Seat Spacer. What a difference!

I was slow at work and made some 1" spacers to lift the back of the drivers seat. What a difference this made! Made the entire truck feel different to me and all in such a positive way.
Im 5' 7" and never had a real big issue with the seat but I did always want to pick it up a little. This simple little thing made it feel like I dropped in a new seat and is such an improvement.
If you have any complaints with your seat, I recommend trying it in the driveway to see if its worth making some spacers. For me it was well worth a few minutes to do.

 

Good to hear that. I saw someone in the market place selling some but was hesitant. Thanks for the info I'll probably end up doing it too.

 

Did you use the factory bolts? Are the spacers steel or aluminum? What was your initial complaint?

 

Looks aluminium. I don't think using the factory bolts would be good if he used a 1" spacer. But if u wanna roll the dice

 

I just happen to have some aluminum round stock in my toolbox. I just cut and drilled it. Didn't have longer bolts so I just stopped by the hardware store and picked up the correct length metric bolts. The round stock I happen to have was only about 3/4" diameter so I used some stainless steel fender washers on the top and bottom of it just to do it. (probably doesn't need them, I just did it anyway) Once you have what you need, it takes less than 5 minutes to install.

I really did not have a comfort issue as it was. I just felt like it was little low. After picking up the back of the seat, it completely changed the way everything feels. The seat feels firmer and my weight feels better distributed across the bottom. I have a bad lower back and I also feel like I have better lower back support. The steering wheel feels better in my hands as well. It's crazy how much everything feels better from that one little thing.

If you are curious about how it might feel, just pull the two back bolts. Get a little wood or something that you can use to test with and just try it sitting in the driveway. You will instantly feel the change. I was going to make them 3/4" tall but then I saw it seemed like most people were making them 1" tall so that is what I made mine.

I have a road trip coming up in a couple of weeks so I am really curious how it is going to do on the trip.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/for-sale-aluminum-seat-mod-spacers.561819/#post-18408526

 

Does the spacers affect the integrity of the seat during a collision and what would insurance say about modifying that part of the vehicle? Just wondering because I think I would benefit from doing this mod".

Thanks

 

I cant imagine lifting the seat 1" would really effect anything in a crash. Its no different than a vehicle with a power seat that has that capability to start with.

I have also seen lots of kits for other vehicles that lift or change the position of a seat.

But that being said, you take a chance with it when you modify a vehicle. You could say the same about lifting a truck and swapping over to bigger wheels and tires. That certainly effects a vehicle's handling.

 

Oh man - is that Dirt Nasty? ...errr.. Simon Rex??

 

Funny I did kind of the opposite I'm 5'9" and I always felt too tall, I raised the front 1/2" up to give more angle to the back, keep my but in the seat better and support my thighs a little more.

 

I can imagine that.​

• • • Are the new, longer bolts torqued to the required specifications?
    • Are the new, longer bolts the required grade for the application?
    • What is the sheer strength of the spacer?
    • In the "stock" application the bolt threads completely up to the bolt head into the seat bracket and the reinforced "nut" in the floor. Each of these adds strength to the strength of bolt. The added "spacer" reduces the aggregate sheer strength of the bolt, seat bracket and reinforced nut in the floor.

On my 2000 Tacoma the bolts are Grade 5. Are your longer, replacement bolts the required grade for the application?
https://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/materials-and-grades/materials.aspx

Grade 5 / Grade F

Grade 5 bolts are hardened to increase strength and are the most common bolts found in automotive applications. Grade 5 bolts have 3 evenly spaced radial lines on the head.​

 

@jnossoff The bolts on my seats (2nd Gen) don't have any markings. Wouldn't Toyota use the metric torque rating system? 8.8, 10.9, etc... Maybe different bolts on 1st Gen.

 

so im not the only one that feels like im sitting on the ground in these trucks

 

???

 

I picked up a set locally, added 3/4 spacer and big difference. I'm 6 foot and weigh 250 and never had an issue in stock form, met up with the seller and tried a set of 3/4 inch spacers and totally changed for the best. Simply awesome comfort now.

 

Post 6 directs you to spacers all made and bolts.
Grade 5=8.8 and grade 8=10.9 so you will not find any 10.9s locally have to order online at approx 1.50 each.
I tried the 1" lift myself with some washers and got 10x1.25 grade 8.8 at ACE at 40mm long as a test and I took them back out as not impressed with feel so try the lift before you buy just as the spacer guys site says. All a personal preference.

 

Yup did 1in REAR spacers on my driver seat (5ft 9) and I can sit in the seat for much longer now.

 

These guys sell them - https://desertdoesit.com/ - they could probably be fab'd pretty easily. I went with these on a group buy awhile back and couldn't be happier. I think I may DIY the passenger side at some point. I sat as a passenger the other day after having these on the driver side 2 months and wanted one of those kid booster seats to raise me up lol

 

$95 per seat.

 

The only way they would know to look is if the bolts sheared and the seat came off it’s mounts. Otherwise it’s just one more partially hidden shiny bolt in a vehicle with 10 000 other partially hidden shiny bolts. Some people give other people way too much credit.