Lowering the driving position in 172

[Pricey98]

I'm finding the driving position in my 172 a bit high (seems common), and was wondering what people have done to remedy this? I saw an old thread about removing the rubber spacers under the seat bolts, but not sure how much difference it would make. Failing that would and aftermarket seat solve the problem? Any suggestions welcome :grinning:

 

[bozothenutter]

racingbucket with @JON FOZ Xlow subframe is the lowest you can go, otherwise, you're stuck with the rubber spacers.
another good mod for driving position is either a aftermarket wheel with some dish or a steering shaft extender by @Giacomo-RS.
This brings the wheel a bit closer, allowing you to stretch your legs a bit more.

 

[JB21]

Ditch the rubbers that will lower it a cm or so, but to get real lows you need an xlow frame with no seat runners/sliders. I had the xlow frame with runners and still found it to high and I'm only 6ft.

 

[leeds2592]

I'm finding the driving position in my 172 a bit high (seems common), and was wondering what people have done to remedy this? I saw an old thread about removing the rubber spacers under the seat bolts, but not sure how much difference it would make. Failing that would and aftermarket seat solve the problem? Any suggestions welcome :grinning:

Taking the spacers makes a massive difference until you get used to it. I then went for Recaros on Jon Foz's lower adaptors, still would like it a bit lower but the only other option would be what has been suggested above with Jon Foz's XLow frames and aftermarket buckets.

 

[Pricey98]

Ditch the rubbers that will lower it a cm or so, but to get real lows you need an xlow frame with no seat runners/sliders. I had the xlow frame with runners and still found it to high and I'm only 6ft.

Same height as me. Can you keep the original seat with the Jon foz adapter or do you need to change to aftermarket?

 

[leeds2592]

Same height as me. Can you keep the original seat with the Jon foz adapter or do you need to change to aftermarket?

Need aftermarkets.

 

[JB21]

Same height as me. Can you keep the original seat with the xlow frame or do you need to change to aftermarket?

You need to change it mate, if its just you who drives the car get a used aftermarket base mounted seat from eBay for around £100, a single jon-foz xlow frame (I have one spare :smile and then just use your standard seat belt, that's what i'll be doing in my new track project as you don't want to be running harnesses with no roll cage.

 

[bozothenutter]

Ditch the rubbers that will lower it a cm or so, but to get real lows you need an xlow frame with no seat runners/sliders. I had the xlow frame with runners and still found it to high and I'm only 6ft.

6ft?!...:smile: i'm only 173cm, wouldn't want to be sitting any lower (and that is with a slider)

 

[Raceface_13]

If your not wanting aftermarket then you can only really ditch spacers (which will make the seat rub on the carpet when moving the position until it wears abit) and lower the steering wheel/column if you feel thats to high. Not alot else bud

 

[bozothenutter]

as you don't want to be running harnesses with no roll cage.

not true mate. really.
a harness WITH a racing seat is safer than used with the standard belts.
the latter will still leave you quite floppy at 10G or more....
I wonder where this idea comes from, it is like the opposite of running a cage without a helmet...now that is dangerous!

 

[Louis]

If your not wanting aftermarket then you can only really ditch spacers (which will make the seat rub on the carpet when moving the position until it wears abit) and lower the steering wheel/column if you feel thats to high. Not alot else bud

Mine doesn't seem to be wearing the carpet or damaging it but it is initially a little hard to move. I never move my seat anyway as I HATE adjusting it.

Access the nuts from under the car (2 are hidden behind grommets) then tilt it forwards and backward to reveal the spacers clipped in. Screwdriver under them to remove them and job's a good'n. I even cut away just the thin rubberised part and placed these under to hide the holes in the carpet that would be otherwise left. Purely cosmetic.

 

[JB21]

not true mate. really.
a harness WITH a racing seat is safer than used with the standard belts.
the latter will still leave you quite floppy at 10G or more....
I wonder where this idea comes from, it is like the opposite of running a cage without a helmet...now that is dangerous!

If you run a fixed back bucket seat with harness without a roll cage and you actually roll you will be firmly planted in your seat with minimal lateral movement of the upper body and the top of your skull would be taking the impact if landing on the roof and it crushed in. If using a 3 point OE seat belt they are designed for your upper body to shift about in the event of a roll therefore greatly reducing to risk of head trauma if landing directly on the roof.

Its not rocket science!

 

[bozothenutter]

Might be cognitive Bias, and not the most trustworthy of sources, but i'm writing a mail to Schroth as we speak:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=18&t=1273077&i=20
"Interesting thread as I took it upon myself to ask Schroth themselves whilst at the Autosport International earlier this year on the subject of harnesses in cars without a cage . Schroth told me that in their tests those fitted with harnesses fared better than those fitted without (3 point seatbelt), cage or no cage. Through tests and research they stated that most injuries during crashes on track are caused by the person going out through the drivers window (which a 3 point seat belt will push you towards on impact), hitting ones head on the roof once the car has turned on its roof (not crushing, but falling out of the seat with 3 point belts), and impacts from the side, pushing the person out of the 3 point belt (they are designed for front impacts and are pretty useless for side impacts). A proper harness in these situations is much safer.

The assumption that a harness may keep you in one place and not allow the person to move away from a crushing roof whilst perhaps plausible in theory it does not take into account the many other types of incidents that occur where the harness can prevent injury. My thoughts are that in such a crash a 3 point seat belt is going to over little to no protection, can you really move out of the way? and the only real solution is to fit a cage, which of course brings us back to the original argument.

My opinion on the matter is that a 3 point seat belt offers the least protection, support. Next up, fitting a harness can prevent injury in more cases than the 3 point belt, it also provides excellent support but should really only be used with (FIA approved) bucket seats. Fitting a full cage offers the best protection but I would argue that in anything but a dedicated track car it is a step too far for most."

 

[JB21]

I'll be sticking with the OE belt for the Celica and taking my chances as my head is a cm from the roof with a helmet on. I've rolled a car wearing a OE belt which landed on its roof and walked away without a scratch so thats proof enough for me that an OE belt still works in a roll over situation.

 

[bozothenutter]

that's why I'm asking Schroth mate, i can see positives to both points, that makes it hard to make your mind up.
All the forums posts are secondhand info at best, Schroth should know right?

 

[JB21]

that's why I'm asking Schroth mate, i can see positives to both points, that makes it hard to make your mind up.
All the forums posts are secondhand info at best, Schroth should know right?

Its such a grey area and I totally agree that a harness in the grand scheme of things would probably be safer in most instances but its just the worst instance (rolling over and landing flat on its roof) that it wouldn't be the safest option, and that for me is enough not to wear one especially with how the roof line is on my car.