Know it is a tonnes of treads like this on this forum but all of the treads I found missed some information which would help even more. So this is an attempt to gather some of the information on how to fix the common problem on the first gen LS400 with the reclining on drivers seat not working as it should. In this tread is also a short description on how I fixed this problem on my car.

If the drivers seat on your car only reclines on one side (left) this tread is for you.

First I read trough this 2 treads which has a lot of good information in them:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...eat-part2.html
http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/for...howtopic=57102
A note on the last tread from LOC. You don't have to remove the seat from your car to fix it.

1) Followed the first 2 steps in the first tread.

2) The problem in my case was that the splined shaft didn't move. The splines on the shaft was destroyed as can be seen on the picture below.

Instead of trying to superglue my plan was to change out the shaft. The art nr on the shaft is 72501-30050 and it is really cheap.

3) Continued to dismantle the seat. To be able to remove the shaft you have to remove the top half of the seat. To do this you have to remove the 2 bolts marked on picture bellow with a 12 mm socket on both sides of the seat.


4) It also helps a lot if you loosen all the straps holding the cables in place. See picture below.


5) Now you should be able to lift the top half of the seat up and tilt it forward. To remove the shaft press out the "frame" as showed in the picture below. In the picture the shaft is already removed.


6) Put the new shaft in. The new shaft is slightly longer then the old one. Make sure the both sides of the seat is level when you do this.

7) Make sure the seat works as it should. Then put everything back together again.

Hope this helps. And hope you can understand my not so perfect English. Feel free to come with comments and post links to similar treads.
/Joel

 

Thank you for your contribution Joel...that is a great DIY writeup that will have to be stickied.

Alternative using glue:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...ggin-seat.html

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...eat-part2.html - with pics

 

Very detailed, and a great diy fix. Thanks for taking the time for a more complete writeup.

 

Nice job!! I guess I'll be fixing my seat soon.

 

Nice tutorial, I had to do this last year. I am sure other members will appreciate this because I sure it is fairly common. I pulled both front seats out and since I had mine torn down I decided to switch the top leather covers and seat cushions with the passenger seat so the worn section was hidden on the other side.

 

Most appreciated I Luv you lexus freaks Thanks!!

 

I fixed my seat once w/ the glue method and it broke again!

Thanks a million! Now I can fix it long-term

 

I used this to fix a problem where my seat was free and flopping i.e. no support on right rear corner of driver seat. i found to missing bolts that held seat in place . I pulled seat and replaced bolts seat its all nice and stable now but it only reclines on the left side now help

 

Thanks to the OP.

Just an update and a few helpful hints (well, they worked for me anyways).

#1
In order to align the seat brackets again, try and rotate them and make sure all 4 bolts are able to get in place with no fuss. If you have to push and force a bolt, then you're doing it wrong and its not aligned.

#2
Also, make sure you put the shaft on the motor end FIRST.

#3
Put some grease in both ends of the shaft. Not necessary but it helps when you have to try and take it in and out a few times for alignment.

That's all.

 

Can I get this part at a regular Toyota dealer or it's Lexus only?

 

The part as such is probably Lexus only, but you should be able to walk into any Toyota dealer and order parts for Lexus cars. (That is at least the situation here in Sweden and Europe. If I understood it correctly, both the swedish and the european central storehouse for Toyota parts shares the space with Lexus parts, as well as a common computer system etc.)
In short, I recon that you can go to any Toyota dealer and order the part from there. Just see to that you have the correct article number (72501-30050 in this case) and they should be able to get it to you within a few days.

//Björn

 

It's Lexus only. The part is around $11.00.

I've heard or seen that some of the Camrys have the same shaft but I haven't had enough time to experiment at the Pick A Part to tear one apart.

 

yes!!!!! i was extremely tired of leaning like fat joe.

 

If you're having trouble lining up the seat frame, a handy trick is to get a carpenter's level and balance it on the 2 brackets. Then turn the right side bracket until the middle bubble is centered.

 

ill be fixing my soon i had this problem doe over a year now im tire of driving like this