Best replacement seats

[bugsnbikes]

Best bang for the buck is a junkyard Cloth set of 80 seats. Very different cushioning feel than the leather. They also weigh about 60lbs less with nothing electrical to malfunction. They also give a slight bit more legroom than the leathers.

YOu can also adjust the base via washers under the rear mounts as well as the front mounts where it attaches under the cushion to dial in your seat angle of preference.

 

[campoj2]

I have discussed this a few times with ginericlc, according to his research volvo seats from an s80, v70, or similar look to have the shallowest mounting depth. I have watched steelbay for the right set but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I did go sit in some that were still in the car, wow it was butt heaven. Hope this helps.

Jay

I have never heard of Volvo seats fitting into an 80. Do you have specific year that fits into an 80? Has anyone done this mod before?

 

[chibo]

Recaros

I drove an Evo 9 for a while and the stock seats wrecked my back - I swapped them for Bride Zeta IIIs, but that's a different story. My girlfriend managed to be the perfect height/proportions to have her head rest against the plastic piece in the seat for harnesses. I will also say that the 80 series seats play hell on my back, moreso than the Evo seats. For people interested in similar seats check out various VWs - they were available with Recaros as well... same with the STi. (Just broadening the range of where to find these, they're very nice seats. The Evo was the best stock all-out performance car I've ever had the pleasure of having, unfortunately I am not of the financial status to have it become expendable so it went.)

Notes on me: 5'8", 155lb, 20 years old, 2 herniated discs in the lower back over the past 2 years, chronic pain, etc.

Just how much work must be done to fit 100 series seats? Is it just a matter of brackets or do they physically not fit? They're fairly nice, I especially like the arm rests built in. Now if only IS350 seats fit.

 

[Cruiserhead05]

I looked into the 100 series seats awhile back.
Physically i think they fit, but it was that the bracket mounting holes were so far apart, it would take more then a fab'd bracket for it to work.(the raised front part of the 80 floor was not wide enough across as i recall)

I remember giving up b/c it seemed more trouble then it's worth. Plus, sourcing nice, reasonably priced 100 seats wasnt easy.

 

[jfz80]

Iron Pig has some replacement seats that Lance says bolt into the 80, price isnt too bad either.

x2... have sat in these and they are nice.... bout 280 ea.
http://ironpigoffroad.com/interiorexterior/interiorimgs/FJ60seats-after.JPG
not a junkyard score, but it does bolt right in

 

[Nay]

Corbeau Moab for $199 each plus brackets will bolt in, are built for a daily driven offroader, and look to be right size style. Here's pics in a 60. I was going to do these until they were backordered and I was heading to Moab and had my seat rebuilt.

One day, I may yet put in the Corbeau's, but my rebuilt seat is really quite good for a full day behind the wheel. I just wish it was a bit wider. You bolt your stock seatbelt latch into the Corbeau bracket. Or you can five point harness within a six point cage.

 

[Box Rocket]

Those Corbeau's look nice, but my one complaint about them would be the same complaint I have with the stock 80 seats. They're too flat, and severly lacking in side bolsters. I like a seats that keeps you in the seat, especially off-road. For that reason, I think the suggestion of going to cloth 80 seats is not a bad idea.

For the same reason I actually prefer the cloth Recaros I have in my Evo over the leather ones even though the leather ones really give more of an up-scale feel. I didn't have a shot of the leather Evo seats when I posted before but I found one.

oh, and Chibo, it's too bad that your back didn't do well in the Recaros. Sounds like you've got some back issues that will give you trouble for a long time. However, anyone that has spent any amount of time in Recaros can't deny they make great seats.

Here's the leather Recaros.

 

[Nay]

Those Corbeau's look nice, but my one complaint about them would be the same complaint I have with the stock 80 seats. They're too flat, and severly lacking in side bolsters. I like a seats that keeps you in the seat, especially off-road. For that reason, I think the suggestion of going to cloth 80 seats is not a bad idea.

For the same reason I actually prefer the cloth Recaros I have in my Evo over the leather ones even though the leather ones really give more of an up-scale feel. I didn't have a shot of the leather Evo seats when I posted before but I found one.

oh, and Chibo, it's too bad that your back didn't do well in the Recaros. Sounds like you've got some back issues that will give you trouble for a long time. However, anyone that has spent any amount of time in Recaros can't deny they make great seats.

Here's the leather Recaros.

That's funny - I hate high side bolsters in a truck and would never put a "sport" seat into one. I am tall and thin, and they just kill my hips.

I had my stock seat built up to be flatter like the Corbeau - a good deal of softer foam on top of the hard stock stuff. It really came out good. I sit up really nice and high now, and get legroom from a proper height seat rather than sliding it further back. Sitting down low and back in a 4x4 doesn't work for me.

At 6'3", I still have plenty of headroom, and have never had an issue with the seat not holding me in well when rock crawling. I should take a picture - you can see how much new foam is under the stock leather. It's like taking the passenger seat, where you sit up nice and high, and adding a mattress topper to it.

That's why I recommend the upholstery shop work. You can pick the seat design you like the absolute best, and then have them build it for you while retaining the look and power function of your stock seats.

 

[chibo]

However, anyone that has spent any amount of time in Recaros can't deny they make great seats.

Absolutely

 

[derrickbwg]

I bought a recaro for my Z06, the stock seat is lousy and I wanted to do some autocrossing. They make a fine seat for racing but beyond that I'd look elsewhere. They are not a seat for a dd lc imo. No landcruiser Owner I know will want to fight with the side bolster on their seats just to get in. I'm 36 with no standing back problems and it hurts me after an hour.

 

[chibo]

Ok, I just installed my sliders today and it stiffened up the frame a whole bunch - to the point of making me sit even more sideways to drive (I sit with the middle of my back around the right side bolster with my elbow on the arm rest) and bumps can be rather painful.

Does anyone know if the 3rd gen 4Runner cloth seats bolt right in?

 

[Nay]

Ok, I just installed my sliders today and it stiffened up the frame a whole bunch - to the point of making me sit even more sideways to drive (I sit with the middle of my back around the right side bolster with my elbow on the arm rest) and bumps can be rather painful.

Does anyone know if the 3rd gen 4Runner cloth seats bolt right in?

A couple of things (after "no" 3rd Gen Runner seats do not bolt in).

1) I spent my teens with nearly debilitating back pain. Yoga is a cure. If your back can tolerate it, yoga will change your life. My comfort in any upright seat is proportional to my yoga practice;

2) The 80 seat is hell. It sinks you in a way that offers zero lower back support, lumbar support notwithstanding.

The owner of the upholstery shop that did my work has a very bad back (disc problems, etc.) from an old car accident. He sat in the seat and immediately knew what was wrong with it. At that point, I knew I was in luck - a guy with a bad back was going to rebuild my seat the right way.

It doesn't cost anything to consult with a shop that rebuilds seats. Every city of any size has one or more. I've been through hell with a number of seats in different vehicles and always tried to find anything to "bolt in". The only real solution I have found is to have the seat built the way I wanted it.

Good luck

 

[bhmmapping]

I swapped passenger and drivers seat foam, it made a big difference for me. I work out of the truck one day a week so I am sitting in the seat for 8-10 hours. By the end of the day my back was killing me because the original foam failed on the door side and was so sagged that the lower part of my back didn't line up with the support in the seat anymore. there was a small bit of foam on the lower edge one side that had to be trimmed to make it work.

It was a lot more work than I thought it would be, if I had to do it again I would just order a new foam for the driver's seat.

 

[chibo]

A couple of things (after "no" 3rd Gen Runner seats do not bolt in).

1) I spent my teens with nearly debilitating back pain. Yoga is a cure. If your back can tolerate it, yoga will change your life. My comfort in any upright seat is proportional to my yoga practice;

2) The 80 seat is hell. It sinks you in a way that offers zero lower back support, lumbar support notwithstanding.

The owner of the upholstery shop that did my work has a very bad back (disc problems, etc.) from an old car accident. He sat in the seat and immediately knew what was wrong with it. At that point, I knew I was in luck - a guy with a bad back was going to rebuild my seat the right way.

It doesn't cost anything to consult with a shop that rebuilds seats. Every city of any size has one or more. I've been through hell with a number of seats in different vehicles and always tried to find anything to "bolt in". The only real solution I have found is to have the seat built the way I wanted it.

Good luck

I'm going to have to look in to Yoga or something similar. I feel like I'm too young for this bs.

I agree with the 80 series seats pretty much sucking. I suppose I'll take your idea and see what I can come up with; I'll ask around at work on Monday for a good upholstery shop and see what they can do. Who did you go to and what is their number? I'd be interested in talking to them, it's a shame shipping would suck to have your seat duplicated at the same shop.

Thank you very much.

 

[FirstToy]

I think the 80's seats are pretty well excellent. They have good support and designed for offroad w/ good shock absorbtion. Full power, nice leather, lumbar adjustment and the legendary LC seating position.

I think the unhappiness is due to wear and tear?

 

[Cruiserhead05]

I think the 80's seats are pretty well excellent. They have good support and designed for offroad w/ good shock absorbtion. Full power, nice leather, lumbar adjustment and the legendary LC seating position.

I think the unhappiness is due to wear and tear?

Those with back issue asaid, I'd agree with you that most aren't happy b/c their seats have aged alot.

If i sit in some 95-97 seats with under 150k miles, i am very happy with the comfort and would have no desire to swap something in.

 

[Nay]

I'm going to have to look in to Yoga or something similar. I feel like I'm too young for this bs.

I agree with the 80 series seats pretty much sucking. I suppose I'll take your idea and see what I can come up with; I'll ask around at work on Monday for a good upholstery shop and see what they can do. Who did you go to and what is their number? I'd be interested in talking to them, it's a shame shipping would suck to have your seat duplicated at the same shop.

Thank you very much.

Knowles Trim Shop in Colorado Springs. Rebuilding/recovering seats in older cars is a pretty consistent business - I can't imagine there isn't a decent shop in Flagstaff.

I do think it is an issue with wear for most of us. Sit in your passenger seat. It probably feels twice as high and very comfortable - the driver's seat can easily be made the same. If the foam isn't structurally deficient, i.e. it is just sagging now as you sit in it for awhile, then the work is removing the leather, adding new foam on top of the old and shaping it to your preference, and hog ringing the leather back to the seat.

What I found was my original seat was good for about 20 minutes, and then as the foam warmed up it would sink and I couldn't get comfortable. It doesn't do that anymore and my seating position is good.

Try the "Yoga for Back Care" DVD from Giaim/Living Arts featuring Rodney Yee. Great easy beginning program and you don't have to sign up for classes. My problem is a tendency to muscle tightness and the inflammation that you get in the joints/discs over time from that tightness. The AM/Stress Relief/PM practice is also a great series if you try the basics and like them. Yoga really is a cure. I don't know how I lived without it.

Hope this helps - try a couple of local shops if you have them. It just can't hurt to talk to a professional and see what they recommend. It beats the hell out of picking a set of boneyard seats, fabricating brackets that may or may not be safe in a serious accident, and then hoping they are comfortable without the benefit of 8 way adjustments.

If you do want new seats, I would really look hard at those Corbeau Moab seats. They don't look like they have big side bolsters, but neither did the seats in my old 1997 XJ, and those seats were so unbelievably drive 18 hours in a single day comfortable I have considered swapping a set into my 80. And those were 2 way adjustable (fore/aft, and recline). They held me in very well. The Corbeau's have that same sloping bolster - I bet they are a fabulous all day seat and Corbeau has a bracket for the 80. Plus they look sweet.

 

[gotmud]

Thanks for all of your comments. I got a pair of Corbeau Moabs today. Brackets should be here later in the week. I'll post up some pics and my thoughts as soon as I get them installed.

 

[Nay]

Thanks for all of your comments. I got a pair of Corbeau Moabs today. Brackets should be here later in the week. I'll post up some pics and my thoughts as soon as I get them installed.

Let us know how they work for you!

 

[bigjer]

I found that if you take a piece of berber carpet and put it between the springs and the seat foam on the bottom firms up the seat and makes it more comfortable. I felt like my ass sinking and making my back hurt and this solved my problem. Gie it a try, doesn't cost much or anything for that matter. go to home depot and ask for some samples. good luck