Braum S8 seat install
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
How comfortable are the Amazon seats vs stock, in terms of bottom padding? What about the feel of the pvc leather vs the OEM seats? I ALMOST bought these last week...just been hesitating. I don't mind fabbing the brackets and all that, I just don't want uncomfortable junk.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 80
From: Metro Detroit
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 48
Likes: 29
From: Johnstown PA
When i installed mine i used the mounts that came with the seats that are almost flat to the floor. The sliders added an extra inch of height but i gained about 3 inches of head room. I have so much headroom now that my wife hates sitting in the passenger seat because she is too short now to see over the door panel and dash without sitting up out of her seat. She needs a booster seat to see in the vette now. Im 6" tall and have about 3-4" above my head before the headliner
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,632
Likes: 187
From: North pole
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 80
From: Metro Detroit
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 80
From: Metro Detroit
Looks like my new Braum Black Fabric S8 reclinable sport seats are supposed to ship from California on May 3. I can't wait! I have to depart for my first track weekend of 2018 on June 8. A month seems like plenty of time but things usually go awry, especially on a custom shoehorn project like this!
Last edited by Bossdog; Apr 17, 2018 at 04:57 PM.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 3,929
From: Philadelphia PA (Birthplace of the USA, UNESCO World Heritage City)
I replaced my seats with knock off braums/cypher seats I got off amazon. Came with C5 specific rails and sliders with the seats for $270 ish shipped. I had the same problems you did with the hole pattern in the rails not matching anything on the sliders so i welded all the exiting holes shut, ground them smooth then drilled the brackets to fit the sliders. Then I painted it all black again.
Now i did the swap passenger with drivers seat and the recliner mechanism was still in the way so i set the seats where i wanted them reclined, unbolted the hinges and traced them out on paper to make patterns. I welded up some quick brackets and bolted them to the seats to replace the hinges and make the seats a fixed back position seat. This fixed 100% of my fitment problems and the seats are awesome. the company actually sent me the wrong seats from the get go so i got a partial refund on the whole purchase so after everything was said and done, i have new seats installed with some minor fab work at home for under $250 with the stock c5 seat belts
Now i did the swap passenger with drivers seat and the recliner mechanism was still in the way so i set the seats where i wanted them reclined, unbolted the hinges and traced them out on paper to make patterns. I welded up some quick brackets and bolted them to the seats to replace the hinges and make the seats a fixed back position seat. This fixed 100% of my fitment problems and the seats are awesome. the company actually sent me the wrong seats from the get go so i got a partial refund on the whole purchase so after everything was said and done, i have new seats installed with some minor fab work at home for under $250 with the stock c5 seat belts
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Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,574
Likes: 2,412
From: Lookin over Hoover Dam
I hope you post some pics when all is said and done. I am in the same phase here...i hate the stock seats, and can't do it anymore...too much bracing necessary for me to be comfortable under lateral loads. I want some nice cloth, supportive and good looking seats. Those Braums are nice...I'll fab the whole deal if I have to. 650 ish bucks is cheap for a big step in quality and support.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 80
From: Metro Detroit
I hope you post some pics when all is said and done. I am in the same phase here...i hate the stock seats, and can't do it anymore...too much bracing necessary for me to be comfortable under lateral loads. I want some nice cloth, supportive and good looking seats. Those Braums are nice...I'll fab the whole deal if I have to. 650 ish bucks is cheap for a big step in quality and support.
I have received the S8 seats. I have removed the stock seats and seat belt trim and C5 seat belt retractors. I have installed the Drivers side C6 seat belt and it seems to work fine.
A couple more surprises popped up with the seat belt swap.
Surprise #6, the C6 seat belt lower mounting point is inverted from the C5. The bend on the steel mounting bracket is backwards. Some suggested hammering it flat. I did not like that idea. The metal is fairly thick and the bends in the metal, fairly significant. If you flip the mounting bracket around it mounts properly but you induce a twist into the seat belt. Now, for some a twisted seat belt is no big deal. For me, it drives me insane. So, rather then hammer the bracket flat my wife flipped the bracket, induced the twist into the seat belt and sewed it together so the twist will stay put and won't reveal itself and stay buried behind the plastic trim
Surprise #7 was less significant, the hole in the C6 lower mountng bracket is smaller than the C5, you have to drill it out with a 31/64" or 1/2"
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 80
From: Metro Detroit
Its always frustrating when thread initiators don't post final results.
So, here I go.
I got the C6 seat belts installed.
I installed the Braum S8 seat in the drivers side with the Marrad Ultra Low seat mounting brackets and slider installed. The seat fit and could be adjusted forward and back without contacting the C6 seat belt. When I sat in the seat, I had about the same amount of headroom (with my helmet on) as with the stock seat. The Thigh bolster is better than the stock seat. Upper support for track purposes is about the same as the stock seat. My goal was to be better planted/secured during track days. I didn't feel the support was significantly better than stock. Don't get me wrong, its a fine seat if your stock seats are shot and you need a replacement. But, as far as an improvement for track days, not really what I was hoping for. So, I sent the seats back.
Not sure what I will do next. I may have to go with a full race seat.
So, here I go.
I got the C6 seat belts installed.
I installed the Braum S8 seat in the drivers side with the Marrad Ultra Low seat mounting brackets and slider installed. The seat fit and could be adjusted forward and back without contacting the C6 seat belt. When I sat in the seat, I had about the same amount of headroom (with my helmet on) as with the stock seat. The Thigh bolster is better than the stock seat. Upper support for track purposes is about the same as the stock seat. My goal was to be better planted/secured during track days. I didn't feel the support was significantly better than stock. Don't get me wrong, its a fine seat if your stock seats are shot and you need a replacement. But, as far as an improvement for track days, not really what I was hoping for. So, I sent the seats back.
Not sure what I will do next. I may have to go with a full race seat.