Driver's Seat Remounted 3.75" Back

2009 Driver's Seat Remounted 3.75" Back

*** This modification did not work out..brackets removed from car ... back to stock mount now ***

Shop that did the modification -

Mobility Access, Inc.
dba Mobility Systems
1010 Carleton Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 540-0295 (800) 943-7333

Mobility Systems Homepage

Cost - $310

Accountant said they've done quite a few Prius seat remounts.

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Review (updated 4/27) -

Positives: Seat slid back 3.5+" further, easily put back to stock setup, got full refund

Negatives: Driver's seat crooked to right, front of seat lifted over 1", L/R did not click in simulataneously, seat rails yanked to left to attach front bolts.

Went for an evaluation, the owner Bill said - put seat back all the way back, put arms straight out, palms down ... he'll move driver's seat back 3.5". I said another reported good results with front of seat lifted 2". He didn't recommend that saying legs will come down as you slide back. I said ok.

I called back 20 minutes after dropping car off, talked to shop helper, said I've always thought Prius seat is too flat, can they angle it, but only with back of seat bottom lower. This may have started a problem.

Next day, go to pick car up. As I slide seat back, notice left and right adjusters do not click in simultaneously, but I could get the seat to click in and be straight. I'm a bit excited just because the seat finally goes back about 4" further, more than I need.

At home I notice the right front nut is on the bolt, but not tightened (there is a gap between OE bracket and aftermarket bracket). I also notice much more tilt back to seat bottom. Couple days later, went for a 2 hour drive, noticed the seat pressed too much into my thighs. I also needed to lift up steering wheel almost to highest position.

I called the owner, said right front bolt/nut not tightened and tang not in alignment hole. Said he's look at it.

I measured the front seat height while seat at same distance back as passenger's seat. Driver's seat about 1 1/8" higher - not good at all. Front brackets are useless (not adjustable).

Next day I reported front of seat lifted. Owner said he will not rework the mounts, doesn't have time for repairs or me, wants to part ways, but will put back to stock and give a refund.

Day later, I loosened the front mount bolts to let the seat settle in .... the rear brackets are causing the seat to angle noticeably to the right (see pics few pages down).

At this point, the seat would now click in simulataneously when slid back and forth, but again, seat crooked to right. Now, the front bolt holes from aftermarket bracket were way off, almost too much to get the bolt in at an angle.

So, the rear brackets are messed up as well as the front. I take the brackets out, put back to stock. Returned brackets to Mobility, got a refund. Back to square one, but have learned a few things.
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Left front, seatrail 'foot' raised up about 1/2" from stock position


Right front.


Right rear

 

Left rear. Downward bend in bracket, seat bottom lower



full forward



full back. Passenger seat full back, stock mount

 

full back



Below very close to stock mount, fully back



Seat 2" back from fully extended stock position

 

shoulder harness with seat 2" further back than normal.



a toy



reach (more tolerable than cramped legspace)

 

Lower reach

 

nyprius - they removed 'feet' and welded plate to seat rail, welded feet to plate. With respect, would seem harder to put back to stock, if prospective buyers insisted.

epop23 - seems they used same method as mine.

Mine appears a simple unbolt from brackets to put back to stock as technician said.

 

Driver's seat where I like it. Not bad back there.

 

All the way back.



Feels like a 2010 Insight with its seat fully back

 

edited 5/3

The tech said he was against raising the front of the seat, but the front of the seat is 1 1/8" than passenger's when both at same amount back. I have found a lifted front of seat, that has been moved back ... to not be desirable. Front of seat presses into thighs too much and limits clearance between knees and the steering wheel (especially for those with long legs, the one's who'd have seat moved back to start with).

Every decent height adjuster I've seen moves the seat down as it goes back.

 

Lack of seat track travel, height adjuster, telescopic steering and lumbar support are the usual suspects.

 

Added more comments in 1st post and edited post #12.

 

re-edited post #12, response to Boo's question.

 

Not what I heard...

Anyhoo, my elbows are slightly bent while grasping top of steering wheel, shoulders back.

Lucky for ya'll, my complaining may be over. Need to learn to not complain, just modify, modify.

 

The right front mount is shoddy and front of seat too high. I might try to fix it at home.



Good call. Will check fasteners soon and often.

 

Commentary edited in first post -