I have the 1987 4runner turbo seats. The passenger side mechanism is slightly deformed and stripped and gunked up so that the release latch does not hold well and the seat back can move a few notches. If I push hard down on the release handle the seat will hold. I can see the part that got messed up. I'm thinking first try to clean off all the gunk then lube and put a stronger spring on and see what happens. Other than that are the seat parts for first gen 4runner removeable and interchangeable. If I find a used working passenger seat can I swap over my seat bottom and back?

 

not really , unless you remove the covers and foams, then change the frame structure .. the frames are specific to the sides


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I swapped my 87 4runner passenger seat parts out into a 1993 4runner seat. It was not that hard a racheting end wrench helps.

Search 1st gen 2nd gen 4runner seat swap there is a few writes up out there

 

I want to keep my original turbo seats. If you can swap between first and second gen that means you can do it for same gen seats.

 

I got lucky and found a set of replacement turbo seats. Was way easier than trying to swap out all the seat parts.