Corbeau A4 owners....
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,064
Likes: 18
From: Arizona
Corbeau A4 owners....
So I called Mike from TPM and he was VERY helpful, but I didnt want to waste his time since I really did not understand.
I was told that if you attempt to use the stock power seat rails with the Corbeau A4's you will sit too high.... I said okay... What if you get the 'shaved seat' option, which is supposed to give you an extra inch of clearance. Mike said it still will not work.....
Can someone explain why?
Has ANYONE used the stock rails on A4's and made it work?
If so.. What kind of labor is involved?
I dont understand why someone does not make a plug and play seat rail that the A4 can bolt too. The Corbeau rails are 100/ side... .I would easily pay 200/ side to have them use the factory rails.
I was told that if you attempt to use the stock power seat rails with the Corbeau A4's you will sit too high.... I said okay... What if you get the 'shaved seat' option, which is supposed to give you an extra inch of clearance. Mike said it still will not work.....
Can someone explain why?
Has ANYONE used the stock rails on A4's and made it work?
If so.. What kind of labor is involved?
I dont understand why someone does not make a plug and play seat rail that the A4 can bolt too. The Corbeau rails are 100/ side... .I would easily pay 200/ side to have them use the factory rails.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20,030
Likes: 289
From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
I sat in a C5 vert that had the A4's mounted on the stock rails. It is a good thing his car was a convertible because my head stuck well above there the top would be. I'm only 5'11 too. I was staring straight at the sun visor when sitting in the car. 
I don't know how he mounted the seats to the stock rails. Custom fab parts I'm sure. He was shorter than me and it seemed to work ok for him, but he still had to remove the sun visor to see out the front windshield.
I like the Corbeau manual rails. No rocking seat issues, and no motors/electronics to break in the future. I'm the only one that drives my car so my seat never moves.
Don't forget that the pass seat mounts in the drivers position.... and vise versa... Seat recline lever goes to the "inside" of the car on both sides. Its because the recline lever on the seats will hit the seat belt re-tractor in the C5's at the base.
Toque
I don't know how he mounted the seats to the stock rails. Custom fab parts I'm sure. He was shorter than me and it seemed to work ok for him, but he still had to remove the sun visor to see out the front windshield.
I like the Corbeau manual rails. No rocking seat issues, and no motors/electronics to break in the future. I'm the only one that drives my car so my seat never moves.
Don't forget that the pass seat mounts in the drivers position.... and vise versa... Seat recline lever goes to the "inside" of the car on both sides. Its because the recline lever on the seats will hit the seat belt re-tractor in the C5's at the base.
Toque
Last edited by Toque; Jan 25, 2012 at 09:32 AM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 734
Likes: 2
From: Mt. Airy MD
I imagine someone out there could design something for you if you just have to have it. As they say, nothing is impossible, it just costs more $$$. But I gotta agree with Mark here. What's the need for the seat to move unless you aren't the only one driving it? Other than the easy entry feature (which really isn't necessary at all) do you ever move your seat? I don't in any of my vehicles.
Good luck with your search.
Good luck with your search.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,064
Likes: 18
From: Arizona
I forgot that the new rails will fix my rocking seat... Good point.... score one for the manual adjustment. I just thought with the extra bolster that maybe it would harder to get out of the car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,475
Likes: 718
From: Black Forest CO
The problem is that with the stock seats the power mechanism is mounted in the seat cushion. The bottom seat cushion on the stock seat is hollow and part of the power mechanism protrudes into that space. With the A4s the bottom is flat so you would have to space the seat up to clear the power mechanism.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 627
Likes: 33
From: Omaha NE
Just installed a set in my C5Z about 2 weeks ago. I agree that mounting them to the stock rails would seat you way high. I have them on the corbeau rails and I could tell I was sitting slightly higher.
I would definitely recommend just biting the bullet and getting the corbeau rails. I think after all is said and done you would have a lot of time and money into making the stock rails work and you probably wouldn't be that happy with the seating position.
I would definitely recommend just biting the bullet and getting the corbeau rails. I think after all is said and done you would have a lot of time and money into making the stock rails work and you probably wouldn't be that happy with the seating position.
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 656
Likes: 38
From: Midwest
St. Jude Donor '08
Just installed a set in my C5Z about 2 weeks ago. I agree that mounting them to the stock rails would seat you way high. I have them on the corbeau rails and I could tell I was sitting slightly higher.
I would definitely recommend just biting the bullet and getting the corbeau rails. I think after all is said and done you would have a lot of time and money into making the stock rails work and you probably wouldn't be that happy with the seating position.
I would definitely recommend just biting the bullet and getting the corbeau rails. I think after all is said and done you would have a lot of time and money into making the stock rails work and you probably wouldn't be that happy with the seating position.
Did you use the Corbeau shaved version rails?
Silverbird
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,475
Likes: 718
From: Black Forest CO
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Tech Contributor
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
I have a brand new set of A4 rails I would like to sell....single adjustment. At one time I was going to put some A4s in my car. $185 plus shipping.
Last edited by $$$frumnuttin'; Jan 26, 2012 at 07:06 PM.
Melting Slicks
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From: Odessa FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
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From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
Toque
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Everywhere and Nowhere at all
Unless your buddy gets into your car and starts jacking with the adjustments..
I sat in a C5 vert that had the A4's mounted on the stock rails. It is a good thing his car was a convertible because my head stuck well above there the top would be. I'm only 5'11 too. I was staring straight at the sun visor when sitting in the car.
I don't know how he mounted the seats to the stock rails. Custom fab parts I'm sure. He was shorter than me and it seemed to work ok for him, but he still had to remove the sun visor to see out the front windshield.
I like the Corbeau manual rails. No rocking seat issues, and no motors/electronics to break in the future. I'm the only one that drives my car so my seat never moves. Don't forget that the pass seat mounts in the drivers position.... and vise versa... Seat recline lever goes to the "inside" of the car on both sides. Its because the recline lever on the seats will hit the seat belt re-tractor in the C5's at the base.
Toque
I don't know how he mounted the seats to the stock rails. Custom fab parts I'm sure. He was shorter than me and it seemed to work ok for him, but he still had to remove the sun visor to see out the front windshield.
I like the Corbeau manual rails. No rocking seat issues, and no motors/electronics to break in the future. I'm the only one that drives my car so my seat never moves. Don't forget that the pass seat mounts in the drivers position.... and vise versa... Seat recline lever goes to the "inside" of the car on both sides. Its because the recline lever on the seats will hit the seat belt re-tractor in the C5's at the base.
Toque
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20,030
Likes: 289
From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
I fixed it though... 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20,030
Likes: 289
From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
