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Sat Jun 18, 2005 9:42 pm

Hi everyone. Just bought my 'new' 1966 bug and I am currently working on taking out the entire interior. My only issue is I can't seem to take out the front seats!! Any bolts or anything of the sort I should be aware of??

Sat Jun 18, 2005 10:03 pm

No bolts. Lift the adjuster lever up ... slide the seat forward as far as possible ... get on your knees and look under the seat ... if the spring is still there, unhook it ... continue to lift the seat adjuster while working the seat further forward. The seat rails will slide right off the front of the pan rails. If it sticks ... spray some rust solvent and keep working the seat forward and back ... it will eventually come loose.

Sat Jun 18, 2005 10:08 pm

Sometimes it helps to hop in the back seat and while an assistant holds the lever up and minds the spring, put a foot on each side of the seat frame and push forward with your legs. Don't stomp, just constant, even pressure.

Sun Jun 19, 2005 3:44 pm

some advice for afterwards....put some thick grease on the seat and pan rails before reinstalling them so you wont run into any problems with installing and sliding the seats for adjustments later on. Mine have been in for about a two years now and slide free when I need to move the seat forwards or backwards (no more wiggling the seat to make it move).

Sun Jun 19, 2005 6:05 pm

Some later beetles have a spring stop on the tunnel side of the rail that will need to be pushed out in order for the seat to slide all the way off. I don't know exactly what year that started. But for sure it is on my 69.
-John

Sun Jun 19, 2005 6:11 pm

there is supposed to be one on a 66 i'm pretty sure. Sorry, I cant help with taking it off, since my car never had them and I never really saw it necessary to replace them. If they're there, it should be pretty self explainatory to get off...as most things are on these cars. :)

Sun Jun 19, 2005 7:02 pm

whats the best grease to throw on this as i just picked up some low backs to replace some high backs on a "project" i have lined up and i will be doing it in the not-so-distant future?

Sun Jun 19, 2005 7:19 pm

I use generic packing grease on my rails and they have been fine. Wheel bearing grease is pretty good too, since it's heavy and waterproof. I think you can get a plastic packet of it for about $1 at autozone, and that should be enough to get all the rails on the seats and pan done. I used an acid brush to put it on, but your fingers will work just as well, you'll just be kinda slimy for a while after. haha

I dont really know if there's any name brands that are neccessarily good or bad, but for this application it shouldnt matter too much since they're not moved very often (I trusted the autozone brand for my Geo Metro wheel bearings...and I drive that about 50miles a day!).

Hope that helped!

Sun Jun 19, 2005 8:02 pm

1966 does not have the safety locking tab. nor 1967 nor 1968.

Mon Jun 20, 2005 3:41 pm

Yeah! So about 45 min of pulling, pushing, nudging and screaming they finally came off. It was actually quite amusing because I was in the backseat pushing while my bf was in front with the adjuster lever up. Here I am in the baby-birth position screaming out of frustration because these damn things won't come off, then in a big *woooop* the seat comes un-stuck and goes flying off the rails. Nope, the seats did not have a saftey locking tab. Thanks for the info of putting packing grease on the rails though. I was wondering what I could put on there to not have this same problem again. This is kind of a related question; Anyone know of a good place to get decent/new seats for the vw? I'm not the tallest person in the world and I actually have to put a fluffy stiff pillow on my back in order to reach the clutch etc. I don't know whether this is due to the fact that I think the driver side seat might be broken or whether I'm just short. Anyone know if any kind of 'racing seat' might fit?? Not that I want to install racing seats, but something with that same shape; head-rest, higher back support....any suggestions??

Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:19 pm

I also have a 66 and Im having trouble removing the front seats. The levers on both seats seemed to be jammed pretty good in the crease behind the teeth. Any tips on how to get them out? I havent had much luck.

Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:37 pm

How did it get in there? :-k

Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:48 pm

rcs_80 wrote: I also have a 66 and Im having trouble removing the front seats. The levers on both seats seemed to be jammed pretty good in the crease behind the teeth. Any tips on how to get them out? I havent had much luck.

Your teeth aren't even locked in the spots.

you need to tug a bit harder.

Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:50 pm

Thats what I would like to know. There jammed in there really good. I just purchase the car a couple of weeks ago and both seats were already like that. I've been trying to remove the seats so that I can pull the carpet out to clean any rust and battery acid.

Mon Feb 06, 2012 6:38 am

I had the same problem with mine a few days ago. Use a rubber mallet and alternate tapping on each side from the rear until it slides free. I had a 69 that was rusted to hell and back and it was the only way I could get it free.

Mon Feb 06, 2012 9:01 am

I'm in the same boat...I too have a orange back rest. Without it I can't reach anything and I am 5'3"!

Skooby wrote: I'm not the tallest person in the world and I actually have to put a fluffy stiff pillow on my back in order to reach the clutch etc.

Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:00 am

Try positioning the seat in the most forward position that the teeth will catch the rail stops. I suppose it may be possible for someone to cut and modify a seat frame if that doesn't work.