Leather Evo IX Recaro seats - INSTALLED!!!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,353
From: Upland CA
Leather Evo IX Recaro seats - INSTALLED!!!!
I looked at and sat in many many seats. I had several criteria:
1. Lightweight (under 35 lbs) - This is an easy way to drop lots of weight. The OEM seats are 65 lbs EACH.
2. High bolsters - I want to be held in by the seat. I like high side bolsters
3. Charcoal leather - To match my interior. I would have bought cloth seats, but I would have had to re=cover them in leather later.
4. Reclinable - This is my daily driver, with different people driving. I really wanted reclinable.
I chose leather seats from a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8. In this pic the OEM passenger seat is still in, but the drivers seat is the Recaro
This was a rare option on these cars. I remember sitting in an Evo with leather a few years ago and LOVED the seats. They are aggressive, but not so much so, like Brides. They arent to hard to get in and out of. In fact, the lower bolster is similar to the OEM Maxima seat. The top part is much more aggressive, like sitting in a cradle. It is much firmer than the Maxima seat, yet it forms to the body. They are incredibly comfortable.
I had Wedge Engineering fabricate a beautiful bracket and slider that fits perfectly. They used a jig from the Bride seats that Sexima (org member) had in his car.
Installation:
1. Remove the plastic covers and the 4 bolts holding the seats in.
2. Disconnect battery, and wait several minutes.
3. Tilt seat back and remove the connectors for air bag and other electronics.
4. Carefully pull the heavy seat out of the car.
5. Install the 2 ohm 1/2 watt resistor in the air bag connector.
6. Install the new seat, and bolt it down. Now is the time to install harness too if u have one.
Comparison of Maxima seat and Recaro seat:
Top view of Maxima seat and Recaro seat. Note the much deeper bolsters in the Recaro:
1. Lightweight (under 35 lbs) - This is an easy way to drop lots of weight. The OEM seats are 65 lbs EACH.
2. High bolsters - I want to be held in by the seat. I like high side bolsters
3. Charcoal leather - To match my interior. I would have bought cloth seats, but I would have had to re=cover them in leather later.
4. Reclinable - This is my daily driver, with different people driving. I really wanted reclinable.
I chose leather seats from a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8. In this pic the OEM passenger seat is still in, but the drivers seat is the Recaro
This was a rare option on these cars. I remember sitting in an Evo with leather a few years ago and LOVED the seats. They are aggressive, but not so much so, like Brides. They arent to hard to get in and out of. In fact, the lower bolster is similar to the OEM Maxima seat. The top part is much more aggressive, like sitting in a cradle. It is much firmer than the Maxima seat, yet it forms to the body. They are incredibly comfortable.
I had Wedge Engineering fabricate a beautiful bracket and slider that fits perfectly. They used a jig from the Bride seats that Sexima (org member) had in his car.
Installation:
1. Remove the plastic covers and the 4 bolts holding the seats in.
2. Disconnect battery, and wait several minutes.
3. Tilt seat back and remove the connectors for air bag and other electronics.
4. Carefully pull the heavy seat out of the car.
5. Install the 2 ohm 1/2 watt resistor in the air bag connector.
6. Install the new seat, and bolt it down. Now is the time to install harness too if u have one.
Comparison of Maxima seat and Recaro seat:
Top view of Maxima seat and Recaro seat. Note the much deeper bolsters in the Recaro:
Last edited by DeusExMaxima; Jul 22, 2009 at 12:42 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,353
From: Upland CA
7. Remove seat belt receptor from OEM seat and install on Recaro bracket:
8. Seat installed with Sparco harness:
The seats look a bit stained but its cuz I used tons of leather conditioner. They look stock but slightly aggressive, and the leather matches PERFECTLY. I am extremely pleased with these seats.
8. Seat installed with Sparco harness:
The seats look a bit stained but its cuz I used tons of leather conditioner. They look stock but slightly aggressive, and the leather matches PERFECTLY. I am extremely pleased with these seats.
Last edited by DeusExMaxima; Apr 24, 2010 at 12:51 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,353
From: Upland CA
Oh, and for those who dont know, I have an Evo shift **** and ebrake handle to go with my new Evo seats. Even the JDM Fairlady Z Momo steering wheel looks like the Evo Momo steering wheel.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,353
From: Upland CA
Thanks guy!! The steering wheel is Nissan (JDM 350Z), but the shift **** and e brake as well as the seats handle are from the Mitsubishi Evo. The only indicator that they are from Mitsubishi is a tiny Mitsubishi logo on the shift ****. NO other logos are present.
Last edited by DeusExMaxima; Jul 22, 2009 at 12:44 AM.
) else were interested in these seats, you think that your shop would be able to make another set of sliders and brackets?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,353
From: Upland CA
Thanks again, guys and Swee. I do have some problems to iron out. Our OEM seats weigh 60 lbs because there is soooooooo much crap underneath them - motors, modules, harnesses, airbags, etc. My airbag light is on. Also, my mirrors don't work. You're prolly thinking - how is that possible that the mirrors don't work. Answer: Mirrors are wired to the seats somehow. Also, the seat belts are wired to the airbags. It sounds worse than it is. I need to wire the seat belt receptacle - the thing u plug ur seat belt into - so that the system sees it again. The SRS system detects whether or not the seat belt is fastened to determine whether or not to fire the air bag. Its just a matter of tracing acouple wires and plugging them in to the harness of the car. The mirror problem I havent figured out yet, but Im working on it.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,353
From: Upland CA
Very comfortable. They arent soft like the Maxima seats. They feel more like BMW seats - firm but body-fitting. Its kind of like sitting in a curve hand, you're encompassed in the seat without feeling boxed in. Everyone who has sat in them loves them. Go to a Mitsu dealer and find a leather equipped Evo and sit in the seats.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 607
From: Florida
Great seats. I really like the red double seat belts.
Do any of you guys know where can I find ultra-comfortable seats, something with a lot of cushion? I guess the higher-end Lexus models use those. Kind of the opposite of what BMW uses.
Do any of you guys know where can I find ultra-comfortable seats, something with a lot of cushion? I guess the higher-end Lexus models use those. Kind of the opposite of what BMW uses.
Last edited by bb700092; Oct 28, 2007 at 05:46 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,353
From: Upland CA
By the way, since I am sitting a couple inches lower in the car, the handling improves. You guys are missing out. These seats really change the "feel" of the car. Its truly like a 4 door 350Z (especially with JDM 350Z steering wheel in my hands too!!!). I can't wait to make the 3+ hour drive to Vegas to go to the SEMA show. No cruise control you say? On the roads Im going on, I wont need no stinkin cruise (cuz my foot will be to the floor)!!!! Muah!!!
