Raise e21 Recaro/Sport Seats

[AustinOski]

I have e21 seats in my '76. They were re-upholstered by Aardvarc via a previous owner 10 years ago. I was getting butt-sag, so I bought and installed new straps a few weeks ago. Seemed okay for a few weeks, now I'm feeling low again. I should note I do like to sit fairly upright and tend to raise my seat all the way with height adjustable seats.

 

I have few thoughts regarding solutions that don't also involve replacing the seat cushion padding (seems okay, but could be a contributor):

 

1. Shorten the straps. They were better than the old ones, but they could have been shorter. Seemed to easy to install and didn't seem that tight when I installed them.

2. Place some fairly firm foam under the seat cushion, above the straps. Maybe a 1/2 card of foam.

3. Raise the seats by placing a 3/4 inch hot-rolled steel square tube between seat mount and rails, using longer (strong) bolts. Already have Aardvarc adapters, btw.

 

Any thoughts or experience with any of the above? I'm thinking of all or a combination of the three...
 

Thanks,

 

Joey

 

 

[roadhog0]

Something I did on my last set of recaros was take those crappy straps out and replace the straps with seatbelt webbing. Was a very nice upgrade! Firm, no sag, and basically free. Somewhere I have the photos and I did a post on it here... But it came out nice and I ran them for almost 10 years before I got my current recaros. Best part? I didn't feel like I was sitting in a 5 gallon bucket anymore!

[mofares]

I have been using Costco gel cushion when they awere being liquidates even after replacing the straps on my Recaro's. 

[Tommy]

All of the options are viable and pretty easy. Usually the problem is getting the seats low enough, which is not so easy.

-Said by one who always drops adjustable seat to bottom position.

[esty]

1 hour ago, AustinOski said:

2. Place some fairly firm foam under the seat cushion, above the straps. Maybe a 1/2 card of foam.

 

 

been there, done that

[AustinOski]

1 hour ago, roadhog0 said:

Something I did on my last set of recaros was take those crappy straps out and replace the straps with seatbelt webbing. Was a very nice upgrade! Firm, no sag, and basically free. Somewhere I have the photos and I did a post on it here... But it came out nice and I ran them for almost 10 years before I got my current recaros. Best part? I didn't feel like I was sitting in a 5 gallon bucket anymore!

 

Hmmm, interesting. I happen to have some seatbelt webbing (lots of it). How do you attached at ends? Did you create a loop like the straps and then fasten together with something (the hog rings or something else)?

[AustinOski]

1 hour ago, esty said:

been there, done that

And...did it help?

[esty]

1 hour ago, AustinOski said:

And...did it help?

it made all the difference that i was looking for and i didn't have to take the seams out...after a bit contortionists moves in the floor, i shoved it in between the seat bottom and webbing...you'll see the seat bottom rise as you add the stiff foam...actually i used layer of carpet because i have so much assuming it won't compress over time like foam would likely do...been ridin high for over 10 years without any fallout to clean up

[AustinOski]

@esty - Thanks. Just picked-up extra firm foam and square tubing and longer bolts, so I have options. 
 

I also have option #4 - lose weight!

[roadhog0]

4 hours ago, AustinOski said:

 

Hmmm, interesting. I happen to have some seatbelt webbing (lots of it). How do you attached at ends? Did you create a loop like the straps and then fasten together with something (the hog rings or something else)?

 

Ill see if I can find the photos. They're around somewhere... I made one big loop then wood stapled the ends together over ~6" of overlap. It worked for about 10 years before I changed seats! I got a lot of crap when I posted it "Why didn't you just use the Aardvark kit?" My answer "Cause the seatbelt material was free and it does a better job with saggy seats that have old foam.

[AustinOski]

@roadhog0 I’m thinking if I overlap enough (think long loops, hog rings should do the trick. Seatbelt webbing is very robust. Much more than the straps. 
 

 

[roadhog0]

Found the thread! I think hog rings would work just fine for this. And if not, not like seatbelt webbing is expensive. Just gotta get some when you go to pick n pull!
 

 

[AustinOski]

Okay, so I placed two 1’ squares of 1” thick extra from foam above the 3 new Aardvarc straps. It did the trick and more. We’ll see if it compresses a bit. 
 

See photo...Driver’s seat is obviously the modified one. Passenger seat has old straps and no extra foam. I’ll add one foam pad and put new straps on and do a compare. 
 

 

[esty]

there you go...if it does eventually compress, which old foam does, try my carpet trick...the carpet, in layers will not compress

 

glad you got things worked out

 

[AustinOski]

@esty - I think for passenger I'll start with seatbelt webbing and one 1" foam pad to compare. No spare carpet nearby, but It's easy to get stuff in and out under those straps. Well, easy enough to mess with.