6 extra inches of legroom

[padre1964]

installed 2 steel flat bars that are 2" wide x 3/16" thick in the original seat mounts and moved the seat back 6" and remounted it. this is just a test fit, i still want to get some supports welded under the bar to prevent sagging over time, also going to paint them to prevent rust. the front of the seat sits up about 3/4" but feels fine. i can shim the back if i ever want to level it out. total cost for the steel bars was $30 and i can remove it and put it back to stock in 20 minutes.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5311191776_dcf996ea61_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5311191776/)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5311192110_e61d89020e_z.jpg

[swidd]

Nice mod!! Was it at all hard to get the seat bolts out the first time? I destroyed tools and limbs...

[Crash]

If you get in an accident, and the seats fail, you wont have any insurance.

[padre1964]

Nice mod!! Was it at all hard to get the seat bolts out the first time? I destroyed tools and limbs...

nope, i made sure i had the appropriate socket and they came right out


If you get in an accident, and the seats fail, you wont have any insurance.

i believe the tracks when i am done with them will be plenty strong, and any serious accident in this little car i cant imagine i would fair to well anyways. i understand your concern though.

[mark schofield]

Looks good. I'm 6' 6" and have been waiting for someone creative to illustrate how to do this. Did you do the drivers side also and how did the extra distance affect reaching the steering wheel. Thanks again for the pictures. Mark S.

[padre1964]

Have not done the drivers seat yet but i will, i'm only 5'6" but the guy i carpool to work with is 6'5" . when i do the drivers seat he will be able to share the driving. i asked him if he would be able to reach the wheel and he said it would not be a problem. i will post more updates and photos after i modify it a bit more.

[ilikerice]

wow.. very impressive.. kudos dude.. i like that mod for the vertically challenged

[RedRide]

Whatever you guys do, make shure he seats are securely bolted to the floor and the bracket, and make sure everthing is stronge enought to remain secure in the event of an accident.

A seat that becomes loose in an accident can become lethal.

[Tamago]

is that a sheet metal screw holding your brackets in place? holy LOL, batman

[Altitude]

is that a sheet metal screw holding your brackets in place? holy LOL, batman

It looks like the stock torx bolt to me.

[Tamago]

ahh, sorry, poor eyes. . i was not aware that the yaris used torx head bolts.

[padre1964]

the track extensions i made were installed using the original seat torx bolts. i used stainless steel bolts to attach the seat to the extension. at the end of the track that hangs over in the back i installed carriage bolts in case the back should sag over time. the head is sitting in two washers so it allows the head to pivot slightly to fit flush. i installed a 4" square steel plate under the floor mat to even the load. i plan on installing leveling feet in place of the carriage bolt but they were not readily available since i need a 3" stem. i found some in Canada and they may take up to 2 weeks to receive. i decided not to add additional support in the forward section behind the forward seat mount since it is such a small area. i have made measurements and will add some if any sag happens after a month. i know there are safety issues with doing this like, would the front airbag even reach you in an accident or would the seat track hold up in a serious collision. this is just my solution for tall occupants. another note is be carefull when removing the seat as the 09 have seat airbags. i never disconnected mine so it wasnt an issue

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5316186027_bf8ae9e6b8_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5316186027/)
IMG_8306 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5316186027/) by padre1964 (http://www.flickr.com/people/photosbypadre/), on Flickr
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5316779108_96c163f8cf_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5316779108/)
IMG_8307 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5316779108/) by padre1964 (http://www.flickr.com/people/photosbypadre/), on Flickr
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5316187547_583a114528_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5316187547/)
IMG_8308 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5316187547/) by padre1964 (http://www.flickr.com/people/photosbypadre/), on Flickr
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5124/5316188141_92c7e51dc6_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5316188141/)
IMG_8309 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5316188141/) by padre1964 (http://www.flickr.com/people/photosbypadre/), on Flickr

this is the passenger seat in the full forward position with the drivers seat in the full aft postition
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5201/5316189509_11f0b4d687_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5316189509/)
IMG_8312 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5316189509/) by padre1964 (http://www.flickr.com/people/photosbypadre/), on Flickr

[YAR1S]

scary

[padre1964]

parts finally arrived to finish off the back support of the track. did the driver seat as well. 6" of extra legroom for the driver. im happy with how it turned out.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/5379016592_658904cab8_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5379016592/)
IMG_8349 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5379016592/) by padre1964 (http://www.flickr.com/people/photosbypadre/), on Flickr
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5378417473_5deedc90e0_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5378417473/)
IMG_8350 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosbypadre/5378417473/) by padre1964 (http://www.flickr.com/people/photosbypadre/), on Flickr

[sickpuppy1]

That back bolt will probably shear off in an accident. I would have run it through a block of steel to support it. and the front is mounted to unsecured sheetmetal right? How about maybe two bolts per side? Just for safety sake

[padre1964]

i will take your advice and look into more support on the back. there is a steel plate under the carpeting that i installed to spread the load on the floor. the forward mount is the oem torx bolt that the seat is originally installed with.

[TKO]

Good idea....You may want to look into upgrading the bolts to class 12.9 bolts. The couple bucks you spend here...just may save your life.

[leshill]

Hi
Had the same issue and this article inspired me to tackle the job.
Got an engineer mate to help me and we fabricated 2 bars 24" long & 9mm thick from old angle iron. I think 5mm thick would safely do the job.
Removed existing front foot bracket by simply drilling out the long locating pin.
Then bolted the original foot to the new bar and drilled appropriate hole (countersunk to let original bolt sit into) for the rear bolt.
Removed bracket which supports underseat cables for side airbag by simply drilling out the single rivet.
Then simply mounted seat onto the new bar with holes to suit. This method keeps seat height/inclination pretty much as standard.
Can now get my seat to go all the way back to rear seat!
This though is actually too far as when fully back the seat will not recline fully.
With the seat forward by about 2 inches the seat will then fully recline making sleeping/napping in the car a realistic proposition if needed.
I may reduce the length of the bar to 22" which I believe would be the optimum.
Seat can quite easily be converted back to standard with a bolt securing original front foot to seat bracket, though without locating pin.
Would recommend anyone attempting the conversion to buy 4 new seat bolts which are only about £1.50 each, as the heads are pretty soft and easy to damage.

Unable to load photo images but if anyone wants to email - leshill50@gmail.com - I can forward to them - perhaps a techie could do that and upload to the forum?
The end result is a huge improvement over stock (I am 6' 3") and longer journeys are no longer a problem, did 7 hours recently with 1 brief stop for fuel.
Wonder why the car manufacturers don't cater for taller people?