Removing seat swivel

[mwpmorris]

Hi everyone,

It may well sound like madness to a lot of you (judging by other swivelling seat posts that I've seen on here), but I'm looking to lower my driver's seat by removing the swivel mechanism.

Bit of background... I have quite short legs and no matter what I do with the seat, it ends up making my right thigh ache on any 30+ min drive. I've narrowed down my plan of action (in order of preference).

1. Remove swivelling mechanism (we won't miss the swivel).
2. Get an auto upholsterer to mould the seat a little.
3. Get a steel fabricator to make a smaller base.

So... going with option 1 - has anyone ever done this successfully? Installing a swivel seems to be a well trodden path, but can't find much evidence of going the other way.

I had a lengthy poke around under the seat this afternoon and can't for the life of me figure out how to make it work. The swivelling base seems to have its own custom runners with risers bolted into them for the swivel base to clip into. I can't see how these runners would work if I managed to remove the swivelling bit.

If anyone has gone this route then I'd love to hear how it went. Thanks in advance!

 

[TripleBee]

I don't think it's just a straightforward job, as the swivel part is also the part that hold the seat on the seat base.
I suppose you'd have to install a height adjustable seat, to have the possibility of fixing the complete seat to the seat base. Or you'd have to find someone that can fix the seat without the swivel part. But that will compromise crash, or even just normal safety.


So you'd have to have part 12, including all the other stuff you'll need to fix the seat. Then you can get rid of part 20 and 25.
Or you head to a car scrap yard to find a seat with height adjustment, put your seat cushions and lining on that new frame and you are set.
Just getting rid of 20 and 25 is not going to work.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi everyone,

It may well sound like madness to a lot of you (judging by other swivelling seat posts that I've seen on here), but I'm looking to lower my driver's seat by removing the swivel mechanism.

Bit of background... I have quite short legs and no matter what I do with the seat, it ends up making my right thigh ache on any 30+ min drive. I've narrowed down my plan of action (in order of preference).

1. Remove swivelling mechanism (we won't miss the swivel).
2. Get an auto upholsterer to mould the seat a little.
3. Get a steel fabricator to make a smaller base.

So... going with option 1 - has anyone ever done this successfully? Installing a swivel seems to be a well trodden path, but can't find much evidence of going the other way.

I had a lengthy poke around under the seat this afternoon and can't for the life of me figure out how to make it work. The swivelling base seems to have its own custom runners with risers bolted into them for the swivel base to clip into. I can't see how these runners would work if I managed to remove the swivelling bit.

If anyone has gone this route then I'd love to hear how it went. Thanks in advance!

I don’t think you can remove the Swivel mechanism.
The VW swivel is totally different to aftermarket swivels. I can see no way of bolting the seat base to the seat base runners without the swivel. Alternatively you can get cut down seat bases from 3rd parties, but none of the trim would fit.
A quality Conversion company might have some ideas.
Fit an alternative make of seat?

 

[mwpmorris]

Thanks @TripleBee - that diagram scares me to death! I'd assumed that it'd be a far more straightforward job. Maybe my option #2 (getting an upholsterer to adjust the foam in the seat) is my better option.

 

[mwpmorris]

I've just found a manufacturer of a reduced-height seat base that may solve my problem:

Volkswagen T5/T6 Lowered Seat Base Box - Driver's Side

Our lowered T5/T6 seat base box is the perfect item for those looking to fit a swivel base without increasing the height of the driver's seat.

www.jennings-seats.co.uk

It's not listed as fitting a T6, but they have a matching eBay ad that does specify a T6. I'm guessing the box design/fitting didn't change between the VW revisions.

 

[Perfectos]

Could you fit a non swivel seat from a Transporter ? It would solve the crash test / insurance issue.

 

[Perfectos]

Post #6

Cut Down / Lower Double Passenger Seat Base?

I’v seen a post about cut down passenger seat bases, so when a double swivel is fitted the seat isn’t too high. There is a chap that fabricated them but I can’t find him for the life of me! Any ideas folks? All I remember is the website was a red colour.

www.t6forum.com

Hope that helps

The ebay link doesn’t work but the “shop” link does

 

[Perfectos]

Can’t see a single seat name on the “shop link”

So here’s another

VW T5 T6 Lowered Drivers Single Seat Base With Lower Handbrake Bracket Swivel for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for VW T5 T6 Lowered Drivers Single Seat Base With Lower Handbrake Bracket Swivel at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[mwpmorris]

Post #6

Cut Down / Lower Double Passenger Seat Base?

I’v seen a post about cut down passenger seat bases, so when a double swivel is fitted the seat isn’t too high. There is a chap that fabricated them but I can’t find him for the life of me! Any ideas folks? All I remember is the website was a red colour.

www.t6forum.com

Hope that helps

The ebay link doesn’t work but the “shop” link does

Thanks @Perfectos - I did see that after Googling when my option #1 went south above. I'll give Vankraft a call tomorrow.

 

[andyinluton]

Could you fit a non swivel seat from a Transporter ? It would solve the crash test / insurance issue.

Or a caravel, or for a perfect match a none swivelling height adjustable seat that was offered as an option on T6 cali. You may get lucky & find someone with a none swivel cali seat that would do a straight swap.

The experts on this sort of thing are a company called T5 Oxford they specialise in swapping all sorts of seats around in VWs

 

[Perfectos]

This one is a swivel with a safe, says it’s lower but does not state how much lower

Sportscraft Lower Seat Base, Swivel & Safe - VW T5 & T6 - Magnum Motorhomes

Sportscraft supply great quality items and all Sportcraft products come recommend by Magnums This is a lower single seat base with in built seat swivel and integrated safe Designed to fit VW Transporters T5, T5.1, T6 & T6.1 vehicles 2003 right up to current date Sold construction and painted...

magnummotorhomes.co.uk

Seems plenty of possibilities out their

 

[Perfectos]

With dimensions second image
I hope that helps, good luck

Sportscraft Lower Seat Base, Swivel & Safe - VW T5 & T6 - Magnum Motorhomes

Sportscraft supply great quality items and all Sportcraft products come recommend by Magnums This is a lower single seat base with in built seat swivel and integrated safe Designed to fit VW Transporters T5, T5.1, T6 & T6.1 vehicles 2003 right up to current date Sold construction and painted...

magnummotorhomes.co.uk

 

[westfalia]

I would go and measure the seat height in a transporter van
and see if that height suits you sir.

Then if its okay fit one of those making sure that you can always
replace what you have taken out so that when you come to sell it
its back to standard.

 

[Eber123]

Good morning,

As mentioned above it might not be that easy to remove the swivel mechanism of the drivers seat.

I am not sure, but from my "stomach" feeling seats are part of the safty technics of a car and are complicated things (plus other electronics and mechanical options they may offer).

On German VW California configuration web pages there were options of none swiveling seats. If they have the same hight or not is a different question.

To avoid potential problems you might want to contact a good VW dealer to discuss options. I expect that recommendations from a VW dealer of different seat specifications using original VW parts won't jepoardize any safety.

Happy California,
Eberhard

 

[Prycey13]

Hi everyone,

It may well sound like madness to a lot of you (judging by other swivelling seat posts that I've seen on here), but I'm looking to lower my driver's seat by removing the swivel mechanism.

Bit of background... I have quite short legs and no matter what I do with the seat, it ends up making my right thigh ache on any 30+ min drive. I've narrowed down my plan of action (in order of preference).

1. Remove swivelling mechanism (we won't miss the swivel).
2. Get an auto upholsterer to mould the seat a little.
3. Get a steel fabricator to make a smaller base.

So... going with option 1 - has anyone ever done this successfully? Installing a swivel seems to be a well trodden path, but can't find much evidence of going the other way.

I had a lengthy poke around under the seat this afternoon and can't for the life of me figure out how to make it work. The swivelling base seems to have its own custom runners with risers bolted into them for the swivel base to clip into. I can't see how these runners would work if I managed to remove the swivelling bit.

If anyone has gone this route then I'd love to hear how it went. Thanks in advance!

Hi,

My Cali has one swivel and 1 comfort (height adjustable). Not sure if this was spec’d by the previous owner or changed after. I think it may have been changed after as don’t think you can spec two different seats (but I could be wrong?). I didn’t realise this at time of purchase and once things become more normal am looking to convert the drivers seat to a swivel.

if on the off chance you have the alacantara seats I’d be interested in a swap?

 

[mwpmorris]

Hi @Prycey13, many thanks for the offer. I've done a bit of research, and all things considered have decided to try and get an upholsterer to take a bit of the raised "lip" out of my seat. I had a look at a lowered base and it seems to be not much lower than the current one, and quite an involved job to change over - remounting wiring sockets etc.

My problem is definitely the raised front lip bit of the seat, which (for me at least) seems better suited to pressing the pedals more "in front" - i.e. more of a car pedal position. As it currently stands, I'm currently pressing my thigh down into the seat when on the accelerator / brake. I'll report back when I manage to get someone to have a look at it.

 

[Calibus]

You could also get the pedal box adapted, insurance approved if done by the right people, generally those that do mobility and disabled modifications.