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MG MG Y Type - Rear seat removal on a YT

Can someone explain how to remove the rear seats on a MG YT?
E. Geissler

The rear section is held in place by 4 studs with nuts in the side curtain/screen recess behind.

The bottom section just lifts out.

cheers
Ian
Ian Prior

Thanks Ian
E. Geissler

Ed

Hopefully these photographs will help you. One shows the backside of the rear seat support and the holes that are in those side pieces. The studs referred to earlier past through these under held in place in the hood well.

The second photograph shows the studs on the back of the seat. They are kind of short, so possibly don’t show up too well. Let me know if you need more photographs

Paul.




Paul Barrow

Just as an option to consider...
When I replaced the Perspex in my side curtains (scratched & yellowed after many year, changed to polycarbonate) I found the compartment behind the seat back was a tight fit to slide in all 4 curtains with some fabric between to prevent rubbing.
My solution was to replace the 4 studs on the seat back with small latches that grab the metal channel in Paul's picture. So when removing/storing the curtains, I can quickly tilt the seat back forward to get clear access to the curtains. It's a lot kinder to the curtains and doesn't change the look or fit of the seat back when in place.
R Ades

That's the engineer in you coming out again, Rob! Catch up at the Nationals. John.
J P Hall

Robert

How about you send me full details of this and pictures and I can add it to Hints and Tips?

Paul
Paul Barrow

Ok Paul, will get in there with my camera tomorrow...
R Ades

So here's my rear seat-back fastener. Not a hi-tech solution but effective.
The original 4 studs and nuts have been removed.
A bottom latch isn't necessary because the lower edge of the seat-back sits behind the seat-base (squab) so it can't go anywhere.
The two top latches (left & right) simply rotate above a plate to engage the side channels.
To tilt the seat-back, it's a 90 degree twist of the latches. The latches stay in position when locked due to the closed pressure.

So when the latches are opened, the seat-back tilts easily forward to give clear access to the side curtains (my curtains live in bags sewn from old woollen blankets for protection). This is a lot less struggle.

An added bonus is that the whole rear seat (squab & back) are both easily lifted out of the car. This is helpful for cleaning, or if we have a lot of cargo needing more space. Or when competing and a bit less weight on board is useful.





R Ades

Hi Robert,
This an interesting idea. Certainly would make it much easier to stow the side curtains and avoids any chance of the studs snagging the pockets of blanketing you use.
A question from me if I may.
I presume the back rest latches can be engaged with the curtains in their storage space, but what stops the back rest moving upwards against the support angles?
Perhaps retaining a stub, rounded off, of the upper mounting bolts would be useful.
And just an intriguing comment. "Squab" is a bit ambiguous. it means different things to different people as told to me by my long gone dad. From the English Language & Usage website, one answer to its meaning is as under...

"In general upholstery usage, the squab is the thickly padded cushion of a chair or sofa one sits upon, contacting the thighs and buttocks.

In North America and Europe, Squab in Vehicles is the lower seat portion.

The exception is England for automotive usage during the 1900s. In that context, squab refers to the backrest portion of the chair or side supports one may lean against. In England today, if the conversation is about antique cars or purchasing parts for them, squab refers to the backrest. If the conversation is about modern cars or their parts, squab refers to the seat bottom portion. If clarity is desired, the term squab is avoided."

Probably got too much time on my hands.
Regards KG



K G Mills

Hi KG,

Yes, the latches can be engaged with the curtains in place. That was the whole point. I tilt the seat back forward, stack all four curtains, then "close" the seat and latch it. Quite simple.

As for the seat back moving upwards, I can only say that it doesn't. The seat back is a heavy item, so holds itself down. I experimented with retaining stubs of the upper studs to engage the existing holes but this proved to be a struggle to line up unseen (hard to see down there with all the curtains loaded) so I removed them completely. Haven't missed them.

I considered using a slide bolt engaging a hasp attached to the support angles (this would be a vertical lock as well as longitudinal one) but as the rotary latches have worked well for several years, I didn't see the need.

As for "squab", my time in automotive interior components for OEM taught me this as the industry name for a seat base, same as in general upholstery. I hadn't heard the alternate use you mention. So, in common-use terms, the YT seat back sits behind the seat base cushion, so doesn't want to move forward. Hence I've been happy with a top latch only.

Good luck with your adventure. It's fun to engineer!
R Ades

Hi Rob,
thanks for sharing your experience on this. My seats are in place now, but if they come out again, I'll certainly be considering this mod.
As to squab, the pdf above is from the owners handbook. Interestingly, their squab is the back rest.
There is a reference in LTBYs too, using this meaning.
Thanks again, much appreciated.
Kevin M
K G Mills

This thread was discussed between 20/03/2025 and 04/04/2025

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