driver seat modification

Drivers seat is uncomfortable

I wonder if anyone has attempted to modify the seat rail so that the front of the seat will lean back more and offer more thigh support. That is my complaint. I would like the front of the seat to be about an inch higher.
 
Upholstery Shop....

I have trouble getting comfortable in just about any car after a while - the foot wells are just shaped all wrong...

Anyways, I've been thinking of getting some nice seat covers - The Wet Okole's everyone here likes, and adding some memory foam sheets to the back and bottom underneath them. I figure an upholstery shop could probably make some improvements to the stock seats - they can take off the skins and fool around with the foam inside. Call around and see who seems to have some ideas.

Good luck!
 
I would have to look to see if you can put spacers under the front seat bolt mounts to gain your one inch in the front... but this is only if the bolts thread staight up and down instead of in the laying position... if in the laying position you can weld a longer piece of metal to get your hieght you desire. Just a thought with out looking at the seat.... I will look at mine in the morning ... to cold outside right now .... good luck ... (from a 20 year body and frame tech)

Just a sugestion....:biggrin2:
 
I would stop at some custom shops , both upholstery and custom vehicle shops ( we have one here that does a lot of pick-ups and swaps seats , int. & custom paints ) They might be able to find you an answer.

No offense your a big man and these seats aren't big. I'm 6'2" 185 , BUT I do cart my father around and have been looking on how to extend the passenger seat back so he can fit (6'11" @ 310lbs.)

For me this is more comfortable than the full size Tahoe I just got out of.

I wonder if you could get a Sequoia or Land Cruiser seat to fit in the 2 fronts, maybe go to the dealer and take some measurements.

Just my 2 cents and hope it gives a few ideas.
 
Uneek said:
If the 4R doesn't have side airbags, I wonder if an upholstery shop can remove some of the foam/cushion material from the side bolsters and redo the fabric. That should make the seatback a little more flat.

How would side airbags affect it? The side bags are the skirt type in the door frame, although there is a little tag on the seat. (06 4Runner).
 
stevesoccer said:
How would side airbags affect it? The side bags are the skirt type in the door frame, although there is a little tag on the seat. (06 4Runner).

The side airbag option adds four additional airbags. The curtains as you describe that covers the front and second row windows when deployed, and there are one on door side of each front seat (near the seat airbag tag) to protect the rib cage area of the body.

There are six airbags total with the side/curtain airbag option.
 
You may consider trying a neoprene seat cover. I too had problem and was constantly adjusting the driver seat and never found a comfortable position. Then I decide to buy a cover (actualy from costco that's custom made for the 4 runner). The thicker material seemed to fill in all the gaps I needed. But this is very personal and may not work for everyone. Note there are several models of the seat covers depending on side air bags option.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11044618&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&s=1

904733L.jpg
 
Last edited:
I use to adjust my seat all the time trying to find just the right position. Then I decided to crank the lumbar all the way. Ever since then, I've been very comfortable.

Also, a friend of mine has a Highlander with some neopreme seat covers. I found it to be a very comfortable ride because of the covers. That too may be key.
 
Hi ,

I'm surprised you actually fit into a 4runner. I'm far shorter and I run with the seat all the way back and down. Good luck getting the right fit.
 
i agree the seats suck

i have tried everything to get them more comfortable.. ive raised the back.. raised the front, changed the back padding, cutt downt the side bolsters, removed the lumbar .. i have given up trying to get comfortable.. so next week im installing the cobra lemans seats.. will run 550 for the seat and bout 200 for the custom mounting brackets. i tried the recaros.. but they are too small and not enough leg support and they cost too much..
so ill post some pics when its done.. the lemans are fairly stock looking and have lots of thigh support .. i cant wait, ill tell the guy bout you guys, will have measurements if ya wanna order a set. i was just gonna get driver side but screw it im gonna get both sides.... my wife says im nit pickin so i told her to drive it for a week and ill drive the BMW.. so i put the lumbar rod back in for her and she says its fine, but she didnt take it long distance.. then at the end of the week she wanted her car back.. she likes the 4runner too but feels sorry for me cause im always in the garage trying to modify the seat to make it more comfortable.
so ya i tried the recaros and the cobras.. recaro just cost more and the fabric they use gets like little fuzz balls that sticks to the fabric.. and the cobra uses a polyester type that stays clean.. i wanted the leather but the price went to like 1400 per seat cause they would have to order them.. so im just gonna go with fabric.. i drove a 06 x runner the other day and the seats are the same deal.. sucky.. im sick of these seats .. i had a good month at work and gonna get em,, screw it
dan
 
I added one inch to the front mounting bolts using washers. It was difficult, but I was able to do it by losening the back bolts and then tightening everything down. The one inch of height improved the comfort of the seat tremendously. Still not as comfortable as my wife's Lexus, but much improved and now livable. Good luck everyone!
 
Dan, let us know how it turns out. I am 6'4'' and hate the seats. It the worst thing about the 4-Runner.

I'm at the point where I want to replace the drivers seat. Take som pictures when you get your new seats installed.

Thanks
 
What worked for me was to buy a dining chair cushion from Beds, Bath and Beyond. It is just the right width to fill in between the seat bottom bolsters, and after a few hours of sitting on it it squashed down to the right height. Voila! A comfortable seat. Looks cheesy though.
 
driver seat

Just recently bought an 03 Limited, my first 4-Runner, I find the seats to be amazingly comfortable. More comfortable than a newer 7 series BMW.
 
Pictures of what is being offered would be nice.
The video on the website doesn't show what the brackets actually look like.
No mention if they are adjustable to increase the height of the front of the seat to get more thigh support.


:worthless

.
 

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
278,306
Messages
3,554,044
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Trending content

Back
Top