bottom side up. The springs look worn. I’ll try and post some pics later on.

jim zabatta

if I add burlap to cover the springs..i put 4 hogrings on each coil
this keeps the coil attached to the burlap supported by each coil

Cody Lunning

Okay getting back to this seat. Here you can see in the pics the mechanics wire holding a few springs together and to the frame. Then in the other picture, it shows the only spring that appears to be sagging. There is also a support rod that looks to be bent. They’re both about 4th line of springs in. I’ve sat in it a few times and both sides seem equal to me. What are my options, again I’ve never done this before so use layman’s terms when it comes to explaining. But also, i feel this is just how a 50’s seat is, and it won’t feel like a new modern stiffer away cause it isn’t. Am I in the wrong for thinking that?

Jim Bentley

I have seen where the custom people will do away with all the springs, and cut a wood board in the shape of the seat frame, bolt it to the frame and custom cut foam to fit.

Hal Bast

Looks like an mess to me although it's a little hard to see from the pictures. There is some reason why they used last years bailing wire to hold it together, Is there the same shape and style of springs on both ends? It almost looks like there maybe some springs missing on the end, Some seats have a "Z" shaped spring or two at right angles with the others from the frame to the edge wire. The old seats when done correct should set as well if not better than the all foam seats. Someone else may have a better view of it.

Jim Bentley

↪Hal Bast

I thought the same thing.

Zig zag springs

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