Bucket seat replacement

[Glex25]

Has anyone replaced their seats for non reclineable bucket seats?
Does anyone know how to bypass the airbag light and if so how?
If not what's the airbag reset procedure once you install the factory seat back on?

At last my track event I pulled over 1G Lateral and my knees were killing me from holding myself in place. Looking to install Corbeau because of my wide frame just for track sessions.

Any input would be greatly appreciated

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[Norm Peterson]

Not a seat replacement comment, but try to relax every muscle that isn't directly involved with pedal or steering inputs. Tensing up other muscles seems to lift some of your weight off of the seat, at least that's what I've found. You'll still use your knees, probably the left one more, but you won't be using it quite as hard. Maybe this gets easier with more hard cornering experience.

You can also make up a supplemental lap belt that doesn't slacken like the OE 3-points do. Doesn't even have to attach to anything if you stitch the free ends together to make it into a loop, just run it around the rear bottom of the seat cushion.

One of the things I saved from a previously owned car, suitably modified. Cheap, portable, and will buy you some time on any seat purchase that you do make. I've datalogged lateral accelerations beyond 1.3g with just these two aids . . . and my knees are old with a couple of repairs each in their history.

Norm

 

[Plimmer]

I replaced my seats and so have a few others. No one that I'm aware of has figured out how to fool the airbag light. I also removed my front seat belts and replaced them with 4 points. I'll have to check again tonight, I think I'm only showing one warning light.

Good news is it does not distract you, and I hardly notice it anymore.

According to the service manual the system looks for a certain voltage for the seat belts and runs a few other checks. I think the easiest way to get the light turned off is to find a friendly Ford tech who will manually disable the light with their service software. According to the service manual the light can be toggled on and off for testing, so ask him to leave if off.

 

[BTM]

I replaced my seats and so have a few others. No one that I'm aware of has figured out how to fool the airbag light. I also removed my front seat belts and replaced them with 4 points. I'll have to check again tonight, I think I'm only showing one warning light.

Good news is it does not distract you, and I hardly notice it anymore.

According to the service manual the system looks for a certain voltage for the seat belts and runs a few other checks. I think the easiest way to get the light turned off is to find a friendly Ford tech who will manually disable the light with their service software. According to the service manual the light can be toggled on and off for testing, so ask him to leave if off.

+1 on this. Physical installation of my Corbeau was easy, now lateral support much better, and more importantly I gained ~5in of headroom, so I (6'7") can sit straight up with helmet on and still have 1.5in of room to spare. Haven't found a hack to defeat the airbag light, but I too do not notice it anymore. And no way am I taking my car anywhere near a dealer with my mods / tune on it...

The Schroth 4pt ASM harness is the other very effective mod, keeps you tightly planted - don't go cheap with a non-ASM 4pt because the potential injury of submarining under is pretty ugly...

See https://www.schrothracing.com/tuning/rallye/rallye-4

 

[BTM]

pic

 

[NightmareMoon]

I also have the Schroth Rallye-4 ASM harness, but with the factory leather non-recaro seats.

Its pretty cool to be able to swap out between the factory belts and the 4-point in a couple of minutes without tools. I keep the factory belts buckled in (behind the seat) to keep the seatbelt light from going on. Works well.

The 4 point is good enough to keep me in place comfortably for 20-minute sessions, and hopefully the ASM feature makes it safe.

 

[grue]

BTM - i've been meaning to ask is the seat about as wide as the factory seats? i'm a wide body. the standard seat was a bit tight but has loosened up a bit.

also, any thoughts on this: https://www.schrothracing.com/tuning/quickfit-harnesses/quickfit-pro

a guy at a recent track even referred to these. supposed to not interfere with factory seatbelts. i'm a bit confused how these go in? i see part of it connects to existing seatbelt clickers, but what about the other parts? do you have to install new clickers?

thanks,

 

[Competition Orange]

pic

Do you have any details on how you mounted the seat? The specific bracket? Seat model?

Details would be much appreciated.

 

[Optimum Performance]

http://www.opmustang.com/store/c7/SAFETY_AND_SEATING.html

We carry some options, both standard and wide body.

 

[BTM]

BTM - i've been meaning to ask is the seat about as wide as the factory seats? i'm a wide body. the standard seat was a bit tight but has loosened up a bit.

also, any thoughts on this: https://www.schrothracing.com/tuning/quickfit-harnesses/quickfit-pro

a guy at a recent track even referred to these. supposed to not interfere with factory seatbelts. i'm a bit confused how these go in? i see part of it connects to existing seatbelt clickers, but what about the other parts? do you have to install new clickers?

thanks,

Do you have any details on how you mounted the seat? The specific bracket? Seat model?

Details would be much appreciated.

My Sportline Evolution was selected for maximum drop in seat height due to how tall I am, but only 34-36in waist, I would not recommend these beyond 38in waist. But there are other wider options if you need, they just tend to be not as low. Seat model 64901B for black stitching, and there are a few dealers that will sell you a single driver's seat, so you don't have to get a pair (like Sinister Mustang). Bracket is E1702 for driver side. Installation is literally almost the simplest thing you could do to the car - four bolts, two front, two rear, just make sure you have the right size Torx bit. Then remove seat and unplug wiring harness, then just leave it unplugged on floor under seat. Install new seat with same bolts, and apply blue Loctite. That's it! There's a good forum writeup already on the Schroth install, but it's easy too.

 

[BTM]

Do you have any details on how you mounted the seat? The specific bracket? Seat model?

Details would be much appreciated.

BTW......my dad grew up in Columbus, Bexley neighborhood...

 

[BTM]

also, any thoughts on this: https://www.schrothracing.com/tuning/quickfit-harnesses/quickfit-pro



thanks,

FYI - traditional Schroth Rallye 4 and Quick Fit are the same belt, but the Quick Fit is intended to click in and out of the factory receptacles easily, so you can remove for daily driver. The original Rallye 4 is a bolt-in that you can still use the factory belt and just leave it there, but I don't do that - I just ignore the factory belt and use the Schroth. But it's also not a daily driver...

 

[Optimum Performance]

Just be careful, many track groups will want to see a fixed back seat rated to carry the loading of a harness. We personally feel that being belted in for a track day is safer due to having more car control (not using your body to hold yourself in the seat) but some groups have recently disallowed them. The ASM technology is a safer alternative because in the event of a crash it will twist your torso to prevent from sliding under the belts but the issue still exists with the rear seat attachment points angle, it can cause spine compression. If the reclinning seat mechanism fails you are in trouble. If you want to run factory seats a harness bar with a seat back brace is a safer route. It maintains the proper belt angle and allows you to spread the load against the brace, not the mechanism, allows for truly getting the belts snug and eliminates flex. Obviously a 5-6 point is best which requires a seat designed for it. Not preaching, just pointing out some potential issues. Brey-Krause has a seat base that places you as low as possible in the car unlike the planted bases which are a compromise. Everyone has been really happy with the BK products we offer paired with our RaceCraft Seats and belts. Everything is a bolt in. Takes a lot of weight out of the car, safer overall because it's a complete system.

 

[Brent Dalton]

Optimum has it right. I'm also partial to racetech and full containment seats, which they sell. He also hits on a key point: this stuff is designed to be used as a system. Rollbar/cage, seat, and harness. It can be extremely dangerous to omit one of these components.

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