cmpilot

Hi. New here. Looking at a new C4S. I'd like to remove the rear seat backs and bottoms if I can. I like the grocery room, and I can't stand looking at useless mass (especially in the back of a rear-biased car) and wasted volume. Has anyone done this? Can it be done by a shop or by self? Thanks.

Spiffyjiff

if theyre making them the same way as '06 then "yep". bottoms are velcro'd on. but be careful when pulling up, because instead of attached directly to the carpet, they are attached to an intermediate piece which is then attached thru the carpet into the metal via plastic grommets. so if you yank too hard the grommets will break before the velcro gives way. and each seat back can be removed via 1 screw on the outside bottom - just have to gently pry up the plastic covering first to access. takes 5 mins total.

no doubt my rambling is confusing but if you search on here, i'm sure you can find a better tutorial with pics.

Mike in CA

You can easily do it yourself. I took mine out to make room for a harness bar and shed some weight since the seats would have been useless with the bar in place anyway.

Removal is straightforward. In addition to carefully pulling up the velcro attached seat bottoms, the only trick is in prying off the cover over the center hinge pin for the seatbacks without damaging it (the cover). There is a set screw underneath the cover that you must loosen to allow you to slide out the pin. If you loosen the outboard seatback attachments and try to work the seatbacks off without removing the pin or sliding it to one side, you may snap it or damage the sleeve where it enters the seats.

ross74

whats the weight saving?
it is worth it?

Mike in CA

I weighed the pieces at the time and can't remember exactly. But with the cushions, seatbacks and hardware it's a bit over 25 pounds. Whether it's worth it is debateable, but Porsche does it with the GT3.

texas911

I'd gladly buy a 4 seat GT3.

ADias

That harness bar and sports bucket seats (in Cocoa no less) look awesome!

Mike in CA

Thanks!

ross74

that doesnt sound like very much but i like the look of the seat less rear and i never ever use them...

does the harness or the OEM roll cage increase the torsional rigidity in any way?

nota_troll

Ditto

Mike in CA

True, 25 pounds isn't a huge amount. OTOH, Porsche charges $1700 for a lithium ion battery that saves 22 pounds. Removing the seats is free!

The harness bar from Brey Kraus is not advertised to increase chassis rigidity, it's just designed as an attachment point for shoulder harnesses. It is very solidly located to the body at several points, however, so it's possible it adds a bit of stiffness. The roll cage almost certainly adds to the torsional rigidity, though I can't find actual specs.