Reclining Seats - Hawks, etc

Has anyone had any problems with the full reclining front seats?
On my 59 Hawk the drivers seat-back just falls backward
sometimes when I'm out driving. I 'd better hold my hands hard
to the steering wheel otherwize I almost end up in the rear seat.
It feels a little bit dangerous and I have to pass the yearly vehicle
inspection within a few weeks, so does anyone know of a fix for this?///////

I had the same problem with a '65 Cruiser.  The gear teeth in the recliner
mechanism are worn too badly to hold.  They are not supposed to be
lubricated so they tend to wear with use.  You will need to replace the
entire unit as the teeth are integral to the unit.  The units can be
unbolted for replacement (one of the bolts is hidden by the seat
upholstery). A '59 - '64 Shop Manual describes the replacement process.  If
you don't have a manual, you should get one.  Both manuals (in re-print) and
recliners are available from several parts vendors.

Generally, the problem is a missing spring that pushes the chrome handle back into the "lock"
position. Also, worn or broken teeth on the internal gear causes this also. The recliners are not
too difficult to take apart, and there are easy modifications to make it stay in one place (for
inspection)... in case you need time to order parts.

The same seat reclining mechanism was used on some AMC models during the 60s. I 
salvaged some parts from a junk yard long ago. The only difference that I 
remember was the handle. Internally, the parts were the same.