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Driver seat lowering modification

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Old Dec 10, 2015 | 06:16 AM
  #1  
Levi989's Avatar
Levi989
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Default Driver seat lowering modification

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has successfully modified their driver's seat to create more head room. I searched the forum and did not find anyone who was able to do it. I know it is possible on a G35/G37 to lower the seat another inch very easily by removing a washer as shown below:

G35
http://g35driver.com/forums/body-int...ml#post1632270

G37:
http://g35driver.com/forums/v36-diy/...at-height.html

I also found this video briefly showing how to take apart an is350 drivers seat but its hard to tell if anything could be modified to lower the seat

I wonder if we could use this same idea as the G35/G37 mod to lower the drivers seat on an is350? I don't own an IS350 yet but the lack of headroom is my concern in buying one, especially because I want to autocross/track the car which requires wearing a helmet. I test drove a 2012 yesterday and liked everything but the headroom.

Anyone want to go outside and take a look at their seat to see if it could be modified to lower it? Maybe post some pictures of the seat with the plastic covers removed?
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Old Dec 10, 2015 | 08:27 AM
  #2  
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Gotta say ive never heard of this, but i am very intrested. Wouldnt mind having more headroom, but to be fair, i dont really need it either (im 6'0). Im also not sjre if i wanna risk pulling anything apart from my seat and possibly breaking it That being said i hope someone more mechanically inclined can pitch in on this so... bump

Last edited by Tro209; Dec 10, 2015 at 08:32 AM.
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Old Dec 10, 2015 | 08:37 AM
  #3  
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Feel like everyone here is so tall. In sitting here being 5"6 moving the seat up
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Old Dec 10, 2015 | 09:56 AM
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Subscribed as well... 6'2 and my head almost touches the roof.

This is one of the 2 things I don't like about this car. The other one is the room for legs in the back seat...
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Old Dec 10, 2015 | 10:13 AM
  #5  
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Hmm i cant see your links (work blocks them), but from removing my seats i cant see much room to be gained with any mods.

I have racing seats and that has helped with head room (I'm 6'1). If i opted for seats without sliders, i would gain another inch or so, but without a removable steering wheel, no sliders would be terribly hard.

I know your pain though. I autocrossed before my racing seats and my head had to stay tilte with the sunroof panel slid back. Was not very comfortable.
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Old Dec 10, 2015 | 10:13 AM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by Icy350
Feel like everyone here is so tall. In sitting here being 5"6 moving the seat up
Same here, but if you plan on doing a faux-hawk or spikey hair...
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Old Dec 10, 2015 | 10:34 AM
  #7  
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Being tall is so over-rated. LOL!
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Old Dec 10, 2015 | 12:05 PM
  #8  
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I'm not tall, but unfortunately, i have ridiculously long torso, more headroom is always appreciated
BUMP
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Old Dec 10, 2015 | 01:08 PM
  #9  
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My seat is all the way down, yet my head is only 1" to hit the roof.

I assume that people outside think that the seat is all the way up .
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Old Dec 10, 2015 | 08:18 PM
  #10  
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Levi989
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Thanks for the replies everyone, if anyone has some pictures of their seat with any plastic panel removed that would be helpful. I'm going to look at another IS350 soon and take a closer look at the seat itself. Even 1" more headroom would be very noticeable imo.

I also wonder if the seat back redesign in 08 affected headroom any since Lexus did redesign the seat.

Looking at pictures of is350 driver seats physically there is a lot of room to go lower.

I couldn't find an 06/07 seat on ebay that was actually an 06/07 seat. You can tell by the back of it. The 08+ seat has a leather pouch whereas the pre 08 has a plastic pull out pouch and is carved in more for rear legroom.

Edit: 07 seat but passenger:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2007-LEXUS-I...tWKeMC&vxp=mtr

08 seat:





Link to 08 seat:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-DRIVER...torefresh=true

Great link to a driver's seat rail bare:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2006-2008-LE...hUEesL&vxp=mtr

I can't tell if these are the heated/cooled seats or not and I don't trust Ebay sellers to list correctly what they have so if anyone has pictures they trust that would be appreciated.

It is looking like you could cut out a portion of the rear mounting brackets and reweld them which would lower the rear of the seat and your head.

Last edited by Levi989; Dec 10, 2015 at 09:18 PM.
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Old Dec 11, 2015 | 05:25 AM
  #11  
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You cant cut height out of the seat mounting bracket, the seat frame will then interfere with the floorboard. The mounting for the seat is countersunk into the floor, so the brackets need the height designed into them.

Have an '06 and '09 at home, the seats give the same head room in each. If not, it is not a noticeable change at all.
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