air ratchet

[vweaver]

My first 2016, I took the driver side rear seat out to install an amp. It was a pain in the a**. Limited ratchet area for some of the bolts, and those suckers were TIGHT (I guess the guy at the factory had to finish off his bottle of loctite?). My neck, arms, and back hurt afterwards. That '16 got totaled. I just purchased another one, and will re-install the amp in it.

Question is, will a low-priced air ratchet provide enough torque to loosen/tighten those seat bolts? The under $30 ones provide about 45lbs. I don't mind buying a cheap one if it will do the job, but I can't see spending $100 on a pro ratchet to get additional torque for no more than I would ever use the thing. $30 is tolerable, and I'd have one on hand if I ever needed it.

Thoughts?

 

[chrisbh17]

I have to remove my seats to put in a set of heated seats, but even on my low mile 2017 Im dreading it.

Im almost 100% positive an air ratchet wont do it. Some people have even had problems removing them with an air IMPACT wrench, having to resort to a breaker bar and a 2 foot long cheater pipe. Yeah, thats REALLY tight.

They were probably installed at factory with correct torque but my guess is either dissimilar metals (bolt vs threaded hole) and/or corrosion from the outside of the bolts being exposed underneath the truck causes them to be really hard to break loose.

 

[Karlsweg]

Negative ghost rider. I used an impact gun.

 

[PolarisCobra]

The air ratchet can still help. Once you break the bolt loose, it will spin right off, no need to swing a manual ratchet back and forth in a limited space.

 

[vweaver]

I have to remove my seats to put in a set of heated seats, but even on my low mile 2017 Im dreading it.

Im almost 100% positive an air ratchet wont do it. Some people have even had problems removing them with an air IMPACT wrench, having to resort to a breaker bar and a 2 foot long cheater pipe. Yeah, thats REALLY tight.

They were probably installed at factory with correct torque but my guess is either dissimilar metals (bolt vs threaded hole) and/or corrosion from the outside of the bolts being exposed underneath the truck causes them to be really hard to break loose.

I didn't have problem breaking them loose, but it was tight throughout removal until maybe the last 4 or 5 threads. I wouldn't mind breaking them loose if that's required, but especially the back two took a LONG time with limited travel space.

 

[crash68]

Probably depends on the air ratchet, I have an Ingersoll Rand that rated at 70ft-lbs.
I've pulled seats out of several vehicles with it.

 

[WilliamS]

Im dreading doing it again to get my seat riser in there and subwoofers. The back corner bolts sucked, my air ratchet couldnt spin them till near the end. Once you do the seat mod you can get to all of them to use an impact on, because you can fold the seat back down.

 

[vweaver]

So many mods... So little time, lol.