Swapped Bucket for 60/40 bench.....Problems

So I installed a 60/40 bench in place of my stock bucket seat. I wanted to be able to seat 5 in the truck in a pinch. I got it all installed and I am very disappointed. The bench seat sucks! The first position that it clicks into place is angled too far back and it that position my back isn't even resting on the seat. It also does not angle as very far forward.

In contrast the bucket seat allows you to sit much more upright. I checked the seat mechanism on the bench and it's functioning properly. I also double checked the seat brackets and they are good. I ended up putting the bucket and center console back in. I can see why people swap out the bench now.

You can't tell in the picture, but compared to the bucket seat, it's angled back another 6-8 degrees and that's the first notch where it will lock in place. Has anyone else had this problem ?

 

Something funky going on. I have 60/40 and it locks awkwardly far forward...Like, beyond vertical I believe.

 

Mine does not. That does make sense though as Toyota would never sell something that useless. Thanks for letting me know it's just mine that's jacked.

 

Does anyone have pictures of a normal functioning 60/40 bench in the full release position (seat folded forward to the wheel) and first position it clicks in place for recline. Any ideas on why the seat would lean so far back in its first locking position?



Full forward


First Click (With the seat in the truck it feels like your leaning way back, not like the bucket at all).

 

yea yours does seem odd...

 

Thanks for posting up those pictures. That helps alot. I looked at the ratcheting mechanism and it is functioning normally. I think the seat back may actually be bent. I got the seat from a junkyard....

 

What was wrong with the truck it came from? Maybe it was rear ended and the guy jerked back hard enough to damage something?

 

Also I'm not sure how the mechanism works but would it be possible to add notches or holes for it to lock into further forward? So it would sit properly

 

It was rear ended; the back was smashed.

 

My old 60/40 could almost touch the steering wheel, yours seems strange

 

It isn't. It works on a cam with teeth that mesh together. It's a precision gear mechanism. The more I look at the pictures the more I think my seat back is bent to the rear. It's curved to the rear way more than yours.

 

I broke out a pair of ratcheting straps and cranked down on the seat. Here's the before and after compared with Lux.
Before After.

 

looks significantly better, hows it feel?

 

It feels about normal now. I need to put it into the truck to know for sure.

 

If it isn't fixed, you could perhaps put a "spacer" on the bolts between the floor and seat bracket, which would move the back of the seat upwards, making the back lean forward. Not sure exactly how, just a thought.

 

That would work for the back left mount, but the back right mount goes to the transmission tunnel and would require a new bracket. I'll find out tomorrow. Thanks for the help.

 

I put the bench in. All good so far. The only downside of this swap is that I need to find a cupholder to cover up the carpet hole where the console went; same for the back area where the console used to go. It's definitely easier to go from a Bench to Buckets.

 

Do you still have the center console and original bucket seat??? I would have traded you straight up seats and cup holder for your seat and center console!! We have the same color interior

 

I have them, but I'm holding on to my originals for now to be sure I like the bench.

 

Please pm me if you consider selling your seat and console!!!