Driver's seat distance

tampa8 · Post by **tampa8** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:55 am

Is there any type of adjustment to make the driver's seat go back a little more? (2004 ) Although I like the seat on the high side, doing that gives your right leg less distance to the gas pedal/more of a bend. Lowering it does allow you to stretch your leg a little more, but a little further back would be great.

zionzr2 · Post by **zionzr2** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 12:30 pm

yeah theres a leaver under the seat in the front to move the seat forward and back...however if you allready have it all the way back and its still not far enough...well then you need to go to the Hospital and have them shorten your legs a few inches!! About the only way i know that will work.

mcgusto82 · Post by **mcgusto82** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:16 pm

i was actually thinking about this the otehr day too. i think that the stops on the vibe are premature. doesn't look like the rails run out of room for the seat to stop going further.

Atomic · Post by **Atomic** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:09 am

You could make a couple of steel plates with 2 clearance and 2 tapped holes in them, remove the seat, and add the plates under the seat.This would increase the length rearward, but limit the closest position.It would raise the seat a bit, and could be an issue with the airbag functionality.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:46 am

Sorry guys, I gotta do it.RTFM.

millster · Post by **millster** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:49 am

I don't imagine the "fine manual" has anything about extending the seat tracks.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:54 am

The original post doesn't lead me to believe they wanted the seat to extend beyond it's current travel limitations.The way I read it, they just want to move the seat, no?

millster · Post by **millster** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:57 am

Good point. I went back and read it again and... I'm not sure.If it is a need for extending the seat tracks, I wouldn't want to attempt that. Too many things that can go horribly wrong.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:18 am

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish Â»The original post doesn't lead me to believe they wanted the seat to extend beyond it's current travel limitations.The way I read it, they just want to move the seat, no? nah, do you really think so? I hope you're wrong. I'd have to check in my car, but looking at the pics tampa8 posted in http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=11190, like this oneit looks like the seat is already back about as far as it can go, but like I said I'd have to check mine to be sure

tampa8 · Post by **tampa8** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 3:41 am

Yes, I have the seat all the way back. There have been some cars in the past where you could bolt the seat one or two notches back. The travel of the rail would remain the same, but the seat would be bolted further back on the rail. I only mentioned seat hight because when the seat is lower it reduces the bend of your leg to the gas pedal helping to make it like you were further away. Guess I was hoping for some easy way to make the seat go back a little more.

tangerine · Post by **tangerine** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 1:21 am

that car looks like it was hosed with armorall

vibe-04 · Post by **vibe-04** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 10:24 am

I've also been looking into this (extending the seat rail) because my right knee feels like crap on long drives. Idea 1) The adaptor plate Atomic describes above is a great idea and I was considering something similar but using horizontal tapped plates (his looks easier). I'm concerned about strength during a full collision because I can't remember if the seat belt attached to the floor or the seat (I'll check later tonight).Idea 2) Find a different seat from Toyota that has the same seat pan bolt pattern as the Matrix/Vibe but a longer travel distance. I've had no time to persue this. Back with my Bronco II, we (the board) has a compatable seat list. We found that many seats designed for 2 door cars from Ford would fit the Bronco II. There was also a specific need because the B II didn't have head rests (Ford ????). Anyway, Mustangs, Escort, and alike seats would bolt right in. I was hoping to research this and find a Toyota 2 Door seat that usually has a longer travel distance. I need to spend a morning in a salvage yard...Idea 3) There is enough metal in the seat rail to drill out 1 more notch (+.2"). Not much distance would be gained so not that worthwhile.Idea 4) Raise the front of the seat and leave the back as is. This will pivot the seat moving your a$$ further back and raising leg. I replaced the M10 bolts and put a 3/8" rubber bushing. This helped a lot. (there's a thread about this using washers instead of bushings)just thoughts. feedback welcome

tampa8 · Post by **tampa8** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 4:55 am

vibe-04, Thank-you for your reply. Can you explain idea #4 more? I don't quite follow what you mean. (How to do it)

vibe-04 · Post by **vibe-04** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:07 am

I removed the two front nuts holding the driver's seat to the floor and stuck a 3/8" neoprene bushing (spacer) to raise the front ot the seat only. The net effect to to tip the seat backwards allowing the front of the seat to rise; totaly cost was a buck for the new M10 bolts (becareful of the thread type: coarse or fine). The seat feels better. Test it youself by removing the bolts and adding some wood as a spacer to see if it helps you.Andrew

tampa8 · Post by **tampa8** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:28 am

Thanks. I will try it this weekend.

vibe-04 · Post by **vibe-04** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:53 am

Here's a pic. Make sure you choose the right bolt pitch or you may cross thread.Andrew

Attached files

Baltovibe · Post by **Baltovibe** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 10:34 pm

I too would like my seat further back. However, as it is now, it seems I have to reach quite a bit more than normal for the steering wheel. I wish the vibe had a telescoping steering wheel to compensate.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 10:36 pm

Quote, originally posted by joatmon Â»nah, do you really think so? I hope you're wrong. I'd have to check in my car, but looking at the pics tampa8 posted in http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=11190, ...it looks like the seat is already back about as far as it can go, but like I said I'd have to check mine to be sureYeah, I see now, but you never know, some people overlook the most obvious of obvious. Obviously, this was NOT one of those cases.

Atomic · Post by **Atomic** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:21 am

The front bolts in my '05 are M10 x 1.25 x 30mm long, with a washer head.Get the highest grade of bolt that you can find (minimum grade 5, pref. grade 8).I'm not sure about adding a rubber washer under the mount pad though.I personally would rather have a solid spacer, than something that lets the seat rock in ANY direction.These bolts hold the seat to the floorpan, and I would hate to think what could happen if you are in a collision and the continual stress of movement has fatigued the bolt to the point that it could fail.I would suggest some steel 10mm washers if you are going to put anything under there.I also see that the two mount surfaces for the seat are not parallel with the rears, so my earlier idea of one solid bar for each side wouldn't work.And make sure you tighten the bolts back down WELL.Maybe even add some Loctite (#242 should work nicely).

vibe-04 · Post by **vibe-04** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 2:51 am

Adding a bracket could could raise liability and insurance problems in case of an accident. I'm still going to find a matching seat. I want to check out if the Celica or Solara will fit. (Echo??)The rubber spacers I used came from a Rancho 5000 shock absorber spacer set. They are rock hard and won't rust. Edit: the shocks were on a truck, not the Vibe

djpositivek · Post by **djpositivek** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 5:46 am

I hope you're joking about getting Echo seats ! Never been in one but they can't as comfy as the Vibe's.

Toasted7 · Post by **Toasted7** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 5:52 am

Ever thought about just removing the front seats and sitting in the back to drive? I have...

vibe-04 · Post by **vibe-04** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:29 am

I've only driven an Echo once. It felt like driving a clown car from the circus and the center mounted console drove me nuts.I'm going to check into the Celica.Andrew

Driver's seat distance

Driver's seat distance

Re: Driver's seat distance (tampa8)

Re: Driver's seat distance (zionzr2)

Re: Driver's seat distance (tampa8)

Re: (ragingfish)

Re: (millster)

Re: (ragingfish)

Re: (ragingfish)

Re: (vibe-04)

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Make sure you choose the smae thread pitch

Re: Driver's seat distance (tampa8)

Re: (joatmon)

Re: (ragingfish)

Re: (vibe-04)

Re: (djpositivek)