Hey guys I’m in the market to get new seats for my c5z. Which seats w/rails are you guys using ?

 

There is a thread I started on inexpensive seats.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nt-option.html

 

I would go for Corbeau a4 seats. Worth every penny.

 

. Waiting on my A4's to arrive

 

I run the Corbeau Evolution X with Corbeau rails and so far I'm happy with them.

Do you need a recline function? Are you tall? Are you heavy?

All these things are important factors in choosing a seat.

I'd also Google what seat you're looking for along with C5 Corvette to see if there are reviews and pics of them.

 

Counterpoint.

I had A4s and they made me dislike driving the car to the point I nearly sold it. Switched back to OEM Sport seats and couldn't be happier. I "fit" the dimensions of the seats and simply hated them.

Whatever you do, sit in the seats prior to buying them. I knew within 5 seconds of sitting in the A4 they were not for me, but my pride wouldn't let me eat the $300 return shipping / restock fee. Some people love them, and that's fair, but man, that was one of the worst mistakes I made with this car (and I've made a TON of them).

 

I love my Braum seats, using modified seat rails off of eBay.

 

I'm currently suffering with an extremely uncomfortable OMP RSPT racing seat. I have been shopping for something less painful and I will eventually get the Corbeau Evo X. After doing plenty of research and talking with a few knowledgeable individuals I have learned you don't want to buy

cheap imported Chinese crap that may "appear" satisfactory but could possibly get you injured or killed if you're involved in an accident. Crack open the wallet for good quality or stay OEM.

 

Those look nice. Any more detail on the modified seat rails, i.e. manufacturer, etc.? Also, did you have to swap seat belts to C6 seat belts?

 

Highly recommend the AMT ultra low seat mounts with whatever seat you choose.

 

seat railed were unbranded, but we welded a 2 inch rise to the front mounts to tilt the seat to meet the bottom of my thighs for comfort. I used C6 seat belts.

 

Never heard anyone say anything remotely like that before about the A4's. Stock seats are absolutely awful, sport version or not (only diff is lumbar bladder and belt pass through, same seat I have)

 

Regardless of what you end up choosing. Make sure you sit in one before you buy it.

 

I was an automotive seat designer for 15 years working for Johnson Controls and designed full seat systems (covers, foam, frame, and rails) for Honda, Toyota, Nissan, GM, Chrysler, and Ford so I'll put my credentials up against any knowledgeable individuals as far as seat safety. The seat rails and seat belts are the most critical safety components of the seating systems. Corbeau's installed incorrectly or on poorly designed seat rails are just as dangerous as most any other seat that you would put in your car. Any reclining mechanism can fail in an accident so I won't get into that discussion.

If the rails, with assistance from the seat belts, hold the seat in position a Corbeau and and inexpensive seat will provide the same safety to the occupant.

I'm not advocating any seat over another but offering my professional opinion that an inexpensive seat can offer the same safety as a more expensive seat when installed correctly with good supporting components.

 

He's right. I sat in both A4s and Evolution Xs in a shop, both brand new seats, and they were awful. The material felt cheap, the seats were rock hard and uncomfortable, and for me personally they were too wide. I could slide across the hard, flat bottom cushion between the bolsters (33" waist). The stock Z06 seats are much nicer.

Something comparable to these Corbeaus in style but much better in quality is the Sparco R100. I've also sat in one of those at a shop and the cushioning and vinyl covering were significantly better.

Then you don't want Corbeau. Buy something like Sparco, Recaro, Cobra, etc if you want good quality. The Marrad ST3 is also a very nice seat and a great compromise between a fixed-back race seat and a sporty, factory seatbelt-using seat. I owned an ST3 and it was excellent but unfortunately didn't fit me. I currently use a Sparco Evo II but am looking into switching to a Tillett of some sort.

 

If you have the sport seat redone by someone that knows what they are doing. My leather was still real good, just had the padding replaced. The seat is much better than stock. Driver side only one needed done. Example of stock leather that was maintained for 23 years.

 

Then consider me the first. Nothing about those seats worked for me. The seat base sat too high relative to the car. Even after I had the base shaved it didn't sit right. The Corbeau mounts I purchased must not have been drilled dead straight because the seat sat cocked in the mounts (don't forget you have to swap sides for the seats to clear the seat belt). If I sat straight in the seat, my right foot would be on the edge of the brake and my left foot on the edge of the dead pedal. The recline lever inboard meant getting a backrest angle you want became a chore and there was too much space between the detents. My ideal backrest angle sat between two, so either I sat too reclined and my ribs were comfortable or I sat too upright and my ribs were comfortable and I was too high in the car.

It's easy to dismiss my claims as I'm too fat for the seats, but I'm a 42/44 in a suit with a 34" waist. I have more around the middle than I should these days, but my discomfort was in my ribs / under the shoulders where I have basically no fat. The seat backs were just designed crappy. If you sat in the seats for 45 minutes the bodyheat would soften the foam and it would mold to you and then it wasn't bad, but get out of the car and sit back down and you'd have to do it all over again.

The stock Sport seats might not be perfect, but they're head and shoulders better than the A4 in terms of comfort. I won't disagree that lateral support in the stock seats isn't great, but such is life. And yes, the base / Sport / Z06 seats are identical outside of the various covers / features. My driver's seat is a Z06 seat converted to Sport with lumbar.

When I bought my Corbeaus no one had an R100 in their car that I could find so I would know what to set up with in terms of mounts / belting. Given how narrow these cars are, I was afraid I'd get it and have to swap to C6 belts or cut up trim to run them, neither option I wanted to take on. I really liked the R100. I did sit in a members car who had Recaros out of an Evo which was pretty awesome, but it seemed like a pain to source a set for minimal gains. I had Recaros out of a BB4 era Prelude in my old Accord and loved them.