raise driver seat

[tily]

i've seen a thread somewhere of taking out the driver seat and putting in new skrews somewhere with spacers or something to raise the driver seat beyond what it normally does. I've tried searching for it and can't find it. if anyone has tips how to do this or can find the old posts on it that'd be great because i'm heading out tonight to go get stuff for my car anyways so.

[tily]

reallly no one?

[scarabY2k]

BUMP

I've never heard of anyone wanting to raise the seat, then again, i'm 6'2"

Anyhoo, I did some perusing on VWVortex and came up with some search results. Here's a link to the search page on the Tex- hope this helps:

CLICK HERE- revised link

[tily]

i'm 4'7 so i need two pillows underneath just to see perfectly well. i may just forget it and learn to drive without the pillows. also that link you posted doesn't seem to work for some reason

[Tico4Life]

I tried the link too and it does not work. I did a search last night on google here and the vortex and found nothing.
I think that if I was to do something like that I would try raising the whole seat from the base, where it attaches to the floor. I'll look at the assembly latter and see if I can give you a better idea on how to shim it up.

[scarabY2k]

Hmmm, the link works for me- probably cause the search was via my Vortex screen name. I'll post some asst. link via that search i did...my bad.

Hope this one works:
LINK 1- for a Jetta Station Wagon, but might be applicable

[Tico4Life]

It works now
Pretty much what i thought. Shim with either washers or a metal block between base of the seat and the floor. I would start with washers until I reach desired hight and then have a block fabricated to the hight specs (I tend to be a bit overkill tho)

[tily]

my thing is where do i put the washers and all. i see no spot where the rails attach for me to put it higher

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by tily

my thing is where do i put the washers and all. i see no spot where the rails attach for me to put it higher

Glad the link works

Tily, I have an extra set of seats i'm working on. I'll look at them to see if some kind of fabrication can be done with them. I'll get back to you

[tily]

another idea i've been fiddlin with is maybe just need new seats that are ment to sit higher. like eurovan seats possibly

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by tily

another idea i've been fiddlin with is maybe just need new seats that are ment to sit higher. like eurovan seats possibly

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you post a reply as well as pictures of the mod- it will be a great help for others who are considering this change.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

If you read the link, it is really quite a simple project, but two things to take to heart.

• As indicated by the poster, it will require spacer blocks being made for the additional height desired. Solid Steel, with a hole the proper size for the outside bolt diameter, these would best be fashioned by a machine shop.
• When re-achoring the seat, is imperative to use the correct bolts. Same diameter and thread that is there now. The existing bolts are most probably metric, not SAE. (if they are SAE, use Grade 8, only). Use only Grade 8.8 or above, not stainless steel (stainless is hard, but shears easily) and anything below a Grade 8.8 bolt might be subject to shearing or braking in the event of an accident, especially since your raising the center of gravity on the seat mounts and lengthing the bolt, Most any screw and bolt supply house should be able to match you up with Domestic Manufactured Grade 8.8 Bolts. Do NOT use bolts from Home Depot, Loew's or the Corner Hardware Store. Most of there products are imported; they are also subject to being mismarked and produced from inferior grade materials.. The Grade 8.8 marking on top of the bolt looks like this. The 10.9 or 12.9 is better yet. You also want to buy a plated bolt, usually "cad plated". You may also want to pick up and use a small tube of "removable", as opposed to "permanent", LockTite.

Go here to learn more about bolt grading, markings, bolt strength and properties
Bolt Depot - Bolt Grade Markings and Strength Chart

Use of anything but the proper, adequate spacer blocks and the correct bolts are not something to be taken lightly.

MORAV

[tily]

i've torn apart both the passenger and driver side for seats, no bolts anywhere in sight even with the carpeting torn up. looks all welded on.

options so far
1) fabrication shop to redo the seat mounting
2) different seats


i would love to hear about different seats that everyones experienced/possibly knows would sit higher. Along with fabrication ideas.

Thank you all for the help so far. pics, and tutorial on final steps i take will be posted when i'm done.

@morav: thanks for the good info on the bolts.

[tily]

here's a thought, unsure if this even exists. a plate or something that goes in the rails to create new ones above the original?

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Sorry, I just assumed (I know, I know!) the seat tracks bolted to the chassis like any other car in the entire friggin'world. I gotta go look at a drawing of this, if I can find one. Anyone have a exploded diagram ofr photos?

(Or maybe go look at mine! )

M.

[tily]

morav: i did the same of assuming it bolted in until i pulled the seats out. if i didn't just put the seats back in i'd take pictures of all the connecting parts

[Tico4Life]

I just looked at mine and they are no normal mounting tracks (hmm... why would vw do anything normal)
Mine have a plastic cover along the rails that bolt to the transmission hump that would have to be removed to be able to raise the seat frame. At that point I would not do much more than 2" for safety issues and because you may interfere with the seat belt buckle.
Have you considered a seat cover with a built in foam insert? That would be my first move if I needed to raise the sitting hight, and I am sure an expert taylor would be able to do something like that w/o much trouble.

You have planted the seed in my head tily, now I won't be able to give it a rest until I figure something out, even if you don't use my idea

[tily]

tico, seat belt buckle actually attaches to the seat itself and looks very easy to change if need be. as for those plastic covers on the rail, those actualy skrew (or screw? can't remember the right spelling) into the rails themselves insteam of the tranny hump.

as it sits right now, i am using two pillows underneath my tushy. overall 2 to 3" should work. seat cover with foam insert? hmmmmmmmm, i like the idea of showing the leather, but at same time it's worth a shot

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

OMG! I looked at mine! I don't need a picture, I see! I am always designing parts and redesigning parts, structural and otherwise, in my business. I'm pretty good at it and pretty resourceful. I DON'T see any way to modify these seats, and don't see a way to change the seats themselves unless they were designed to fit up to this chassis. I do know ppl have swapped out Audi TT seats, and they make Riccaro's for the NB, but I don't know that that would solve that problem as they are probably thinner bottom bolsters as they "more" wrap your arse. I'll watch for seat mod threads for you though. I don't know exactly what seats you have, but I know that the higher trim levels have better, more padded seats, from what I have read. I've had three NBs, but all with the top level, so I have no comparison. The Second Gen bodies, may also have higher seats, are adjustments to come up higher, I don't know. I'm betting the seats from any other VW Brand will have totally different mounts as none are built on the NB platform.

Sorry again!

MORAV

[tily]

all i know about mine are that they are the black leather non heated for mk4 gls. without the pillows right now it's the old granny/child driving daddies car feel since my back is EXTREMELY small. if mk5 nb seats sit higher would they be essentially plug and ply into mk4?