Seats - Runners / Sub Frames??? Explain please!

[SteveS Cup]

Hi guys,

I'm looking at buying a new set of Reclining Bucket Seats (unless I can persuade my gf into thinking another car with fixed buckets is a good idea!). Everytime a set of Recaro's come up for sale it's never a good time for me so after xmas I'm probably going to get a set of these...

http://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/auto-style-type-reclining-seats-p-895.html

For the money you can't go wrong. If they look naff when I get them I'll stick them on Ebay.

Anyway...

I've not really done much with seats before, so can somebody explain to me what the difference is between a runner and a subframe?

I always thought the seat bolted to the subframe and the subframe bolted to the floor!?

If I was to buy these with the proper subframes but use original runners what would I need to do!? (I don't even know what the runner / subframe looks like on a Clio!).

Could somebody show me a diagram / pics and spell it out simply please!?

 

[Budgie]

Pretty much, you bolt the subframe to the car, and then you can bolt the runner to the subframe, meaning you can slide them back and forwards. Helpful if there's more than one driver. You can just bolt the side mounts to the subframe though, meaning it's fixed and slightly lower.

I really wouldn't splash out £450 on those, though.

Get a second hand set of trusted seats, imo.

 

[Jonny1*2]

http://www.capitalseating.co.uk/

This company is quite good mate. I'm sure if you ask them what options they have for clios, seats and subframes they might give you a better idea.

Basically, Subframe bolt directly to the bottom of the seat, the runners bolt to that, and then through the floor. Runners are needed so the seat slides as the name might suggest. If you wanted fixed position seats then fixed "runners" would be the way to go, but for a daily car it would be a bit impractical.

 

[SteveS Cup]

Hi guys.

I'd like recaros but I'm impatient and never have the cash available when they come up. I know a few guys from other forums who have bought these make of seats and they all love them.

Ideally I'd get a set of Pole Positions but I do occasionally use the rear seats.

This company also sell the Clio matched subframes for the original runners so I'm presuming 1) I don't have to get under the car to fit these and they also have the holes for the original seat belts.

I think they look great and look more supportive than the trophy recaros.

 

[Jonny1*2]

You would still have to go under the car to fix them to the car.

 

[SteveS Cup]

So if fitting these to the original runners I'd still have to remove the runners out the car, then attach them to the new seats with the subframes fitted and then fit back in the car!?

 

[SteveS Cup]

Now I understand the whole runners / subframes / sidemounts...

With a fixed bucket on sidemounts and runners would they slide forward enough for someone to squeeze in the back?

And is having fixed buckets with STD seatbelts dangerous / gay?

 

[Jonny1*2]

I'm sure you need to remove the runner to get to the bolt that hold the subframe to the runners, but don't quote me on that. If you can access them from above then maybe not. There are 5 nuts total on each seat.

If you get fixed seats that slide you might have enough room to squeeze in. Best way to check is slide your normal seats all the way forward and see if you can get in without tilting it.

Seat belts work fine so long as the seats aren't too "buckety". Otherwise you'd need harnesses really, so your back seat access would be null and void anyway. The seats you put up though look like they would be fine with standard belts though.

 

[Curtis!]

There like a copy cap Bride Gais!

Like Jonny said ^ seatbelts if they aren't too deep, which you'll be fine with recliner style seats as the have nothing around the hip area.

 

[SteveS Cup]

The link I put up are tilting recliners anyway.

But I was looking on capital and the Recaro Furious seats look good and are going to be top quality.

 

[SteveS Cup]

There like a copy cap Bride Gais!

Like Jonny said ^ seatbelts if they aren't too deep, which you'll be fine with recliner style seats as the have nothing around the hip area.

Yep! A mate on another forum had the copy gt3 seats and he said the quality is fantastic.

 

[SteveS Cup]

What about these!! £189 including sidemounts... I'm presuming these can bolt directly to the original runners??

http://www.motorspeed.com/store_mai...13&int_subcategory_id=108&int_product_id=3618

 

[Jonny1*2]

You would have to use harnesses with those really. Hard to tell if they woudl fit straight in. Looks like they come with their own runners. I'm sure the subframes could be adjusted to suit the clio runners though.

 

[SteveS Cup]

Could I not feed the door side of the belt through the harness slot?

 

[SteveS Cup]

Do you think they look like cheap s**t???!!!

 

[Jonny1*2]

The look ok, but fitting the belts like you mentioned would basically just give you a lap strap :S

 

[SteveS Cup]

No!!! I meant can I unbolt the seat belt and feed the bottom through the harness slot! Not the whole thing!

Even I appreciate that would be silly!!!

 

[Revo Kev]

I've a motordrive bucket in as a drivers seat but use the standard belt as you've suggested here, had to modify the sidemount on the saet buckle side so the pretensior/buckle would bolt up to it nicely. The buckle I run through the inner harness cutout, just have to hold it out of the way when you get in the seat but I use the car everyday and it's fine!

 

[Curtis!]

These are extremely similiar seats to the Ktec 'Racing' white Clio that everyone always asked what the seats are. They look good and compared to Brides you can't complain on price.

 

[SteveS Cup]

If I was going for fixed seats I'd want the belt going through the door side slot and then have the tensioner just below the handbrake side harness slot so I could slide the buckle through the slot in clip it in.

 

[SteveS Cup]

I was one of the guys asking what the ktec seats were as I thought they were these!

 

[Curtis!]

Could be the same, if not they are very similiar!

 

[Jonny1*2]

No!!! I meant can I unbolt the seat belt and feed the bottom through the harness slot! Not the whole thing!

Even I appreciate that would be silly!!!

Now i'm with you

 

[SteveS Cup]

Lol... The thought of feeding the whole thing through the 1 slot is still making me chuckle!!