6ft 2 in tall cramped in the driver seat. Is there a way to extend the seat track so that it goes futher back or is there some control that allows the seat to have more flexibility than i have been able to find. Is there an aftermarket product that addresses the need for more driver leg room for tall guys?
Seat rails/tracks, extending for more legroom
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inmye
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If you're buying a 2007, note that the parts are different from those on 2003-06 models, so your seat track conversion might vary.
![Image]()
If I were to do it again, I'd try a slightly different method:
1. Remove front and back brackets, track floor cover fastener bracket, and support tube from the factory U-channel (track);
2. Weld those parts, matching their relative positions, to a square steel channel the same size and length as the factory U-channel;
a) drill/file holes for the front cover clips;
b) verify fit with floor mounting and support points and the track floor cover;
3. Weld the square channel to the U-channel track, staggered two to three inches forward.
This should be stronger and more durable than the butt-welded, cantilevered extension I used.
Good luck, and please report back.
If I were to do it again, I'd try a slightly different method:
1. Remove front and back brackets, track floor cover fastener bracket, and support tube from the factory U-channel (track);
2. Weld those parts, matching their relative positions, to a square steel channel the same size and length as the factory U-channel;
a) drill/file holes for the front cover clips;
b) verify fit with floor mounting and support points and the track floor cover;
3. Weld the square channel to the U-channel track, staggered two to three inches forward.
This should be stronger and more durable than the butt-welded, cantilevered extension I used.
Good luck, and please report back.
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I'd be very interested in having this done too. Who did you have do this for you?elephink said:
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There's about a 1 1/2" rise in the floorboard at the front seat mounts that prevents you from simply shifting the tracks back as you would if the floor (and the track brackets) were flat.
![Image]()
A compromise solution would be to remove the front angle bracket and put a new, stout bracket in its place, facing the other way and even extending out a bit. That would gain you another couple of inches, though you'd have to drill new holes in the floorboard for the rear brackets and clear the garnish and floor insulation/liner accordingly.
Note that this applies to 2003-06 seats. The tracks on 2007 seats are slightly different, and I haven't looked at them closely enough to know if the same mod will work.
![Image]()
A compromise solution would be to remove the front angle bracket and put a new, stout bracket in its place, facing the other way and even extending out a bit. That would gain you another couple of inches, though you'd have to drill new holes in the floorboard for the rear brackets and clear the garnish and floor insulation/liner accordingly.
Note that this applies to 2003-06 seats. The tracks on 2007 seats are slightly different, and I haven't looked at them closely enough to know if the same mod will work.
Possible sources : http://www.corbeau.com and http://www.wedgeengineering.net/
http://www.skidmore.edu/~pdwyer/e/seat_tracks.htm
RamblerDan has an explanation of how he did this here:
http://www.skidmore.edu/~pdwyer/e/seat_tracks.htm
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The welder who did my rails back in '04 is out of business now, but I have also used Govel Welding in Colonie and was satisfied with their work. They don't seem to have a Web site, but here's their Facebook page.
I wouldn't tell the welder that the rails are for a car seat; he could be spooked by the potential liability. He'll likely know what they are when he sees 'em, but it's nice to have plausible deniability. A mechanic (if you need to use one) might have the same problem, so in theory you could use one mechanic to remove the seat and separate the rails from the seat base, and a different mechanic to put everything back together. "Oh yes, those seat rails are just as they came from Honda!"
Measure and record the unmodified rails' dimensions, particularly the distance between the front and rear brackets, so they're sure to be welded back in the right spots. Note well the orientation of the front brackets—they look "backward," and need to stay that way. It would help to give the welder full-scale drawings of what you want. If the welder cuts the brackets and support tube from one rail and uses the other, untouched rail as a model, it should be straightforward.
The new square channel (the method I'm recommending, not the way I did it) will need to be a few inches longer than the tracks; 3" to 4" should be plenty.
Finally, you will need to disconnect and reconnect an airbag connector under the seat, so follow the airbag safety protocols in the Honda service manual to the letter.
When I did this mod, I bought a new seat base just in case I messed up the original tracks, but ended up not needing it. Whether you choose to invest a couple of hundred bucks in an emergency backup depends on your level of confidence in tackling this job.
Good luck, take pictures, and let us know how it works out. I'd love to see someone improve on what I did!
P.S.: If you have a rocking seat, this will be the time to replace the bushings.
I wouldn't tell the welder that the rails are for a car seat; he could be spooked by the potential liability. He'll likely know what they are when he sees 'em, but it's nice to have plausible deniability. A mechanic (if you need to use one) might have the same problem, so in theory you could use one mechanic to remove the seat and separate the rails from the seat base, and a different mechanic to put everything back together. "Oh yes, those seat rails are just as they came from Honda!"
Measure and record the unmodified rails' dimensions, particularly the distance between the front and rear brackets, so they're sure to be welded back in the right spots. Note well the orientation of the front brackets—they look "backward," and need to stay that way. It would help to give the welder full-scale drawings of what you want. If the welder cuts the brackets and support tube from one rail and uses the other, untouched rail as a model, it should be straightforward.
The new square channel (the method I'm recommending, not the way I did it) will need to be a few inches longer than the tracks; 3" to 4" should be plenty.
Finally, you will need to disconnect and reconnect an airbag connector under the seat, so follow the airbag safety protocols in the Honda service manual to the letter.
When I did this mod, I bought a new seat base just in case I messed up the original tracks, but ended up not needing it. Whether you choose to invest a couple of hundred bucks in an emergency backup depends on your level of confidence in tackling this job.
Good luck, take pictures, and let us know how it works out. I'd love to see someone improve on what I did!
P.S.: If you have a rocking seat, this will be the time to replace the bushings.
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Good Call! Just emailed them for an Element base for my Recaro. thanks for the link.
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update
made myself a custom base for the recaro this morning.
sits 2" lower and slides back an additional 3 inches.
![Image]()
made myself a custom base for the recaro this morning.
sits 2" lower and slides back an additional 3 inches.
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96 Posts
sadly i only have one seat. its a leftover from my 93 jetta autoX car that i scrapped last year.
being 6'9" tall, i can now see the entire steering wheel without my knees touching the dashboard. the mismatched seats bothers my wife a bit but function over fashion.
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How about some detail photos of that base, Independent77? It's hard to see much from that long view.
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+10. I NEED TO KNOW HOW THAT WORKS. I've been looking for brackets that fit the E so I can finally have a bucket seat, but no one makes the damn things for the box.
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i used a recaro ls-c seat. its a universal fit not an OEM seat.
I had used it in my old jetta racecar with a Wedge engineering slider and base.
Initially i contacted Wedge for a element base, shipped to canada would have been just under $150. I wasnt interested in spending money twice so i mdified this one. My friend owns a VW repair shop and allowed me to use his shopspace last saturday.
Basically i used the Jetta base, cut of all the 'legs' that bolt to the VW factory locations.
used some 1/8" x 1" flatbar from the local metal supply, added 4 new legs to the modified base. the slider and seat bolt to the base as recaro intended.
I'll take some more pics tomorrow when its light outside.
I had used it in my old jetta racecar with a Wedge engineering slider and base.
Initially i contacted Wedge for a element base, shipped to canada would have been just under $150. I wasnt interested in spending money twice so i mdified this one. My friend owns a VW repair shop and allowed me to use his shopspace last saturday.
Basically i used the Jetta base, cut of all the 'legs' that bolt to the VW factory locations.
used some 1/8" x 1" flatbar from the local metal supply, added 4 new legs to the modified base. the slider and seat bolt to the base as recaro intended.
I'll take some more pics tomorrow when its light outside.
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Seat Belt?
Has there been anything for an 08 Element... im 6'7" and its beggining to piss me off. I need more leg room.
***NOTE*** EXTEND MY SEAT CO. is willing to make a bracket for the elements but they need someone out in Los Angeles. If anyone out there in LA is looking for a almost free extension for the seat rails let me know so i can get it done?????
http://extendmyseat.com/
Has there been anything for an 08 Element... im 6'7" and its beggining to piss me off. I need more leg room.
***NOTE*** EXTEND MY SEAT CO. is willing to make a bracket for the elements but they need someone out in Los Angeles. If anyone out there in LA is looking for a almost free extension for the seat rails let me know so i can get it done?????
http://extendmyseat.com/
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**EXTENDMYSEATCO.**
"In exchange for their car and time we would give them a rental car and free set of brackets."
Again this is in Los Angeles area... please, anyone with an E in this area the service is free and you get a rental to abuse for a few days. Please please.... this is the opportunity for us E Owners need to fix the leg room issue. A customization that is much needed, with proffesional work no improvised work. Please please...
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I think the lack of rear seat movement is a result of them needing to slide far enough forward to lay flat & meet up with the fronts of the rear seats, making a solid sleeping platform. If you look at the bottom of the seats the slider rails extend over an inch past the front mounting bolt, most ridiculous thing Ive seen.
The seat adapters I made for my leather seats gave me a good 3~4" of more slide back & still have loads of room in the back seat for passengers.
The seat adapters I made for my leather seats gave me a good 3~4" of more slide back & still have loads of room in the back seat for passengers.
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