Fix uncomfortable "Seat Gap" on gen 4 & gen 5 for $10.00
09-13-2004, 12:00 PM
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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Fix uncomfortable "Seat Gap" on gen 4 & gen 5 for $10.00
Gentlemen,
I have found on both my 1995 Maxima (cloth, especially) and 2000 (leather), that you can improve on the seat comfort by placing a 3/4 inch shim under the rear end of the front seat mount. I simply placed a 1 1/4" square piece of medium density fiberboard (MDF) with a 7/16 or 1/2 inch hole drilled in it under the rear end of the driver and or passenger seat frames. You will need to replace the factory bolts with ones that are 3/4" longer... a metric size: 10mm diameter, 1.25 pitch, and 45mm long. Any metric bolt supplier should have them. Be sure to use a washer and lock washer between the bolt and the frame and choose the strongest steel available. I used #8+ strength, although the factory bolt is #5 which would do. If you do not have a shop available, you can use a stack of 1/2" flat washers equal to 3/4 inch or any lesser height that you may choose. Just be sure to use the same number on both sides!
Nissan cheaped on the front seats by allowing for height adjustment with only the cushion and not the cushion/seat back as an integral unit. This causes there to be no support for your lower back if you are tall and have the seat down... and places the lumbar support in the wrong place on your back. Just Awful. I almost bought a Chrysler, which has excellent adjustable seats!! It is more noticeable on cloth seats, because they are identical to the leather seats in dimension... room for the leather and padding that goes on top of the cloth for the leather versions. It is really a bastard design and almost kept me from buying my 2000 a few months back.
It is most noticeable and irritating on the passenger seat... which has no height adjustment (huge gap), and in the 2000 is REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE tilted way back with your knees on your chest. I just applied this fix to my 2000 Max after spending six awful hours in the passenger seat for the first time. The extra 3/4 inch is just enough to give you a more upright position, much more comfortable, and the back support gap is much less noticeable. Unless you are over 6' 2", where this might be a problem.
For the driver seat with leather with the seat cushion raised, it seals up the gap and is more acceptable than the passenger seat. In the cloth seated version, I found the spacers a necessity.
A local Atlanta supplier can ship these to you for a nominal price. The bolts are only $.50 each but they have a small minimum order/shipping charge.
www.metrobolt.com (404) 355-2297
Enjoy!
I have found on both my 1995 Maxima (cloth, especially) and 2000 (leather), that you can improve on the seat comfort by placing a 3/4 inch shim under the rear end of the front seat mount. I simply placed a 1 1/4" square piece of medium density fiberboard (MDF) with a 7/16 or 1/2 inch hole drilled in it under the rear end of the driver and or passenger seat frames. You will need to replace the factory bolts with ones that are 3/4" longer... a metric size: 10mm diameter, 1.25 pitch, and 45mm long. Any metric bolt supplier should have them. Be sure to use a washer and lock washer between the bolt and the frame and choose the strongest steel available. I used #8+ strength, although the factory bolt is #5 which would do. If you do not have a shop available, you can use a stack of 1/2" flat washers equal to 3/4 inch or any lesser height that you may choose. Just be sure to use the same number on both sides!
Nissan cheaped on the front seats by allowing for height adjustment with only the cushion and not the cushion/seat back as an integral unit. This causes there to be no support for your lower back if you are tall and have the seat down... and places the lumbar support in the wrong place on your back. Just Awful. I almost bought a Chrysler, which has excellent adjustable seats!! It is more noticeable on cloth seats, because they are identical to the leather seats in dimension... room for the leather and padding that goes on top of the cloth for the leather versions. It is really a bastard design and almost kept me from buying my 2000 a few months back.
It is most noticeable and irritating on the passenger seat... which has no height adjustment (huge gap), and in the 2000 is REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE tilted way back with your knees on your chest. I just applied this fix to my 2000 Max after spending six awful hours in the passenger seat for the first time. The extra 3/4 inch is just enough to give you a more upright position, much more comfortable, and the back support gap is much less noticeable. Unless you are over 6' 2", where this might be a problem.
For the driver seat with leather with the seat cushion raised, it seals up the gap and is more acceptable than the passenger seat. In the cloth seated version, I found the spacers a necessity.
A local Atlanta supplier can ship these to you for a nominal price. The bolts are only $.50 each but they have a small minimum order/shipping charge.
www.metrobolt.com (404) 355-2297
Enjoy!
09-13-2004, 06:12 PM
#7
I don't get it. We have four bolts holding the seat frame to the floor board and you're saying if we place a spacer under the seat brackets in the back this will help reduce the gap space between the seat cushion and upright (back support) We also have that gap on the 3rd gens, I just don't see how placing spacer under the two holes of the seat bracket will reduce the gap. Is that what you're saying or did I read it wrong.
MIKE
MIKE
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