Is there a list of FIA certified racing seats that will fit a RX-8? So, I am thinking that seat must fit without tunnel mods, fit in the center of the steering wheel and no the door.

If no such list, please list down what racing seats do you have, and I'll start a list then. So put down your:
- Brand and model
- Comment on fit:
- Sliders, or mounting brackets use
- Comment on installation:

 

I know the Bride Zeta III will fit for sure, there are a few member with it.

 

If price and weight were included that would be nice as well.

 

Good to know. Memory Fab sells some "super low" brackets, no clue if they would be low enough thought or fit other seats other than Memory Fab ones.

 

im about to get the sparco pro 2000. i only need my ride height lowered the amount of the thickness of my helmet ;-)

my local shop was going to go with sparco rails, but they've never worked on an 8. waiting on another shop 2 hours out of LA that knows the 8 intimately...
but in the meantime,

will i sit lower with the pro 2000 and side rails?

 

What shop would that be for those of us that may need them on the west coast.

Good idea on this thread. A simple what works/fits with what would be a great help rather than the zillion freakin' "had to do this to get that to work with that..." and on and on and on threads that drive me nuts . I just want to know what mounting brackets/sliders would drop the seat height half and inch or so and what seats fit with them.

 

That sux! Tired of having to brace myself with my legs. Can't left foot break in a right hand corner for **** in the stock seat. 1/2 an inch doesn't seem like it would be that hard to come by in a setup.

 

Quick fix for additional headroom: Pull the seat bottom cushion and put in stiffer, but thinner foam. Should help a little with lateral support as well.

For more lateral support: Before driving hard, slide your seat all the way back. Fasten your seatbelt, then give the chest strap a good yank so it locks. While holding tension on the belt, slide your seat forward into the driving position you use. Nice and tight. This works wonders for me.

For even more lateral support: Buy a Simpson lap harness. Find a used one if you can. They're pretty cheap. Get two eye-bolts from a racing supply store, bolt them through the floor behind your seat, hook up the lap harness and you're done.

You shouldn't need more than this, but if you do, get the racing seat. I plan to get a seat, but only because the stock one flexes like a motherf***er. To see what I mean, sit in the backseat and grab the shoulders of the driver's seat. Pull one towards you while pushing the other away from you. Horrible. Now grab the "hips" of the seat and push it from side to side. Atrocious.

 

I just bought an RX8, haven't even picked it up yet. I've been reading several of the threads about racing seats and helmet clearance. I've been tracking my previous car, an Acura RSX-S, for a couple of years and it didn't have much head clearance either. I was serioulsly thinking about getting a Corbeau wide seat to fit my fat butt.

So if I got the Corbeau and ordered the sliding rails that they advertise on their website, according to these posts, the Corbeau will not sit any lower than the OEM seats? I have to make (or modify the Corbeau slider) custom sliders to make the aftermarket seat lower than the OEM? Just trying to clarify what I thought I read. Here's hoping I read it wrong.

 

With the Bride Zeta III and the regular Bride FG rails you can mount the seat pretty low. I am not very tall, but I have sat in a few cars with bride full bucket seats at the lowest position on the rail and I could barely see out past the steering wheel siting normally. This was without a helmet of course, but compared to stock it was a lot more head room.

 

To clear up my statement the cars I sat in were RX-8's with Bride seat/rails.

 

Well that's kind of getting to my next question. Is the problem something with the RX8 floorplan? Is there a crossbrace or something in the way? Or is it a seat by seat brand-specific problem that certain types or brands of aftermarket seats (i.e. reclining) aren't low enough? I'm contemplating a fixed back bucket seat like the Corbeaux FX1. Thanks for the input.

 

Some excellent ideas while I figure out what seat and brackets to go with. I got to sit in some racing seats at Winecountry Motorsports at Infineon this weekend and what a difference.

 

Could this be a solution for us tall guys!!??

 

If you tracking the car, won't you want to get a seat that is FIA rated?

 

^not necessarily, some tracks do not require it

 

Time to revive this thread. According to several web sites, the Bride Zeta III comes in three trim levels: Zeta III, Zeta III Type-L, and Zeta III Type-S.

What is the difference between the three?

Seat height is important to me, but so is width. I'm 6'2" and weigh 190 - so I'm just a bit bigger than the typical JDM driver...!

Double D

 

A quick Google search indicates that the Zeta III Type-L is for "larger" drivers, while the Type-S is for "shorter" drivers.

Type-L = large; Type-S = short.

BRILLIANT!!!!

hahaha!

 

^but only the regular Zeta is FIA approved.

 

Not only the seat needs to be FIA approved. You really need the rails to be approved as well??????????

That is the biggest question since the FG type (the only FIA approved rail from Bride) DOES NOT give you lower seats.

TeamRX-8, the low max system is very low. I have a low max VIOSIII that is set at 80mm lower than standard and my top of helmet even have rooms to breath rather than pressing on the roof before.

MAXIS III seats are FIA approved, but the lowmax LF rails is not. FG otherwise will fit. (website said 使用シートレール：LF　及び　Ｆシリーズ
　※LFタイプの設定が無い車種はＦシリーズを使用します。 ~~~ that means Seat rails to be used: LF and F series. ※in the events of your car don't have a LF type, use a F series.

RX-8 LF gives 50-80mm lower than stock ... me happy ^_^ . I will just swap a Maxis III or something if I go Tasmania Targa one day... and put a fake label on the rail hehe..

 

I really wanna get into autox, and such but frankly, oem seat height is out of the question, as I am 6'4" tall, 200 lbs. I don't fit normally at all, my seat is leaned so far back you would think its a lazy boy. I have considered just buying some oems and cutting them up, making custom bracket for whatever seat I go with... or buying a bracket and hoping the best... I just dont know...

 

TEAMRX8 is right on the money---most seats require a unique or custom rail to affix to the floor.

Most street guys don't understand this but when you've been around for a while, it is common knowledge. Very common. Go ahead and surf away, buy something that you think will plop right in, get a seat and then find out it's not as easy as putting a K&N air filter install.

Typically there are two kinds of seats: A regular guy seat and a taller guy/wider guy seat. This is common knowledge when you've been around the block. I think I've purchased 6 race seats over the years---5 of them unique. ALL had custom seat mounts. All were race seats.

Advice----depending on what you want to do and how far you want to go, read the SCCA and NASA racing rules WRT seats. Some people buy a seat and then decide to go racing only to find that the seat they purchased is not legal.

Your local road racing shop is a good source of advice. Pick one that builds road racing cars. Spend a little more with these guys for their advice. Have them install the seat.

DON'T CHOOSE A SEAT JUST BECAUSE IT LOOKS COOL. A HEAD ON IMPACT (OR ANY IMPACT) CAN PUT HUGE STRESS ON THE SEAT AND DRIVER. We have thrown away several safety belts because they were stretched in an accident. Install the seat lower than you think is required and it works. Remove the big cushy seat bottom pad so you can "feel" what the car is doing. This is the hot ticket that many fast and professional drivers use.

happy rotoring

 

I am re-reading this trend. Just wondering, have you guys ever bought non-branded racing seats? I am thinking of getting these ones...they look just like the Bride ones.

http://zilvia.net/f/group-buys/24333...group-buy.html

 

sparco sprint
Cheap and good quality, FIA proved, bucket seat, tie up your body I bought it for $240, great price

 

i have to ask carbonrx8 what seat/rail he bought. i forgot, i do remember the seat being pretty pricey. (~$1200.)

but he literally bought it and the rail for it and bolted it into his car. the seat sits A LOT lower than stock. i mean.. i couldnt even see the hood of the car with his seat. i'll chime in tomorrow.