My 94 GXE drivers seat is giving me back pain and sciatica
due to a herniated disk. Seems that since this car is old and the seat probably has lost a little support, I'd like to know what kind of options I have to either improving/rebuilding the drivers seat, replacing w/ an aftermarket, having a pad made that I can sit on and help give a little more "kick" to the lumbar area etc. I still really like this car as it's my spare for when one of the other 2 vehicles go down. I really don't want to sell it since it's so cherry and I probably wouldn't even get $2k for it, but I can't afford more back problems.
Sidenote: My daughter has a '15 Altima with those "Zero Gravity" seats and they are super comfortable. I'd love to put one of those in the old 94, but probably too $$$ and wouldn't fit.

I'd appreciate some input, guys.

 

Wow that is a nice clean car. You could probably get many different seats to fit but would take some customizing. Just curious and you probably already know but have you used the lumbar adjustment on the right hand side of the drivers seat?

 

Oh yes the lumbar has been cranked down since day 1. It's just not enough now. Plus, I think the seat bottom might be off level just a bit and that causes my spine to be a bit out of "plumb" and after 30 mins to an hour of sitting in it, I start to get back pain. I've seen a guy on YouTube who takes out the bottom springs and puts in an extra layer of foam and a piece of carpet tile and then puts the springs back in. I think he's an Aussie who owns a Nissan Figaro.

 

need more lumbar?

open the rear panel of the seats..inside you'll see a metal bar that is attached to your lumbar lever. release the lever and stuff some towels/foam/etc...to add tension between the lumbar bar and the seat. then sit in the seat and push the lever forward...that should give you a little more lumbar pressure/support. if not enough add more material. just don't go nuts b/c there's only so much give and you don't want to break the lever.

 

thanks, DaNY. I'll give it a try.

 

I took the drivers seat out tonight to inspect. These seats don't have springs, just the molded foam covered with the fabric seat cover. For us old guys, these soft seats can cause problems. I might go to an upholstery shop to see if they can replace or enhance the foam.

 

I removed the back panel from the drivers seat and shoved some foam between the lumbar bar and the seat foam and it gave a good addition to the lumbar support.
Thanks, DanNY!!
Now I have to go to a seat shop to see if they can build up the seat bottom with some harder foam.