What are these plastic rods and crimps under my couch cushion and can they be replaced?

Question

One side of our couch sinks in way too much. I really don't want to fork a money for a new couch right now, so thought I'd see if I could fix it. I flipped it over and underneath I found that 3 plastic rods that run horizontally ( circled in red in the picture ), are broken. The rods are crimped the the squiggly spring things with some sort of clasp ( circle in red in second picture ). I'd assume there's a special tool required to make the crimps/clasps? Does anyone know what these items are called, and if they can be replaced, especially on a DIY project? If not is there a good work around or substitute? I appreciate any help or advice. Thanks

Answer 1

Those are called stay wires, and they can be replaced.

When a person sits on the couch, a certain number of the zig-zag springs will be directly underneath them. The stay wires link the springs together so the weight of the person is distributed among more than just those springs, making the seat sink less.

They are attached with stay wire clips to your couch's springs. Yours are specifically "three prong clips." Your couch has sinuous or "zig-zag" springs; some very high-end couches have coil springs that are tied together, like some mattresses.

The traditional material for stay wires is paper-wrapped steel; the paper helps prevent squeaking. There are pliers made specifically for attaching three-prong clips, such as the Osborne No. 445-3 Spring Clip Pliers (online store chosen at random from Google), but you can attach the clips with a regular set of needle nose or lineman's pliers and a little extra effort. If you want to save money and aren't going to start a stay wire repair side business, it's probably not worth buying the special pliers.

Here is one kit with replacement wire and clips; similar materials will be available from various shops online. They're available in various lengths with various numbers of clips included; measure your couch and count your springs to make sure you've got enough coverage.

House2Home Upholstery Stay Wire for Sofa

Note, you may choose to bend the ends of the stay wires into an "L" shape after installation, like how your current plastic stay wires are shaped. This prevents them from sliding laterally in their clips; if you like to lie sideways on the couch enough, the wires may actually begin to slip out quite far and can even protrude out of the couch!

If you don't want to replace the stay wires, there are alternative products meant to support saggy couches (and, of course, you can DIY it with plywood, stiff cardboard, etc, though results may vary widely). Here is one such product, picked at random from Amazon; you will probably have to check sizes if you buy one like this:

Couch Cushion Support for Sagging Seat

Answer 2

I found something for you.

It comes with instructions how to do it.

You will have to go true the pain of removing the old then cut the wire to size and replace with new crimps.

springs

Answer 3

You should be able to work those clamps loose with a screwdriver and needle nosed pliers. Remove the broken plastic rod pieces and check your home store for a steel rod the same size. I had trouble finding one so I got a heavy steel coat hanger, straightened it out and used it instead. Then "wrap" those clamps around the rod with some pliers.

Answer 4

A stopgap measure I used was to put several layers of cardboard box (prefereably the three-layer stuff from a machinery crate or possibly a wardrobe box) under the cushions, to spread the force over more springs.

If I wasn't trying to get rid of my great-aunt's couch I'd take that one further and just put in a piece of plywood under the cushions. I prefer a firmer sitting surface anyway.