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MG MGF Technical - Seat Lowering Kit

Whilst surfing the net the other day I stumbled across a site that offers interior and exterior customising parts for MGF's. (www.newtoncomm.co.uk)

One of the items caught my attention. It is a modification that lowers the seat by about 12mm and is ideal for tall drivers.

I am 6ft 4" tall and find that my knees do not fit easily under the steering wheel when operating the clutch. I have found a way round this which is to drive without shoes. My legs fit comfortably in then.

This modification sounds like it could be just the job, but 12mm is not a lot!

I was wondering if any other tall racing snakes out there have any experience of this modification, and if it is any good?
R Longmore

Ross

You will find even more interesting sites if you click on ADVERTISERS on the menu line below this BBS banner at the top of the screen.

also http://www.mgcars.org.uk/adverts.html

I've not used this lowerer but I believe it is longer springs to let the seat cushion sag a bit more (but I could be wrong).

Somebody will be along soon who has used it with their comments.

John Ponting

Ross,

I've got the springs fitted to my drivers seat and they do work quite well giveing about 1/2 an inch clearance under the stearing wheel (I'm 6ft2). Seat sag is not noticable Ooriginally was woried due to full leather seats and potential cracking of the leather). Fitting is a 10 minute job (per seat) but I never could be bothered to do it to the passanger seat as the seat has to be removed from the car to fit the springs. For the money, it quite a useful mod.

Cheers

Les
Les Piggot

Thanks chaps.

Les

Does it really only take 10mins to fit? I though removing the seat was quite awkward.

My other question is that of the infamous airbag connector under the seat that causes the light to stay on if it gets disrupted.

Have you had any problems with this since you fitted the springs?

Cheers

Ross
R Longmore

Another thing for us tall drivers is the restricted space for the feets under the dash. On Dieters Tech Site are pictures on how to modify the plastic . This enables even size 45 (around size 11in the non-metric ) to fit and make painless entering into the cabin ;). I made this several years ago on my "F" and it is really an improvement !
The new springs are OK but be aware that there will be slight more wrinkles in the leather as the centre of the cushion will be lowered..

BR, Carl.
Carl Blom

Thanks Carl

Am I correct in thinking that this modification does not lower the whole seat, it just allows the centre pad to compress further into the seat?

My F has the fabric seats, so leather creasing is not an issue, however I don't see how this will make much difference to my legs getting in the way of the steering wheel.

I think I will carry on driving without shoes. Without shoes I have lots of clearance under the steering wheel.

Ross
R Longmore

Ross,

To get the seats out, there are only 4 bolts (Torx 20??) to release, all of which you have reasonable access to. You’re right about the SRS system. The connector is under each seat but this can easily be disconnected, as there is a plug connector on it. From memory the instructions state you should leave the battery disconnected for 30 mins before disconnecting the SRS from under the seat to avoid any problems with it firing. Once the seat is out, there are 4 metal bars about the 4 inches long, which need to be removed and replaced by the springs

As for the seat, the springs lower the centre pad of the seat, meaning that you have a lower driving position (knee/leg angle changed) meaning that my legs no longer fouled the bottom of the wheel

Les
Les Piggot

Thanks for that Les.

As it is a low cost item I think I will give it a try. If I don't like it I can always refer back to the original design.

Cheers,

Ross
R Longmore

Ross,

It shouldn't be worse Ross (so no point removing the seats again ;) ), and if it doesn't work, you can alway go back to you suggestion :)

Les
Les Piggot

Full step by step instructions for seat removal are on the SOS site. Unfortunately the server is down at the moment though so i can't dig out a direct link for you, but the URL is:

>> http://www.sfforever.co.uk <<

Click on REBUILD, then (IIRC) there is a gallery titled 'seats and carpets' or something along those lines.

Obviously this'll only work when the servers come back online. :-)

From memory, you need a T50 Torx bit, a ratchet and an extension. You must disconnect the battery first (both terminals) and leave the car for a good 20 minutes, this will allow the battery back up to the seat belt pretensioners time to discharge. There are 4 securing bolts to undo the seat, if you want to take the seat right out of the car to work on then there is another one to undo that secures the end of the seatbelt. Lastly the seat belt pretensioner wiring just unclips under the seat base. Tips are use some copper grease ont he bolts when you come to put the seat back (it makes it easier), the 4 (5) bolts as far as i am concerned are overlong and this makes the job a little annoying, i recently bought some adapter bits from screwfix.com that allow you to use sockets in a cordless screwdriver and this has made doing this job a lot easier (there is one bolt though that still needs to be undone and replaced by hand though). Lastly, with the seat out of the car try not to touch the seat slider handle as the two runners are independant of each other and if they go out of line then it makes re-fitting the seat a little more tricky.

SF
Scarlet Fever

it's easy enough 1/2 hr a side, you'll need special torx bit for the seat - floor bolts and they should be retightened to 45Nm.

Use pliers to remove the c-shaped wires and replace with the springs. A bit of an effort but not too bad. The springs come with instructions.

I ended up removing them as I didn't feel they made a significant difference.

---------------------------------------
MGR Manual info.....

to Remove seat
1. Make the SRS system safe. See GENERAL
INFORMATION, SRS Precautions.
WARNING: Always remove the ignition
key from the ignition switch, disconnect
the vehicle battery and wait 10 minutes
before commencing work on the SRS system.
2. Lift seat adjuster, move seat rearwards.
3. Remove Torx screw from front of each seat
runner.
4. Lift seat adjuster, move seat forwards.
5. Rotate recline handle to tilt squab fully forward.
6. Remove Torx screw from rear of each seat
runner.
7. Disconnect seat belt pre-tensioner multiplug.
8. Position seat and remove Torx screw securing
seat belt strap to seat frame.
9. Remove seat.

----------------------------------
to Refit seat
1. Ensure harness lead does not become trapped
under seat runner when fitting seat.
2. Position seat belt strap to seat frame and
tighten Torx screw to 30 Nm.
3. Ensure that pre-tensioner lead is correctly
clipped to seat base.
4. Position seat and align runners to floor bolt
holes.
5. Connect pre-tensioner multiplug.
6. Fit but do not tighten Torx screw securing rear
of each seat runner.
7. Lift seat adjuster, move seat rearwards.
8. Fit Torx screw securing front of each seat
runner and tighten to 45 Nm.
9. Lift seat adjuster, move seat forwards.
10. Tighten Torx screw securing rear of each seat
runner to 45 Nm.
11. Connect both battery leads, earth lead last.
12. Carry out system check using TestBook.
-----------------------------

Ian Walker

This thread was discussed between 21/08/2003 and 22/08/2003

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