Back ache from mk1 seats

[markh1]

Hi all,

I seem to get back ache from driving the cerb. I use one of those cg lock things things but I think the problem comes from the seats feeling like they are offset another symptom is when my hands are symetrically on the wheel one arm feels more stretched that the other. Is this normal and is there anything that can be done to cure it or do i just have to live with it?

Thanks,
mark

[Ireland]

You are not alone.

I find that I have back-ache if I use the Cerb for long journeys.

I agree about the seats feeling that they are not perfectly square to the steering wheel.

I have plans to have an Indi-seat made up and the plan is to fit it into the frame of the original seat.

I'll be using a 140 ltr Indi-bag (available from Demon Tweeks) and the seat will have to be re-trimmed once it's done.

I do have the services of an ex-F1 mechanic available so he knows exactly how to do it properly.

I was uncertain if it'd be comfortable enough for road use but with some padding added I reckon it'll be fine.

I know I could just go out and buy a Recaro, or similar, but all I'd be doing is spending on an orthopedic seat which was designed for "everybody" but I'll be making my own ..... and it'll be made for me alone.

This is fine for me as nobody else here drives the CErb but it wouldn't work for a shared car.

I'll post how it goes once I do the job but it may be some time off before I actually get around to doing it.

[FUBAR]

Funny, as my back is farked from years of playing rugby I'd have thought if there was a back ache to be had I would have had it by now, but 25k miles in and not a single back related problem (that I could attribute to the Cerb's seats)

[350Matt]

I found that if you keep the lumbar support pumped up it helped, but a worthwhile mod was to cut the bottom moulding of the seat to allow the back of the seat cushion to sit lower. This lowered my position in the car by about 1/2" and moved the lumber support furhter up my back

Matt

[Old Geezer]

I too have a bit of a knackered back and find the Cerb very comfortable.
But me lumber air bag keeps going down! Bit embarassing pumping away at the lights

When I had a Impreza Turbo, those seats nearly crippled me!


I have noticed on my Cerb that the seat seems to slide forward a bit under heavy breaking and sort of twist.

Not looked, but I suspect the adjusment only locks on one side????

[Buffoon]

Interested to know how much the cerb drivers on this post weigh. BMI must have a factor to play.

Personally, back fine in mine but get severe bum-ache.

The seat mod mentioned sounds good though

[Ireland]

Buffoon said:

Interested to know how much the cerb drivers on this post weigh.

80 kgs.

As for BMI ..... no idea.

[SimonSparrow]

I found the standard seat pretty comfortable (mines a '97, so early seats), but I replaced mine with an old race seat as a bit of an experiment and its still there. I've modified it to sit really low and its mounted on side plates. One of the things to think about is whether you have a long upper body or not. I'm 6'2" and 85kgs, but with the standard seats, if I sat upright, I'd be staring at the padding on the rollcage. The race seat being mounted lower is better in this respect, so less slouching needed, and therefore a bit better on my back.

[markh1]

Buffoon said:

Interested to know how much the cerb drivers on this post weigh. BMI must have a factor to play.

Personally, back fine in mine but get severe bum-ache.

The seat mod mentioned sounds good though

11.5 stone and about 9% bodyfat (BMI does not work for me as I have low body fat)

For me I think the problem comes from the fact the seat is off-set causing my back to be twisted in the seat.

[ro_butler]

Old Geezer said:

I have noticed on my Cerb that the seat seems to slide forward a bit under heavy breaking and sort of twist.

Not looked, but I suspect the adjusment only locks on one side????

Mine does this if I adjust it and then put it back to my setting without making sure it is properly locked in place. You have to be pretty firm to make sure the locks 'clunk' into place. After that I get no problems and my car has pretty big brakes!

Maybe one of the rails is broken?

[Miss Pitstop]

I'm 5ft 3 and used to find driving the cerb awkward, as I need the seat all the way forward plus I like my back to be supported so was almost wedged into place!! Now I have a back support in the curve of my back (strapped around the seat) which just pushes my back forward into the right position for me to feel comfortable, and also makes me sit up straight so I can see a bit more of the bonnet!

[SimonSparrow]

Miss Pitstop said:

I'm 5ft 3 and used to find driving the cerb awkward, as I need the seat all the way forward plus I like my back to be supported so was almost wedged into place!! Now I have a back support in the curve of my back (strapped around the seat) which just pushes my back forward into the right position for me to feel comfortable, and also makes me sit up straight so I can see a bit more of the bonnet!

My first attempt to fix my seating was to remove the runners and bolt the seat straight to the floor. You could reverse this idea and perhaps put small spacers and longer bolts in the runners to raise the seat a little.

[Miss Pitstop]

SimonSparrow said:

Miss Pitstop said:

I'm 5ft 3 and used to find driving the cerb awkward, as I need the seat all the way forward plus I like my back to be supported so was almost wedged into place!! Now I have a back support in the curve of my back (strapped around the seat) which just pushes my back forward into the right position for me to feel comfortable, and also makes me sit up straight so I can see a bit more of the bonnet!

My first attempt to fix my seating was to remove the runners and bolt the seat straight to the floor. You could reverse this idea and perhaps put small spacers and longer bolts in the runners to raise the seat a little.

Thanks for that, will definitely give it some thought.

Problem is that 2 of us drive it, and the OH is perfectly happy. He's already brought the pedals further forward so I can change gear without the risk of sliding under the dash!!

[Gazzab]

BMI !!! What !
For me the seats arent good for the back because the seats are low down and so the legs are stretched out and dont hang down. So it isnt the seat it is the car.