Driver's Seat Remounted 3.75" Back

Using a level and ruler, the driver's seat is unfortunately 1 1/8" higher from front lip of seat to floorboard than the passenger's seat. This is with seats identical distance back.

>>> Front of the seat lifted is not a good thing IMNSHO, unless one enjoys pressure on thighs and less knee clearance under steering wheel.

I have a few alternatives at this point

1) Make new front mounts at home to bring seat front down

2) Take car back to original shop, put back to stock, get a refund

3) Take car to another shop for repair

 

Hard to see, but seat crooked to right

 

Can clearly see driver's seat crooked to right. If can't see, get eyes checked.

 

Front seats same amount back ....

Driver's side


Passenger's side


Driver's side over 1" higher. This is not what you want when modifying seat to move back farther. OE height on the driver's seat would be fine.

 

Because I am going for a refund 4/27.

 

Hole spacing on left rear (top in pic) shorter than right. Explains why seat was crooked to right.



Put back to stock myself.

 

I don't think so, because that involved removing the OE feet (brackets) from the rails (drilling out factory rivets), welding plate to the rails, then welding to the feet.

My new requirements are:

* Driver's seat remounted 3.5 - 4" back

* Front and back of seat bottom no higher than original level after remount

* Driver's seat straight after remount

* Front OE brackets supported on their 3 contact points

* No modifications of OE brackets, rails, seat, nor cutting, welding into OE chassis.

* A high quality job.

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I've been tempted by jelloslug's height adjuter built into his Prius seat. Even called a vendor in Rancho Cordova, CA that seems to have Corolla seats all the time. But, I won't allow modifying the seat itself now. If something goes wrong, would be out of my price range to have it fixed.
Besides, I still may not get the seat travel I'm looking for with the height adjuster built into the Pri seat.

It was nice to slide the seat back, but the execution was blown by the crooked rear brackets and lifted front of seat (had to raise steering wheel almost to max height) and the seat pressed into my thighs.

When I picked the car up, I did notice the adjuster on left and right of seat did not click in simulateously. This is indicative of a skewed seat.

I've learned some things and the seat is back to stock now. I drove the car several times today. It really bites seeing all that legspace in the rear seat. I only need to slide back 2" max.

The reason the seat must be moved 3.5" back is for the front OE brackets to clear the hump where they originally mount. A bolt needs room to go down.

 

I've made appointments at a couple other shops for seat remount eval. I'll be looking around a lot for a quality shop. I expect to pay much more than $300 for a quality job as building custom brackets seems time consuming.

It's too bad there is apparently not a re-bracketing kit on the market for the Prius. I guess no company wants to assume the liability if the brackets fail in a collision.

But, if properly engineered brackets existed, I would buy them in a heartbeat.

It is not difficult to remove the driver's seat. Could bolt custom brackets in, then drop the seat in, bolt down, hook up 3 connectors, reconnect 12V battery, done. Instant 1st class legspace for really long legs.

Maybe airbag requirements prevent a company from marketing a seat remount kit.

 

I guess nyprius is still happy with his. But $300 doesn't leave much room for a quality custom job though.

 

Review in 1st post.

 

I see a safety hazard with this right rear bracket - the OEM bolt is behind the seat rail in the pic. In a rollover crash, the bracket (plate) would rotate counterclockwise and the seat and occupant with seatbelt would give way (end up on their head).



The other problem is the floor is not solid below that plate, the carpet is mushy, so that horizontal piece is not really supported although it is supposed to be load bearing.

I think the best method is to remount the rails on the existing brackets. I think this is how nyprius modifier did the job.

I talked to another shop after sending them photos of this mod and they didn't like it. They'd be willing to look at mine and mentioned the job would involve some welding, but they'd hide the mod well.

 

Here is a new set of remount specs which will require removal of the rivets between mounting feet and the seat rails -

details deleted.​

 

post deleted.

 

Thanks for posting the pics Tom, first time I've seen them!

In answer to your question,

It's taking me a while to accept that a rather permanent mod needs to be done to get 2" more backward seat travel.

Aside from that, handicapped retrofitters (the only ones licensed to do these jobs) are few and far between. The job in Berkeley failed.
Another place 25 miles away told me last week - 'We don't work on electric cars'

A place 50 miles away mentioned they use welding to do it, so I'll email these photos to them.

The next closest place is 60 miles away. Some shops that do race car fab might be willing to do the work.

Kinda scary that Toyota does not sell replacement feet if something goes wrong. A used Prius driver's seat proved very difficult to find (I could not locate one in Central CA yesterday) and a replacement Prius seat frame would cost upward of $450 if some shop really botched the job. Excuses, but I'm on a strict budget while paying off this car. Doing well though, less than $5k to go!

 

Just wanted to get back about this again.

On the Corolla seat from the junkyard, I drilled out the rivet and spot weld on the left rear mounting foot, separated it from the rail.

I felt so bad about the thought of drilling out the Prius mounting feet, knew it's not the right mod for me.

edited 5/10 -
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I would rather get Solar Powered's height adjuster mod .... eventually.

Looking back at nyprius' comments, he liked the seat going back farther, but still wished the back of seat bottom was lower.