Rear bench won't fold up.
 

My buddy came over last night to show me what his rear bench was doing / not doing.

1999 Dodge Ram Club Cab

It was in the failing light hours when all the mosquitoes decided it's dinner time so I had no intentions of staying out long enough to mess with it for a few minutes and figure out a way to describe the problem to you guys.

When I pulled the release handle for the rear bench, it releases enough to wiggle up an down about an inch. Nothing more than that. I was reaching around and looking for the latch system to the bench but I think it's hidden under the plastic trim on the sides.

I guess my questions are:

What could be binding and how do I access the possible areas of bind?

Is there a way to remove either the bench bottom or back to perform maintenance if the seat won't fold up?

Thanks guys...:icon_dance-cpatch:

I think the latches are cable operated? Are both sides actually releasing?

Yeah that was the first thing I checked. The seat being locked down tight, I tried both handles, and they both released the seat from the latch, which let's it lift about an inch before you get can feel it hitting or catching on something.

Need to look around with a bright lite then, and see what's up. (sans mosquitoes would be nice too...... :D)

Remove plastic covers. Note driver side removed, pass in place:
Attachment 52821

Remove two bolts eaich side (15mm I think). Lift front of bracket to realeas tab at rera from slot. Raise entire seat upawards (seat back is attached with two verticle brackets that slide into fitting at rear - one on each side. Gotta come up pretty even.

After seat is out, remove pastic cover at hinge (one phillips screw). Clean out debris, dust, dirt, rust, etc. Whilte grease cable fitting.

Ask me how I know.....

That sounds great. Thanks for the details. I'll give it a shot some weekend morning, and I'll tell him to bring cold beer.

This is essential. I hate charging friends for help so instead i make them bring beer.

Oh for sure. Beer is cover charge for my garage. :icon_toast:

This same buddy also has a Corvette C6 that I do all the work on and we've scheduled a weekend in June where we're gonna replace his stabilizer bars front and rear, lower the car front and rear, and a few other tiny little repairs.

I told him to bring over his kick ass smoker and we'd do up some serious frig'n BBQ and we'd make a day of it. We'd work on the car and my Wife and his GF would lay out and get some sun...and bring up beers in their bikinis. :icon_omg:

Where do I get a garage that has bikini-clad waitresses???????

You'd better swing by my place on the way to said garage. I don't want to miss the show.