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I fixed my 2005 f150xl manual supercab seat using a hyrid approach to what Addison did. Have been riding in it for about 3 weeks and no complaints at all....very comfortable and much better than before. This is what I did:
Bottom seat:
1. removed the useless center jumpseat and replaced it with a (like new, $75) junkyard console. Fits perfectly in my XL with console shifter with floor 4wd shifter. 4wd shifter in 4Low barely touches the new console, no affect to operation. This is upgrade makes so much sense it's hard to believe this configuration wasn't available from the factory, even upon request (for the XL).
2. Removed the excellent quality high-density foam from the jumpseat to bolster both the lumbar and bottom seat cushion. The density of the foam is critical and the foam from the jumpseat is perfect.
3. Shave off a roughly 1.5" thick section of foam from the jumpseat. Size length and width to fit over the springs in the driver's bottom seat. Make sure the foam goes all the way to back of the seat bottom and covers the painfully hard metal seat frame....to protect your tail bone. Added a folded towel in the thigh area to give a thin firm support in the thigh area and help the transition from the bottom foam to the thigh area. This took some experimentation to get right.
4. Put a scrap carpet square over the seat springs to firm up the spring, which are too weak stock. I originally try replacing the springs with a piece of 3/4" plywood but that was too hard. Saw the carpet idea elsewhere on these forums and it's the perfect solution.
5. Put foam between carpet and existing seat foam.
6. re-assemble the seat. The cover is tight but still fully closes. This will lift you a bit but not too much. I find that adding just the 1.5" foam is about the max you could add and have the seat still feel natural and not too high.
Lumbar
1. removed enough of the upholstery to access the lumbar mechanism. Lower the lumbar all the way to remove tension.
2. Add additional lumbar foam ~ 2 inches in the area you want more lumbar support. My lumbar mechanism is sheet metal so it's a relatively good support after you add the new foam.
3. I added a strip of plywood (horizontally) between the lumbar sheet metal and the new foam, to support the foam across the width of the seat. This moves around a bit over time even though it's under pressure, so I may fasten it to the sheet metal to prevent this movement.
4. put upholster back in place and adjust lumbar support.
Seat is now quite comfortable and in the process I've learned enough about F150 seats that I could probably make a meager living fixing them. :-)
When I hear "neoprene" I think the plasticky material from wetsuits, so wanted to ask:
They look very nice, but how are those covers in hot and sticky weather? Do they breathe at all?
Yes they are made of wetsuit material. High grade neoprene. No, they don't really breathe but its a non issue for me. If I don't run the AC when its hot, my back will sweat no matter what the seats are made of.
I just found this thread. I am dealing with the most uncomfortable seat that I have ever had in any car or truck that I have owned. I have owned a 2001 4Runner for the last 10 years and have put 220,000 on it and that seat is WAY more comfortable than the 2014 Supercrew that I own now. I have wanted a truck for quite some time but I just want to trade it in now. The truck has factory installed leather and aftermarket seat heaters. I bought the truck with 26,800 miles and now it has almost 30,000. Short trips are not a problem but over a hour in the seat and my back is shot. I can ride my Yamaha FJR for 500 miles and I have NO back or butt pain. After 60 miles in my F150 Im ready for a visit to the Chiropractor. I have ordered new seat foam and will put some dense foam under the replacement foam. I have been experimenting with adding some additional foam to the manual lumbar support. If you have had luck fixing your seat please post what you did to fix your seat. I like the truck but HATE the seat.
Count me in the seats suck camp. Never had a problem with any seat in any vehicle I have had--before or since---except a 13 F-150. This includes trucks with nothing but a real bench seat that goes from driver door to passenger door & the only adjustment is the whole thing slid forward or back. Literally writhing in pain after 2 hours. First there is not enough lumbar even maxed. Had to supplement with pillows. Second there is no support under your *** & spine. Completely held up by the outer thighs & back of knees. Like dropping a deuce in a 5 gallon bucket at a camp site. Feels like someone is pulling my hip joint out of the socket.
I ditched the pillows & fixed the lumbar for good a couple years ago. Took an old back protector from a motorcycle jacket, cut it up, & zip tied it to the plastic net (yep) that is the sole structure in the seat back that keeps you from falling into the back seat. If it were not for this plastic mesh & a guitar string the only thing that would hold you in your seat is the fabric on the outside. Repeat driver & passenger sides.. Now I have more than enough lumbar adjustment to get the support needed.
Just recently followed this thread to what I hope is fix the base. You can see the stamped metal frame supports exactly what I said--the outer thighs & back of the knees. Then the saggy springs holding the tofu block do nothing under your butt.
Got a nice 1" thick *** pad for hunting. You want it to only go where the springs are. If it goes over the metal frame it will only make things worse.
Cut up a $8 yoga mat from wal mart to put on top of the springs--not the frame. Keeps the springs out of the foam--both what I added & the stock foam.
Then the pad.
Repeat driver & passenger sides. HUGE improvement so far. Hope it fixes it for good.
Last edited by Bryce919er; 12-05-2021 at 12:46 AM.
I purchased and installed this before the summer heat hit. Not gonna say my driver's seat is now luxurious, but I will say it was a hell of a lot better than it was, and this was worth putting in...
This was just for the seat pan. I also took a garment steamer to blow up the foam to the back of the seat while I had it all apart. Not as much difference as the durofoam seat pan, but enough to where I also thought that was worth doing.
Hmm... I've been nearly crippled for the last 2 months myself. Really bad left leg pains. After google search I determined that I had sciatic nerve problems but maybe not! May be the truck. I went to a chriopractor 3 or 4 times and it seemed to help a little but he cracked one of my ribs and that hurt so bad that it took my mind off the pain in my leg so I havn't went back. I am curious as to how many other people will chime in on this.
My solution to my sciatic problem (rt leg) was to level the seat.
My 2013 F150 SCab had a tilted floor so the seat would not adjust enough to level the seat (was tilted back)
I noticed that when riding my motorcycle I didn't have the sciatic problem and noticed that when on the mc I had better posture; leveled the seats in the cars but unable to do so in the F150.
Bought longer seat mounting bolts and placed 2x4 blocks under the rear of the seat to compensate for the tilted floor. Leveled the seat and no more sciatic problem in the truck.
New truck (2021 Lariat SCab) has a level floor so no blocks needed.
This is an old thread, but maybe this will be some help to some anyway.
I purchased and installed this before the summer heat hit. Not gonna say my driver's seat is now luxurious, but I will say it was a hell of a lot better than it was, and this was worth putting in...
This was just for the seat pan. I also took a garment steamer to blow up the foam to the back of the seat while I had it all apart. Not as much difference as the durofoam seat pan, but enough to where I also thought that was worth doing.
Found & considered that before i went in. Good to hear hear a review of it..I tried this first because I had no feedback on the durafoam. Still an option. I don't think they sell it for the passenger? Does it fit passenger?
Found & considered that before i went in. Good to hear hear a review of it..I tried this first because I had no feedback on the durafoam. Still an option. I don't think they sell it for the passenger? Does it fit passenger?
No, from what I can see they make no passenger seats, and it won't fit because seatbelt buckle. Something to consider...unless you ALWAYS have a passenger, that seat should be no where near as worn as the driver's.
04-15-2016, 10:58 AM
Fixed seat and loving it
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