I didn't really want to make this an 'official' HOW TO but there were a few people that asked. I'll try to answer any questions anyone has in here or via PM but I'm in and out a lot being busy. So here goes:

The track width between the 350z and Maxima were the exact same and was key to making this swap work. Also viable, using a seat from a B15 Sentra (00-06?) - as these are a direct swap with 5/5.5 Max seats. Also, this guide is only if you have 2 manual front seat rails. All stock Maxima '02/03 driver seats are power only but some '00/01 Maxima driver seats are manual...I harvested a manual driver seat from a junkyard '02 Sentra for the rail.

I studied the tracks for awhile to see viable options and this resulted in my final procedure. By changing out the seat brackets my way, I lost about half an inch in sliding backwards...not an issue for me and I'm 6'...but I also gained full functionality of the 350z seats. I also chose to go with the manual versions, so if you're in here looking for wiring help - sorry but no, lighter is better for me.

The main tools you will need:
Socket Wrench
10, 12 & 14mm sockets...I believe
GOOD drill
GOOD drill bits
(...and a creative way to cut a bracket. I used a grinder since I had one available.)



Start with the Z seats since they're most likely not in the car when you're starting. The process below is the same with the Z and Maxima seats EXCEPT the Z seats have a bracket alongside the inner edge that needs to be cut off. As seen here:


You'll want to remove the seat cushions and back to make it easier...and to keep the fabric from getting possibly messed up. There are 4 bolts on the seat bottoms near the corners that need to be removed. The seat back has 2 bolts on either side that need to be removed. Once those are out the back comes off easily.

Now, the seats roll on a couple of rolling brackets, one in the front and one halfway down. The object of the drilling is to remove any kind of resistance the factory created in the rails to prevent the seats from rolling too far forward/backward.

There is a single aluminum welded bolt(?) that can be drilled through on both rails in the front. These are present on the Maxima and the Z seats.


Once that is out of the way, you'll see some 'dimples' in the rails. I believe my other set of rails had 6 total but these Maxima rails show 4 total. Drill those out.


Again, the main object is to remove anything that will keep the rolling brackets from rolling too far forward. Once you have the front welded bolt and dimples out, you may notice it takes a little bit of force to get the rails to slide the rest of the way off. I found that the dimples actually still had a little bit of a 'bump' that needed to be removed.

The Z bracket on the side will still need to be removed before you can get to the dimples that it covers. If you don't have a grinder I guess a Dremel would work, just very time consuming. You could also take it to a muffler shop and ask to have someone safely cut the bracket off. Remember you still need the rails.

Once you've drilled all that out, the rails should slide off. Keep in mind the rolling brackets will come off. They aren't hard at all to slide back on, you'll see what I'm talking about when you're there. To finish things off, you'll need to transfer the seat belt lock from the Maxima seat to the Z seat. Just a simple bolt holds it on. (The Z seat belt lock doesn't fit the Maxima seat belt)

Anyway that's pretty much it. When you have the Maxima rails onto the 350z tracks then it's the 4 bolts to put the cushion back on and 4 bolts for the seat back. One last couple of notes, I lost the ability to raise/lower the driver seat...I don't really care but some people might. Also, you CANNOT use the Z seat trim on the bottom NOR the Maxima seat trim. I'm not aesthetic so IDGAF what it looked like, the seats are comfortable as he11 to me.

EDIT**Forgot something:
If you have an '02/03 Maxima driver seat then you'll see it's power. I ended up using a Sentra manual driver's seat so I can't help on that. Some '00/01 Maximas came stock with manual seats as well, thanks MONTE 01&97 SE!. The power seat has a different setup, with a bolt that holds the rail on the motor 'screw' device on either side (see next pic). I'm sure there's a way around it, I just didn't deal with it. A driver side manual Sentra rail from the junkyard cost me a whopping $30 so it was a non-issue to me.


LMK if you have any questions or comments.
Lastly, this goes without saying but-YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT YOU DO, I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY IN ANYTHING YOU MESS UP.

 

Awesome!!! ya stock seats suck!!! specilly leather they don't hold u in place what so ever!!

how much did u pay for seats?

 

Paid between 2-300 through Aackshun...he works at a Nissan yard, good guy and ships quick!

 

nice writeup and project. The stock seats really let you slide a bit, these will be a definite improvement

 

Very cool. Thanks for posting this

 

I bet it makes u feel like ur in a total different car! more sporty feeling!

 

great write up! I am about to do it as well!
I'm not sure if it's me, but pictures look really small and I can't recognize any of the pieces or parts
Tried 2 computers and a tablet - still the same result...

 

Looks like the larger sizes are not getting big enough...I'll post the larger size instead

 

Not sure what you did there - but they got bigger
Thanks

 

I want these.....look soooo freakin comfortable!!!

 

^^ Man that does look comfortable...the only thing I didn't like about actual racing seats was that they couldn't be reclined at all. You just have a 'shell' to sit in. BECAUSE RACECAR, I know.

If you do end up getting racing seats let me know. I have a driver/passenger Corbeau seat bracket I could sell you. $150 shipped

 

Actually I looked at the weight of that seat 36lbs.....kind of heavy. What stock leather seats with heat weigh?? I like those reclining ones too but they heavy too....like 30-40lbs. This one is 16lbs made of fiberglass.....still looks comfy......I could deal with this with a 4pt grey harness to match my brushed aluminum interior.......hmmm. I just dont like sliding around in my stock seats.....dont care about the heated leather...I dont drive the dam thing in winter anyway. Even though you cant adjust the back can you still slide the seat forward and back?

 

Yeah you can still move forward/backward. The racing seat brackets usually have a sliding feature too, the Corbeau ones I have have a sliding function.

According to Vas, Sparco sucks. If there's any way for you to 'test sit' seats I suggest you do it too. Nothing like putting down 2-300 for a racing seat only to find out you don't like the way it feels.

I'm not sure on the weight of the manual Z seats I put in but they're definitely lighter than the stock Max seats. Maxima driver seat was automatic too so I'd say the Z seat weighs half as much.

 

Added info about this guide being for 2 manual front Maxima seats. The power seats are a slightly different setup and are probably workable, I just didn't personally deal with that. If what I think is correct about 5/5.5gen Maxima seats is that all driver's seats are power seats. If that's true, you can get a 00-06 Sentra's driver manual seat to use for a driver rail...bolt pattern between Maxima/Sentras are the same.

 

How comfortable are those on longer drives? I might eventually throw some evo recaros in.
I hate these leather seats.

 

These have only seen about 3hrs of driving at the longest at one time...they were comfortable to me.

I think actual racing seats are where you're going to be giving up long trip comfort.

 

Man.....put one of them lawn chair pillow pads down and man up...LOL.

 

javon u should go n trade Zero for his g seats w/ maxima brackets for a temp solution. soooo comfortable

 

Man, thank you sooo much for the write-up! I got my Z seats for 100.00, cuz I haggled the guy at the junkyard, cuz the airbags were blown and I'm gonna have to find someone to fix that. Plus, I got a complete set of SE cloth seats from him also. My leather seats were in terrible shape, but that's how I bought it. I can't wait to do this!!!
I'm sure my guy can get me the Sentra seat brackets.

Thanks for the info on Aackshun too. Gonna be lookin for a 3.5 in the near future...
My guy has a Z VQ35, but he wants 1500.00 for it, and I don't know the mileage on it yet.

 

Nice work man! Only the 5.5 gen 02 and 03's come with standard power drivers seat, it was part of packages in the 00/01!

 

GREAT thank you for the correction! I'll update it

 

*Added info regarding the seat belt lock...needs to be transferred from the Maxima seat to the Z seat.

 

Nice!!

 

I got my rails out of a manual-seat max this weekend! Woohoo!!! Soon, soon! Still gotta have the blown airbag panels fixed!
Pick-your-part sucks now though! They charged me 45.00 for the seat rails only. I drilled em out and removed them right there at the junkyard hoping they would just charge em as "brackets", but nooooo.... they knew that they were off seats and charged me for a whole seat base! Lol! I don't care, I got em now!!!
Time to get to work!

 

Guys, are the seat rails removable from the 350z seats without affecting the rest of the seat? Like can the seat still stay attached (bottom cushion to back cushion) without the seat rails?

Are the seat rails easily unbolted from the bottom of the 350z seat?

 

The seat can still stay attached, if you like. There's only 4 bolts holding the bottom cushion on so I just removed it 'just in case' of possible metal shavings.