Aftermarket Seats

[Maverick Man]

I'm sure there are standards like anything else and I'm willing to put money up that passing them is very easy, I work in the industry and see everyday what is considered "passed federal standards".

How much cash you got? cuz i could sure use some to put a roll bar in. I know you said you work in the industry and see everyday what is considered "passed federal standards". Then you would know that the standard is not easy, if anything it’s a pain in the ass. All vehicles pass this standard during crash testing. That is like saying the FAA, and the FDA, have very easy standards for passing their tests. Now that doesn’t mean they miss stuff but wouldn’t you say that better then no testing at all? Testing actually very complex, and protective of the consumers. These are government run agencies with the public's safety in mind, and their only priority. Not to meantion my father worked for a company that tested products to pass automotive parts federal or state standards or regulations... easier said then done when your not doing it. A good example are crash test. If you have ever seen one alot goes into it!

Aftermarket manufacturers love to advertise how they passed this test and that test.

You say “aftermarket manufacturers love to advertise how they passed this test and that test.” Your right! Sure aftermarket manufacturers love to advertise how they passed this test and that test. If you had a company that wanted to show why your seat is better then some knock off made in china and separate yourself from something that is not even close to your product. I’m sure you would promote that your seat meets certain requirements too.

After a couple decades of building cars I have found it best to do my own real world testing than to rely on claims made by those trying to sell the parts.

Agreed! cams, tire, headers, sparkplugs, intakes, tires, carbs, etc. By all means for sure why wouldn’t you? However personally I wouldn’t want to test out a seat, seat belt, roll bar, helmet or any safety equipment made in china, some third world country or even the USA on my own even if I was building cars for 20 years. In fact I don’t know any other way a normal person would be able to test such an item like seats or a belt besides crashing their car? The only way you could perform a "real world test", to the safety of any seats would be to recreate a 24g impact. If anyone would like to crash his car into a wall at over 160mph be my guest. Otherwise there is no other form of "real world testing" that would even begin to come close to relevant. And if that’s the way something needs to be tested I’m sure wouldn’t want to be in one to test it. Is there something I’m missing here?

An integrated part of vehicle safety may have been a poor choice of words. Sure the seat has to keep you positioned so the rest of the safety devices can work properly, however there are no specific test done to determine crush strength, seat back shear, or recliner holding abilities (believe me I change A LOT of these).

"Crush strength" as you put it is not an important factor on a seat. Maybe I wasn’t clear but I want to be clear on why I stated what the construction of the seat is made out of. Seats are not made to absorb any type of "crush" as you call it. Good seats are made to absorb impact inertia and direct it way from your body. Good seats don’t not crush, nor do they collapse. "seat back shear" I have no idea what that is? What does that mean? In regards to recliner holding abilities. Good seat recliners are tested, on a sled, and must withstand a minimum of a 24g impact. The human body cannot take more then 16g's, and a good seat would far exceed safety standards. If you ask any good seat maufacture they would all tell you the same thing.

The NASCRAP style seats are a result of too many head/neck injuries; combined with the HANS device (I can’t see, I can’t see) they limit head movement in a collision.

Personally I think HANS is absolute a great protective piece of equipment, like a helmet or roll bar. Drivers from Formula 1, WRC, and NASCAR all use the device and many and endorse it! One pirme example of someone who didn't like it becuase he felt it limited head movement was Earnhardt Sr. But maybe that’s why he’s dead.. but thats a whole other topic I don't want to get into. I think if you ever used a HANS device maybe you would have a different opinion.

Yes, I suppose the seat is a part of the overall safety of the vehicle but only in the capacity that it needs to keep you from moving rearward so the belts can do their job. A more primary function of the seat is to provide for lateral stability of your body rather than rely on the belts so you can concentrate on driving. I say any seat that keeps me positioned properly is a good seat; I don’t need the gov’t to do any half ass tests to tell me whether or no it works.

I don't know about that the primary function is to provided lateral stability? I would that a good seats primary function are made to absorb impact inertia. If you where in a collision with only a cage, sitting on the floor, with belts. All impact inertia would be transferred directly into your body causing huge internal organ damage. Good seats are NOT just to hold you in place while driving. Although they do support you, and are made that way, the number on purpose is to protect. All of our composite seats flex, and move, and where engineered at certain tolerances, all to direct inertia away from your body.

I say any seat that keeps me positioned properly is a good seat; I don't need the gov't to do any half ass tests to tell me whether or no it works..

You say you “don’t need the gov’t to do any half ass tests to tell me whether or no it works.” If you don’t care what the government says then that’s your choice and that’s fine. I mean trying to use any drug to treat any of your future sickness would be ok? I guess? And I guess the FDA approval on any medications that you might need in the future wouldn’t matter. For me I wouldn’t take anything non-FDA approved.
Also if you don’t like government standards / crap the FIA is not a government agency and they do test seats its called Closed Car Occupant Safety.. I would rather buy something that is tested half ass then not tested at all.

But back to my point on poorly built seats.

You could just as easily set your belts to hold you in place sitting on the floor and in a properly design cage with good 5 points you would be fine albeit a bit bruised on your hind quarters after an accident.

Why not sit on a milk carton crate with a full cage and belts? Seems pointless to me. Again good seats are made to absorb impact inertia. If you where in a collision with only a cage, sitting on the floor, with belts. All impact inertia would be transferred directly into your body causing huge internal organ damage. Well made seats are NOT just to hold you in place while driving. Although they do support you, and they make them that way, the number one purpose of a good seat manufacture is to protect the driver! All good composite seats flex, and move, and where engineered at certain tolerances, all to direct inertia away from your body.



I think another good thing to think about is post that USAZRI posted

Guess I have to be the one to ask the question but what's the catch on these seats? The price of $219 each is hard to believe.

That’s a retail price of $219 bucks. Hum? Lets think about that? Wholesale is about 50% of that and manufacturing is about 50% of that. Hum a $50 dollar seat and that’s not even including the shipping that’s part of that? What is that seat really worth? Gee I wonder what kinda of safety measures went into that seat, made by that overworked person in china making 50 cents a day? Like the saying goes don’t judge a book by its cover. Just because it looks good don’t mean its good. Now I’m not saying to spend a 1k or even $500 bucks on a seats, but my original point is safety, as you stated with safety and having a roll bar. Point is… looking cool and saving money is not worth more then spending a bit more and being safe if you ask me. You could also say why get rid of a nice OEM seat made in the USA and replace it with something made in china weights more?

Again something I think even one should thing about b4 buying an aftermarket seat.