Replacement orthopedic pads

[Casey]

So orthopedic seats are not exactly common.  I've got a couple, and an extra orthopedic pad from a car that had the option only on the driver side.

Unfortunately, all three are hard as rock - it feels like there's hardened-up horsehair inside the cloth cover.  Maybe it doesn't matter that much since the skin goes on top of it which has it's own padding, but it feels brittle to me.

Are replacements available new or made aftermarket by anybody?

[Casey]

Nobody knows?  This is the part I'm talking about:

[bbnlv]

Somebody has those somewhere.....
Have you tried the dealer?  Have you looked on a later chassis S class to see if they are similar and or available?
The last place would be below.
Try Mercedes Benz Classic Center.  1(866) 622-5277

-B

[floyd111]

I would like to hear the updates on this one. What were the problems, the solutions, the part numbers?

[floyd111]

and..I would much like some help tracking the part numbers for this outfit.
I understand the system from the W126 is similar, with many parts in common, or completely the same.

[floyd111]

and what is this?

[floyd111]

This is a tough one for me, not a lot of data out there. All help would be welcomed.

[Casey]

I never pursued finding replacement pads further, but if they can be found, I'm still interested in a pair or two.

[floyd111]

The pads, it seems, can be had aftermarket, universals. It's the rest of the system I am wondering about.

[Casey]

I am not sure what the thing on the side of the seat is in your picture though I am curious!  The orthopedic seats in W116's are adjusted via a strap on the rear of the seat.  Not very convenient but I guess it's something you set where you like and then don't think about most of the time.




Note that the straps are supposed to be inside the net, but mine in this picture go over/through it due to a bad reupholstery job.  It's actually very thin vinyl glued on over original but bad condition leather...there were a lot of problems with that car and it's now in a scrapyard.

Here's another W116 with them:


There is a separate option code for each seat:

404     ORTHOPAEDIC FRONT SEAT BACKREST, LEFT
405     ORTHOPAEDIC FRONT SEAT BACKREST, RIGHT

[floyd111]

I hear that, to rebuild this one for the W116, one needs bladders from the W140
a1409102375
a1409102475
Both are cheap.

Now, what about the original controls? W116 never had electric controls with memory
Early W126 has the same old controls
Early W140 or W124 has the same system as as as well

But, what did the W116 original controls look like?
I am still not sure how they functioned.

[wbrian63]

The ortho seats on a W116 usa a "bag" (for lack of a better term) that is attached to the strap, top and bottom. Don't know what the bag is filled with.

For control, you move the bag up and down by pulling on the strap behind the seat.

There's no pneumatic aspect to the feature - and all W140's had pneumatic lumbar supports.

[Casey]

The ortho seats on a W116 usa a "bag" (for lack of a better term) that is attached to the strap, top and bottom. Don't know what the bag is filled with.

It's horsehair, same as the seat pad material.

[floyd111]

I am pretty sure that data isn't correct or complete.
These seat pads have a inflating system, and in a modern Benz, several memory positions and a self-leveling pressure system
The W116/early W126 also had inflatable pads, not just a horsehair stuffing. They were either manually pumped by a turn button on the side of the back rest, or by a button in between the console and the seat. That part is yet unclear.
I have seen buttons with full memory, 2 positions, and/or simply a jog. They were also somehow connected to the car's central locking system. How does that central locking function? Isn't there a pump somewhere?
That orthopedic system also had a secondary vacuum unit in the front fender, I understand.

The straps, I understand, were only there to raise or lower the inflated pads into preferred height.

But, These are just pieces of data flying, that need to be connected.
Help would be most appreciated.

[Casey]

I am pretty sure that data isn't correct or complete.
These seat pads have a inflating system, and in a modern Benz, several memory positions and a self-leveling pressure system
The W116/early W126 also had inflatable pads, not just a horsehair stuffing. They were either manually pumped by a turn button on the side of the back rest, or by a button in between the console and the seat. That part is yet unclear.
I have seen buttons with full memory, 2 positions, and/or simply a jog. They were also somehow connected to the car's central locking system. How does that central locking function? Isn't there a pump somewhere?
That orthopedic system also had a secondary vacuum unit in the front fender, I understand.

The straps, I understand, were only there to raise or lower the inflated pads into preferred height.

But, These are just pieces of data flying, that need to be connected.
Help would be most appreciated.

I don't know of other options and you may be correct that there was some inflatable system, but the original pads on my car were definitely just horsehair and moved up and down with a strap.  I have one or two others that I bought from somebody who found a car with the option in a junkyard, and they are identical, so I don't doubt their originality.  These cars did not have any sort of controls.  I'd be interested in hearing what else you find out!