17 replies to this topic

[MGMT]

May sound like a bit of a nooby question but anyway here it is.

I bought some Sparco Sprint seats, with some subframes (the subframes were for Cobra seats but have been altered to fit the Sparco ones - not by me)

Anyway, the seats bolt in fine at the front no problem but theres nothing to hold the seat to the floor at the back - just 2 poles...

Is it meant to be like this? does your harness hold the seat down at the back? or am I missing a piece?

Heres the pics: (sorry if they are huge)








Thanks for your help!

[james962]

My cobra subframes had a bracket and lever to prevent it tipping up. It was on a spring and sat underneath the upside down U bracket in the car near the tunnel.

You don't have that though, so it might have been cut off?

[MGMT]

Maybe I just need to bolt them down at the front tighter...Im not sure though Im sure theres something missing.

[Jimmy Hat]

The earlier type seats weren't held down by anything at the back, like yours, they just tipped forwards. So it'd be ok if the seats you're replacing were that type. If your old seats locked down then you'll need new subframes, or at least to make up some kind of mechanism to lock it down with. Otherwise it's an MOT failure.

Edited by Jimmy Hat, 24 October 2008 - 05:19 PM.

[atom]

^ What he said

Might be worth putting some kind of rubber caps on the ends of those feet, though.

Edited by atom, 24 October 2008 - 05:19 PM.

[Jimmy Hat]

^^ What he said as well

[Globule]

Might be worth putting some kind of rubber caps on the ends of those feet, though.

Seconded, they'll eat through the carpet and then the floor soundproofing!

* Well i guess thats thirded then! *

Edited by Globule, 24 October 2008 - 05:21 PM.

[james962]

Yeah, it was a bit hard to describe but you are missing this bit, and the dude have welded on two poles:

[attachment=72778:COBSUBFR03R.jpg]


edit: didn't realise about the earlier subframes so what they said ^ ^

Edited by james962, 24 October 2008 - 05:23 PM.

[MGMT]

oh *rubbish*!

Thanks for all the help guys, and the picture!

Not sure what to do now as I really like my seats! What a waste of £50 on the frames that was then lol >

[MGMT]

The earlier type seats weren't held down by anything at the back, like yours, they just tipped forwards. So it'd be ok if the seats you're replacing were that type. If your old seats locked down then you'll need new subframes, or at least to make up some kind of mechanism to lock it down with. Otherwise it's an MOT failure.

wouldnt this mean you would be a human catapult through the windscreen if you crash?

[Jimmy Hat]

The earlier type seats weren't held down by anything at the back, like yours, they just tipped forwards. So it'd be ok if the seats you're replacing were that type. If your old seats locked down then you'll need new subframes, or at least to make up some kind of mechanism to lock it down with. Otherwise it's an MOT failure.

wouldnt this mean you would be a human catapult through the windscreen if you crash?

Yeah might be something to do with why they changed it lol. Well with where the pivots are etc etc I don't think it'd work quite like that but still, doesn't seem very safe does it??

[Jimmy Hat]

Oh and about fitting your seats, you could always swap your old ones back in at MOT time... Just until you get some locking subframes?

[yorkshirechris]

The earlier type seats weren't held down by anything at the back, like yours, they just tipped forwards. So it'd be ok if the seats you're replacing were that type. If your old seats locked down then you'll need new subframes, or at least to make up some kind of mechanism to lock it down with. Otherwise it's an MOT failure.

wouldnt this mean you would be a human catapult through the windscreen if you crash?

Not strictly if you are belted up but it wouldn't exactly aid safety.

Also with those subframes you might want to check your rear floor has the bracket bolted to it that they lock into!

They aren't exactly good either, those subframes. I bought two cobra classics and put those exact frames on those, and because only one sliding mechanism (one side) locked with the seat, the seat could twist, and they could just lift up anyway

[nathansminis]

can you not just weld a piece of box section/ flat bar across the bottoms of the two poles, and bolt it to the floor?

you loose the tipping ability, but judging by the size of the seats it would be pretty hard to get in the back if they did.

just a thought.

[MGMT]

can you not just weld a piece of box section/ flat bar across the bottoms of the two poles, and bolt it to the floor?

you loose the tipping ability, but judging by the size of the seats it would be pretty hard to get in the back if they did.

just a thought.

Yep could do, but I dont know how to weld! and dont have a welder!

I am getting a welder soon though to do some work on the car so they could do somethign with the seats too.

Not strictly if you are belted up but it wouldn't exactly aid safety.

Also with those subframes you might want to check your rear floor has the bracket bolted to it that they lock into!

They aren't exactly good either, those subframes. I bought two cobra classics and put those exact frames on those, and because only one sliding mechanism (one side) locked with the seat, the seat could twist, and they could just lift up anyway

No, they are from another person off ebay - they got them with some seats for a mazda so did not need the subframes. They didnt know that they wouldnt fit though as they didnt have a Mini!!
Theres not alot I can do now anyway...

Oh and about fitting your seats, you could always swap your old ones back in at MOT time... Just until you get some locking subframes?

Yep might have to do that..might not be the safest of ideas but I'll try not to crash!!!