Brainstorming to improve lateral support in stock seat
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA - NoVA
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Brainstorming to improve lateral support in stock seat
Replacing my stock seats is not currently an option for me so I am trying to think of ways to improve the lateral support in the stock seat. I'm 5'6" and find myself really getting thrown around in the stock seat, having to support myself with a knee and the steering wheel (not good).
Seeing how the GrandAm drivers use a shell, like a booster seat, for the smaller driver to custom fit the seat, my thought is to have a generic shell made for the stock seat.
The idea is to have a shell which sits on top of the stock seat for the purpose of providing raised support areas exactly like a racing seat provides. A seat cover would then go over the stock seat and shell. The nice thing is that this could be removed for the street.
Just brainstorming. Any thoughts?
Seeing how the GrandAm drivers use a shell, like a booster seat, for the smaller driver to custom fit the seat, my thought is to have a generic shell made for the stock seat.
The idea is to have a shell which sits on top of the stock seat for the purpose of providing raised support areas exactly like a racing seat provides. A seat cover would then go over the stock seat and shell. The nice thing is that this could be removed for the street.
Just brainstorming. Any thoughts?
#3
Originally Posted by dbullock
Replacing my stock seats is not currently an option for me so I am trying to think of ways to improve the lateral support in the stock seat. I'm 5'6" and find myself really getting thrown around in the stock seat, having to support myself with a knee and the steering wheel (not good).
Seeing how the GrandAm drivers use a shell, like a booster seat, for the smaller driver to custom fit the seat, my thought is to have a generic shell made for the stock seat.
The idea is to have a shell which sits on top of the stock seat for the purpose of providing raised support areas exactly like a racing seat provides. A seat cover would then go over the stock seat and shell. The nice thing is that this could be removed for the street.
Just brainstorming. Any thoughts?
Seeing how the GrandAm drivers use a shell, like a booster seat, for the smaller driver to custom fit the seat, my thought is to have a generic shell made for the stock seat.
The idea is to have a shell which sits on top of the stock seat for the purpose of providing raised support areas exactly like a racing seat provides. A seat cover would then go over the stock seat and shell. The nice thing is that this could be removed for the street.
Just brainstorming. Any thoughts?
I'm not sure how much this is really going to help with the stock seats. With the molds/extra pads we use in our Rx-8s, the pads have velcro on the back that hold them in place on the seat. At the same time, the shoulders on the racing seats are large enough so that the drivers are still "in" the seat even with the extra padding. You would definitely need to find some way to make absolutely sure that the shell would be absolutely stationary while you are using it. You don't want it moving around and contorting your body mid turn. I haven't sat in a stock RX-8 seat in a while (we've got racing seats in all of ours), but without the actual lateral support of the seat itself, I would expect it would be fairly difficult for the shell to fulfill your needs.
The biggest thing you can do to really hold yourself in is to get a harness system that you can really crank down. IMO, I don't think the shell is going to do much on it's own if you are only using the stock belt.
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA - NoVA
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the feedback. Researching it further I have come to the same conclusion. It looks like a 3 or 4 point harness would be best. And if the harness is not enough then maybe the addition of a torso belt.
I'm going to continue this discussion over on the 4-point harness thread.
I'm going to continue this discussion over on the 4-point harness thread.
#7
I do something similar...I put the seat where I want it...pull the seatbelt to within a few inches short of being buckled...give it a quick yank to lock it...then buckle it. Takes some practice to get the right distance for that yank, but works well for me.
#8
I used the same method in my RX-8 as balefire describes. The "roll it forward" part is a little hit or miss, though, as you don't always get it to the exact spot you want.
In cars with power-memory seats (most cars anyway...never had a chance to try it in an RX-8 though), you can set a memory position for where you want it to be, then recline and/or move back a little, lock the belt, and return to the memory position.
In cars with power-memory seats (most cars anyway...never had a chance to try it in an RX-8 though), you can set a memory position for where you want it to be, then recline and/or move back a little, lock the belt, and return to the memory position.
#9
Cone Killer
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by balefire
My much more experienced co-driver taught me the following method, and it works well for me:
Roll the seat all the way back (or almost depending on how tight you want it)
Put seat belt on
Yank on seat belt to "lock" it.
Roll seat forward
Gl.
Roll the seat all the way back (or almost depending on how tight you want it)
Put seat belt on
Yank on seat belt to "lock" it.
Roll seat forward
Gl.
The "CG lock" is another option and relatively cheap.
#11
Registered
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NE Wisconsin
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by clyde
In cars with power-memory seats (most cars anyway...never had a chance to try it in an RX-8 though), you can set a memory position for where you want it to be, then recline and/or move back a little, lock the belt, and return to the memory position.
I've also seen straps that go around your chest and the back of the seat. Forgot what that's called. It's basically a nylon strap with valcro, you can probably make it cheap.
#13
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA - NoVA
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wish I could but it's not really an option as far as I can tell. My wife needs the height adjustability of the stock seat height.
The shell idea is out anyway. A harness should provide everything I need.
Now I just need to figure out how to get to the top of the rear seat belt mount. It's hidden underneath the Bose speaker grill.
The shell idea is out anyway. A harness should provide everything I need.
Now I just need to figure out how to get to the top of the rear seat belt mount. It's hidden underneath the Bose speaker grill.
Last edited by dbullock; 05-03-2007 at 03:14 PM.
#15
Or, take your stock seat to an upholstery shop, have them pull the cover, build up the foam/bolsters and then reinstall the cover...I've done plenty of "seat shaping" with motorcycles over the years that way.
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#16
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA - NoVA
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Building up the seat could be an option too. I want to keep the seat colors. I went out of state to buy this car because I wanted this particular color combo. Don't really want to rip the seats out and lose the nice color. :-)
I could spend more to possibly get Recaro seats recovered. A harness seems the best option to try first.
I could spend more to possibly get Recaro seats recovered. A harness seems the best option to try first.
#18
Originally Posted by TeamRX8
you could always recover it in velcro and then where a matching velcro racing suit ![Cwm27](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/cwm27.gif)
![Cwm27](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/cwm27.gif)
I can hear all the velcro "rrrrrriiiiiippppp" now...
#19
A CG lock makes a huge difference. You have to install it upside down and it's a good idea to pad it as the flange will dig into you. I also use rubber mesh carpet underpad on the seat back; it doesn't completely hold me in position but I slide a lot less.
#20
Anatomy of a corner...
Instead of a CG lock, just get a locking H-clip (commonly used with baby seats). It is basically a CG lock and costs like 4 bucks. For your upper body, I know of people that wrap a long 2" velcro strap around their chest and seat. (I think this is a bad idea in a convertible--but how about the 8?)
FS
FS
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post