The photos show how to remove a seat catch but obviously the reverse procedure can be used to replace one. With a little perseverance you should be able to remove the catch without cutting the seat cover at all. However it should be noted that volvo at random put the seat cover onto the seat relaese catch in at least 2 different ways!!! One is just held between 2 halves of the catch mounting , in the second way one also has a screw hole so that the material is not only clamped but screwed through. Amazingly this was the case in the car I was breaking so figure that one out! It should take about 20 to 30 minutes a seat requiring only some patience. Putting a replacement in is very much quicker and easier.
Step 1 unclip the 2 elastics which hold down the flap at the bottom of the seat back. Now lift up and you will see a row of 6 to 8 little metal circular clips holding the material panels together with either 1 or 2 metal rods acting as a lateral support. Unclip the clips and withdraw the rod(s).
Step 2 peel back/slide up the lower back cover for about 2 inches or 5 cm. as shown
Now unclip one side of the "silver" spring and slip the ring on the end of the wire off its holder. The wire then slides out through the gap between the metal retainer and the rim of seat (move towards you). Repeat for the other side of seat.
Step 3 Now unscrew the the knob for adusting the tension in the seat back until it is free then reach up and nip the end together and pull out the removed knob looks like this...
Step 4 unscrew the 2 screws holding the outer and inner mounting together..
Step 5 roll slide the seat cover up as far as you can...
So far so good thats the easy part over with and should have only taken about 5 to 10 minutes .
Now the awkward part take a pair of pliers and release the 3 clips which hold the mounting in place but do them in this order the lower one first
then the middle one
you can feel it with a small screwdriver between the seat rim and mounting and push it towards the front of the car while maintaining pressure on mounting.
Now do the top one
remove the plastic bracket and wires
If the wire appears to jam it is because the plastic stopper on one end it caught just push it straight up with yuor fingers and it will easily pop out.
To release the upper and lower catches just nip the end together and push at same time . A lot easier said than done but patience and it is done.
