List of seats that fit and dont fit.
No it isn't. With the right sliding rails you can get to seat straight to the floor. Of course, it might take some fabricating if the seat is wide like an EVO or the rails don't let you go to the floor. And you also might not be able to slide very much, depending on the angle of the seat and rail mounts.
Lightest, however, is obviously fixed aluminum. Bride rails with steel mounts are heavy as crap.
Lightest, however, is obviously fixed aluminum. Bride rails with steel mounts are heavy as crap.
As JHew84 mentions below, you maybe have access to some fancy sliders which would mount outside of the pan of the seat that I haven't seen before. If so, please post them up, because that'd be sweet.
To properly mount a seat and use the strong factory mounting points (which any slider would use) it will place the rails and/or sliding mechanism directly below the seat pan. There's just not any room to put things to the side enough that they could clear the seat bottom. That means that the seat cannot be placed as low as you could with fixed side mounting where you could place the seat pan all the way down to the mounts just above the carpet. ANY slider/rail mounting will be higher than fixed side mounting allows. My post was simple, but to the point and correct.
Will take some tomorrow and post up. Did all the trimming on the upper bolsters and the passenger inside bolster so everything now fits nicely without rubbing. Not a plug and play deal but it works.
I've also got to second the notion that there is no way to drop a seat down between the rails. There just isn't any room in the FD to do this so the rails will increase the seat height over stock. With the EVOs I can take the lower cushion out and then fit with my helmet on but the clearance is tight. But I do fit much better than with the stock seats where I had to be a contortionist to fit.
The stock seats are designed to drop into the rails so they sit low. I am not aware of any other seat that can do this in an FD.
I've also got to second the notion that there is no way to drop a seat down between the rails. There just isn't any room in the FD to do this so the rails will increase the seat height over stock. With the EVOs I can take the lower cushion out and then fit with my helmet on but the clearance is tight. But I do fit much better than with the stock seats where I had to be a contortionist to fit.
The stock seats are designed to drop into the rails so they sit low. I am not aware of any other seat that can do this in an FD.
I'm not sure. I think he is still making them, you just need to contact him through his website. What I heard is that he adjusted the mounts so you don't need to customize (cut) them. I had got my set with his original GB run on the forum a few years back.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,164
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From: Japanabama
http://www.wisteria-japan.com/RAIL-SL-ITTAI-4.jpg
This is for a Miata, but the FD version uses the same design. The downside is that the maximum side mounting width is 395 mm, which is basically a typical JDM bucket seat.
These rails are about $270 though... and they're made to order, so it takes a while to get them. Anyone interested in a group buy? LOL
I admit the FD requires pretty drastic measures to get the seat to the floor with sliding rails... the FC and MR-2 are easy by comparison since the bolts and space available are more reasonable.
This is for a Miata, but the FD version uses the same design. The downside is that the maximum side mounting width is 395 mm, which is basically a typical JDM bucket seat.
These rails are about $270 though... and they're made to order, so it takes a while to get them. Anyone interested in a group buy? LOL
I admit the FD requires pretty drastic measures to get the seat to the floor with sliding rails... the FC and MR-2 are easy by comparison since the bolts and space available are more reasonable.
Pics of Sparco EVOs installed in my FD:
First, I apologize for all of the dust in the car. It's not dust, it's all the FRP material I shaved off of the sides of the seats to get them to fit. I vacuumed and vacuumed and am still in process of cleaning it all out.
Now on to the seats. I really like them quite a bit. They are extremely comfortable and very grippy. I am 6 feet tall and weigh 175 and the fit is perfect for me. I've got a 33 inch waist and slide right in and the shoulder bolsters are perfect. The new materials Sparco uses on the seats is also really nice, with the bottom and side bolsters grippy and the foam just the right amount of give. I was worried about how comfortable these would be for daily driving, but the seats are more comfortable than the stock units.
It has been posted on this forum the Sparcos with the Bride LowMax rails will lower your seat position. This is not true. The seat position is slightly higher than stock with the bottom cushion installed. The good news is this cushion is removable, and with it out, the seat position is lower than the stock seats. So, with a helmet on, I can now fit in the car in a good driving position. With the stock seats, I had to lean the seat way back (too much to be safe) and then bend my head to the right so it would barely fit. Not good at all and I am very pleased the Sparcos resolve this issue. Do you want to drive long distances with the bottom cushion removed? No, but for track events, not a big deal. Also, these are FIA rated so they are safe.
Check out the pics and note the Bride rails and how the Sparcos sit in them. I have them adjusted in the back to the second lowest position as the seat bottoms hit the rails in this position so they can't go any lower without cutting into the seat bottom FRP material. Thought seriously about doing this but was afraid with how it would turn out. If I cut out the sides of the materials so the seats will fit in lower, then how would it feel when driving? There might not be any issue here, but I was uncomfortable doing this and opted for just removing the bottom seat cushion. Other might choose to trim the seat and I'd be interested in how that turns out.
First, I apologize for all of the dust in the car. It's not dust, it's all the FRP material I shaved off of the sides of the seats to get them to fit. I vacuumed and vacuumed and am still in process of cleaning it all out.
Now on to the seats. I really like them quite a bit. They are extremely comfortable and very grippy. I am 6 feet tall and weigh 175 and the fit is perfect for me. I've got a 33 inch waist and slide right in and the shoulder bolsters are perfect. The new materials Sparco uses on the seats is also really nice, with the bottom and side bolsters grippy and the foam just the right amount of give. I was worried about how comfortable these would be for daily driving, but the seats are more comfortable than the stock units.
It has been posted on this forum the Sparcos with the Bride LowMax rails will lower your seat position. This is not true. The seat position is slightly higher than stock with the bottom cushion installed. The good news is this cushion is removable, and with it out, the seat position is lower than the stock seats. So, with a helmet on, I can now fit in the car in a good driving position. With the stock seats, I had to lean the seat way back (too much to be safe) and then bend my head to the right so it would barely fit. Not good at all and I am very pleased the Sparcos resolve this issue. Do you want to drive long distances with the bottom cushion removed? No, but for track events, not a big deal. Also, these are FIA rated so they are safe.
Check out the pics and note the Bride rails and how the Sparcos sit in them. I have them adjusted in the back to the second lowest position as the seat bottoms hit the rails in this position so they can't go any lower without cutting into the seat bottom FRP material. Thought seriously about doing this but was afraid with how it would turn out. If I cut out the sides of the materials so the seats will fit in lower, then how would it feel when driving? There might not be any issue here, but I was uncomfortable doing this and opted for just removing the bottom seat cushion. Other might choose to trim the seat and I'd be interested in how that turns out.
So what does it take to get the Sparcos to fit properly? You have to trim off seat bucket (FRP) material on the upper outside seat bolsters and on the inside lower passenger seat bolster.
Here are a few pics of what I trimmed. I first removed the seat covers and then used a Dremel to shave off the material. I took about one inch of FRP material off of the upper right outside bolsters and then an equivalent amount off of the inside left passenger seat bolster.
A few pics of the upper driver and passenger seat bolsters.
As shown in the pics, the upper bolsters impact the door panels. When shutting the doors, you'll notice the upper bolsters are about 3/4 inch too wide and the FRP seat material flexes. Over time, this will certainly rub. I wasn't pleased with this so I cut back the inner FRP material so it doesn't touch the door panel. I then put the foam and cover back on so when the door shuts, the foam still touches but not anything underneath. Should no longer be a problem.
Here is a shot of the lower left passenger seat bolster. Note how it contacts the center tunnel. I wanted full adjustability with the passenger seat so I trimmed quite a bit of FRP material from this area so the seat can now fully slide back and forth.
Here are a few pics of what I trimmed. I first removed the seat covers and then used a Dremel to shave off the material. I took about one inch of FRP material off of the upper right outside bolsters and then an equivalent amount off of the inside left passenger seat bolster.
A few pics of the upper driver and passenger seat bolsters.
As shown in the pics, the upper bolsters impact the door panels. When shutting the doors, you'll notice the upper bolsters are about 3/4 inch too wide and the FRP seat material flexes. Over time, this will certainly rub. I wasn't pleased with this so I cut back the inner FRP material so it doesn't touch the door panel. I then put the foam and cover back on so when the door shuts, the foam still touches but not anything underneath. Should no longer be a problem.
Here is a shot of the lower left passenger seat bolster. Note how it contacts the center tunnel. I wanted full adjustability with the passenger seat so I trimmed quite a bit of FRP material from this area so the seat can now fully slide back and forth.
And finally, some pics of the seat covers removed and the FRP trimmed.
The cover removed, foam pulled back, and the FRP seat material exposed:
Used a Sharpie to draw a line on the amount of material that needed to be removed so the door will close without touching the seat.
Shot of material removed.
Pic of cover removed on the lower inside passenger bolster to expose the FRP material. Spent quite a bit of time on this section so the center tunnel will fit and the seat can slide freely back and forth.
The cover removed, foam pulled back, and the FRP seat material exposed:
Used a Sharpie to draw a line on the amount of material that needed to be removed so the door will close without touching the seat.
Shot of material removed.
Pic of cover removed on the lower inside passenger bolster to expose the FRP material. Spent quite a bit of time on this section so the center tunnel will fit and the seat can slide freely back and forth.
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 0
From: MI
http://www.wisteria-japan.com/RAIL-SL-ITTAI-4.jpg
This is for a Miata, but the FD version uses the same design. The downside is that the maximum side mounting width is 395 mm, which is basically a typical JDM bucket seat.
These rails are about $270 though... and they're made to order, so it takes a while to get them. Anyone interested in a group buy? LOL
I admit the FD requires pretty drastic measures to get the seat to the floor with sliding rails... the FC and MR-2 are easy by comparison since the bolts and space available are more reasonable.
This is for a Miata, but the FD version uses the same design. The downside is that the maximum side mounting width is 395 mm, which is basically a typical JDM bucket seat.
These rails are about $270 though... and they're made to order, so it takes a while to get them. Anyone interested in a group buy? LOL
I admit the FD requires pretty drastic measures to get the seat to the floor with sliding rails... the FC and MR-2 are easy by comparison since the bolts and space available are more reasonable.
Will fit
1. Stock FD Seats (does this really need to be on the list?)
2. Recaros from the Spirt R
3. Gias Lowmax
4. Bride Zeta III
5. Bride Vios III lowmax
6. Mazdaspeed Type-F
7. Memoryfab s58
8. Corbeau - some models, they supply the custom racks.
9. Sparco Sprint V
10. Recaro Profi and or SPG ( with slight rubbing to the door but not much, if you use Recaro rails instead of bride it will fit fine)
11. Sparco Roadster
12. Sparco EVO with stock seat rail (shoulder bolster will rub on the door)
13. Sparco Milanos
14. Memory FAB S58
15. Recaro Spirit R will fit with AUTO POWER 6 point cage
16. Recaro RS-G (All versions)
17. Bride Artis II (driver)
18. Bride Artis II Navi (passenger)
Will fit with modifications
1. Corbeau FX1 - fits with seat modification. Corbeau FX1 Install in FD
2. Sparco Evo 2 - - fits with seat modification.
3. Rx-8 seats (can be made to fit by modifying the racks)
4. Cobra Imola (with some minor triming of door side shoulder wing)
5. Sparco Torino 2 (modify the stock rails and get rid of the seat belt buckle they fit (barely))
6. Recaro Sportster CS seats placed on stock rails (tight fit) http://users.telenet.be/sammyrx7/ima...29_JPG_jpg.jpg
7.Bride Vios III lowmax WITH AUTOPOWER 6 POINT CAGE, must notch the side of the frp
bucket for the side bars to fit. Everything else fits!
8. Recaro Pole Positions (HEAVY modification)
9. Recaro R3's RX8 Seats (Custom Rails) Fits perfect, can adjust front to back. Lose plastic gas leaver trim. That is all
10. Momo Start (fits but shoulder wing will rub the door or can be trimmed)
Will NOT fit
1. Sparco Fighter
2. Corbeu fx1 pro fit with no problems ,but if you have an autopower 6pt roll cage you won't be able to run the front of the cage because the seat sits high and blocks the halo bars.
1. Stock FD Seats (does this really need to be on the list?)
2. Recaros from the Spirt R
3. Gias Lowmax
4. Bride Zeta III
5. Bride Vios III lowmax
6. Mazdaspeed Type-F
7. Memoryfab s58
8. Corbeau - some models, they supply the custom racks.
9. Sparco Sprint V
10. Recaro Profi and or SPG ( with slight rubbing to the door but not much, if you use Recaro rails instead of bride it will fit fine)
11. Sparco Roadster
12. Sparco EVO with stock seat rail (shoulder bolster will rub on the door)
13. Sparco Milanos
14. Memory FAB S58
15. Recaro Spirit R will fit with AUTO POWER 6 point cage
16. Recaro RS-G (All versions)
17. Bride Artis II (driver)
18. Bride Artis II Navi (passenger)
Will fit with modifications
1. Corbeau FX1 - fits with seat modification. Corbeau FX1 Install in FD
2. Sparco Evo 2 - - fits with seat modification.
3. Rx-8 seats (can be made to fit by modifying the racks)
4. Cobra Imola (with some minor triming of door side shoulder wing)
5. Sparco Torino 2 (modify the stock rails and get rid of the seat belt buckle they fit (barely))
6. Recaro Sportster CS seats placed on stock rails (tight fit) http://users.telenet.be/sammyrx7/ima...29_JPG_jpg.jpg
7.Bride Vios III lowmax WITH AUTOPOWER 6 POINT CAGE, must notch the side of the frp
bucket for the side bars to fit. Everything else fits!
8. Recaro Pole Positions (HEAVY modification)
9. Recaro R3's RX8 Seats (Custom Rails) Fits perfect, can adjust front to back. Lose plastic gas leaver trim. That is all
10. Momo Start (fits but shoulder wing will rub the door or can be trimmed)
Will NOT fit
1. Sparco Fighter
2. Corbeu fx1 pro fit with no problems ,but if you have an autopower 6pt roll cage you won't be able to run the front of the cage because the seat sits high and blocks the halo bars.
Any other options people may have tried out and care to share? I'm leaning towards Bride VIOS or Sparco EVO
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,164
Likes: 167
From: Japanabama
btw I just noticed that FEED had a similar rail...
http://www.fujita-eng.com/fd3s/tune_img/pl_052.jpg
It looks like it might be able to take a fairly wide seat (Bride XL and EVO 2 are about 420-30 wide, EVO1, Corsa and Pro2000 are 410 or so IIRC).
I sent an email to find out, but most rails like this will only take JDM-sized seats and maybe the Recaro SPG.
http://www.fujita-eng.com/fd3s/tune_img/pl_052.jpg
It looks like it might be able to take a fairly wide seat (Bride XL and EVO 2 are about 420-30 wide, EVO1, Corsa and Pro2000 are 410 or so IIRC).
I sent an email to find out, but most rails like this will only take JDM-sized seats and maybe the Recaro SPG.
Will fit
1. Stock FD Seats (does this really need to be on the list?)
2. Recaros from the Spirt R
3. Gias Lowmax
4. Bride Zeta III
5. Bride Vios III lowmax
6. Mazdaspeed Type-F
7. Memoryfab s58
8. Corbeau - some models, they supply the custom racks.
9. Sparco Sprint V
10. Recaro Profi and or SPG ( with slight rubbing to the door but not much, if you use Recaro rails instead of bride it will fit fine)
11. Sparco Roadster
12. Sparco EVO with stock seat rail (shoulder bolster will rub on the door)
13. Sparco Milanos
14. Memory FAB S58
15. Recaro Spirit R will fit with AUTO POWER 6 point cage
16. Recaro RS-G (All versions)
17. Bride Artis II (driver)
18. Bride Artis II Navi (passenger)
Will fit with modifications
1. Corbeau FX1 - fits with seat modification. Corbeau FX1 Install in FD
2. Sparco Evo 2 - - fits with seat modification.
3. Rx-8 seats (can be made to fit by modifying the racks)
4. Cobra Imola (with some minor triming of door side shoulder wing)
5. Sparco Torino 2 (modify the stock rails and get rid of the seat belt buckle they fit (barely))
6. Recaro Sportster CS seats placed on stock rails (tight fit) http://users.telenet.be/sammyrx7/ima...29_JPG_jpg.jpg
7.Bride Vios III lowmax WITH AUTOPOWER 6 POINT CAGE, must notch the side of the frp
bucket for the side bars to fit. Everything else fits!
8. Recaro Pole Positions (HEAVY modification)
9. Recaro R3's RX8 Seats (Custom Rails) Fits perfect, can adjust front to back. Lose plastic gas leaver trim. That is all
10. Momo Start (fits but shoulder wing will rub the door or can be trimmed)
Will NOT fit
1. Sparco Fighter
2. Corbeu fx1 pro fit with no problems ,but if you have an autopower 6pt roll cage you won't be able to run the front of the cage because the seat sits high and blocks the halo bars.
3. Sparco Circuit Pro
**updated**
1. Stock FD Seats (does this really need to be on the list?)
2. Recaros from the Spirt R
3. Gias Lowmax
4. Bride Zeta III
5. Bride Vios III lowmax
6. Mazdaspeed Type-F
7. Memoryfab s58
8. Corbeau - some models, they supply the custom racks.
9. Sparco Sprint V
10. Recaro Profi and or SPG ( with slight rubbing to the door but not much, if you use Recaro rails instead of bride it will fit fine)
11. Sparco Roadster
12. Sparco EVO with stock seat rail (shoulder bolster will rub on the door)
13. Sparco Milanos
14. Memory FAB S58
15. Recaro Spirit R will fit with AUTO POWER 6 point cage
16. Recaro RS-G (All versions)
17. Bride Artis II (driver)
18. Bride Artis II Navi (passenger)
Will fit with modifications
1. Corbeau FX1 - fits with seat modification. Corbeau FX1 Install in FD
2. Sparco Evo 2 - - fits with seat modification.
3. Rx-8 seats (can be made to fit by modifying the racks)
4. Cobra Imola (with some minor triming of door side shoulder wing)
5. Sparco Torino 2 (modify the stock rails and get rid of the seat belt buckle they fit (barely))
6. Recaro Sportster CS seats placed on stock rails (tight fit) http://users.telenet.be/sammyrx7/ima...29_JPG_jpg.jpg
7.Bride Vios III lowmax WITH AUTOPOWER 6 POINT CAGE, must notch the side of the frp
bucket for the side bars to fit. Everything else fits!
8. Recaro Pole Positions (HEAVY modification)
9. Recaro R3's RX8 Seats (Custom Rails) Fits perfect, can adjust front to back. Lose plastic gas leaver trim. That is all
10. Momo Start (fits but shoulder wing will rub the door or can be trimmed)
Will NOT fit
1. Sparco Fighter
2. Corbeu fx1 pro fit with no problems ,but if you have an autopower 6pt roll cage you won't be able to run the front of the cage because the seat sits high and blocks the halo bars.
3. Sparco Circuit Pro
**updated**
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,164
Likes: 167
From: Japanabama
http://bride-jp.cohttp://bride-jp.co...ining/low-max/
With Bride Type LR rails, these seats will (according to Bride) give you 50 mm more headroom without being offset left or right. With Type MO rails they will be 30 mm lower and will be offset slightly. So obviously you want LR rails.
Sadly, they don't make LR rails for the FC or MR2, but they do make them for the FD. Also, the cheapest version of this seat costs $1500...
I sat in one the other day and for a Bride it fit me pretty well, in both height and tightness. Hold-wise it felt like I was sitting in a regular full-bucket seat.
With Bride Type LR rails, these seats will (according to Bride) give you 50 mm more headroom without being offset left or right. With Type MO rails they will be 30 mm lower and will be offset slightly. So obviously you want LR rails.
Sadly, they don't make LR rails for the FC or MR2, but they do make them for the FD. Also, the cheapest version of this seat costs $1500...
I sat in one the other day and for a Bride it fit me pretty well, in both height and tightness. Hold-wise it felt like I was sitting in a regular full-bucket seat.
Well some have gotten the Pole Positions to fit but the wings are 20mm wider so im sure theyd cause issues with the door panels unless you trimmed them. From front to back looking at the seat sideways the length is apparently 80mm longer on the SPG XL so its something to think about as well.