Rear bench won't latch

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mibars

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2023
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211
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368
Location
Nadarzyn, Poland
First Name
Michal
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
Suburban V1500
Engine Size
350 TBI
Hi, my 3rd row bench won't latch to the floor. It won't go down enough for the latch to engage. Before I try to find the solution myself can anyone see something wrong with my bench latch? Nothing seems off, apart for the fact it bottoms out near the handle before latch can grab the rod in the floor hole.

I have no felt mat under carpet, carpet itself is just couple of mm thick, I've grinded a little bit from carpet brackets so they sit lower, tried slamming it hard, no luck. Any ideas?
 

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mibars

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2023
Posts
211
Reaction score
368
Location
Nadarzyn, Poland
First Name
Michal
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
Suburban V1500
Engine Size
350 TBI
Answering to myself for anyone for future reference, but I solved the issue. The thing I've noticed looking for how to fix the bench seat is that my arm rests were pointing way up compared to the photos I found indicating that something is off with seat geometry. So I loosened 4 T45 bolts on both sides and yanked them down and tightened them back, but that wasn't it. I ended up bending all four seat mounts, first the rear bracket up (and back) so that the handle won't bottom out, but this moved the mechanism 1/2" back. Then the front ones so that they move 1/2" back and make rear go into the hole. In the process the whole bench bent and bottomed on both sides so I had to straighten it back... Not to mention getting things back to square couple of times as when you are not even on bends it ends up not fitting the holes anymore.

Long story short lots of bending things back and forth and lots of yanking it in and out of the truck fixed the issue.

Attaching before and after photos. Look at armrests how different they sit, that was a hint that the bench seat frame is not in the right shape.
 

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