Seat Bolsters - Foam instead of air bladder
05-12-2016, 06:00 PM
#1
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GL450
Seat Bolsters - Foam instead of air bladder
I hate the air bladder seat bolsters. They always leak.
Has anyone just put foam in there? Pool noodle or rolled up newspaper or anything? Just to give it a permanent bolster.
Has anyone just put foam in there? Pool noodle or rolled up newspaper or anything? Just to give it a permanent bolster.
02-21-2017, 08:29 PM
#4
Senior Member
Yep, mine split, so i sliced the top open and stuffed them full of cleaning clothes. Worked well for a while but i find they move.
02-21-2017, 08:33 PM
#6
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02-21-2017, 08:37 PM
#7
MBWorld Fanatic!
OEM seats have foam bolsters.
It needs to be solid enough, and yes if you're filling a huge area there needs to be something behind it, but it does work if done right. Cloth will move/settle and be lumpy unless it's all one piece and locked in carefully.
It needs to be solid enough, and yes if you're filling a huge area there needs to be something behind it, but it does work if done right. Cloth will move/settle and be lumpy unless it's all one piece and locked in carefully.
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02-21-2017, 08:44 PM
#8
Senior Member
The air bladder adjusters go BEHIND this foam youre talking about, so no, foam will not work effectively, and no, cloth will not be lumpy and hard...
When the bladders deflate, they sit totally flat. The normal seat foam that they ALL have is pushed by the bladders, which are very firm when you fill them with air.
02-21-2017, 09:25 PM
#9
Senior Member
I thought about using tyre tubes, but im not sure if theyll work well or be a bit soft.
The biggest issue is the way the originals are designed is two bags stacked ontop of each other, which makes it a bit tricky to make something that will be able to stack like that and not just buldge outwards.
The biggest issue is the way the originals are designed is two bags stacked ontop of each other, which makes it a bit tricky to make something that will be able to stack like that and not just buldge outwards.
02-23-2017, 03:31 PM
#10
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1999 E55 AMG, 2004 Big Turbo A4; 2005 C240 Wagon 4matic; 2001 ML430
You could try filling the bladders with a foam sealer, like Great Stuff, but that wouldn't be pleasant if it doesn't turn out to be the correct density. '99 seats don't have the air bladder, but they aren't air conditioned, either.
02-23-2017, 05:26 PM
#11
Senior Member
Even if the bladders are rock hard, it wont matter at all. I sorted mine last night, will post pics shortly.
02-23-2017, 05:32 PM
#12
Senior Member
From my previous career as an electrician i have loads of tools and still had some stuff laying around, 50mm underground conduit is what i used:
Cut it all to fit:
Screwed in place with some big hex head metal teks:
Unscrewed it and gave it a nice soft coat:
Installed them back in the seat:
The finished product, nice and snug:
Im not sure how far the bladders pump up, but it is probably pretty close to 50mm, the seat is now very snug, which i like. Seems pretty close to how they were at full inflation.
Fitting them back in was a fair task, but if you get the angle right they go in ok without too much effort.
My back now fits nicely against the lumbar, and the bolsters stop basically all lateral movement.
Cut it all to fit:
Screwed in place with some big hex head metal teks:
Unscrewed it and gave it a nice soft coat:
Installed them back in the seat:
The finished product, nice and snug:
Im not sure how far the bladders pump up, but it is probably pretty close to 50mm, the seat is now very snug, which i like. Seems pretty close to how they were at full inflation.
Fitting them back in was a fair task, but if you get the angle right they go in ok without too much effort.
My back now fits nicely against the lumbar, and the bolsters stop basically all lateral movement.
09-16-2018, 11:45 PM
#14
Senior Member
I like them tight, so i used 50mm underground conduit, which puts them pretty close to where full air would be.
09-17-2018, 11:52 AM
#15
Junior Member
I'm going to do the same thing. Thanks man.
