Lumbar adjustment for seat


PeteK

PeteK

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Apr 18, 2014
2,578
Kalama, Free part of WA State
I checked the search pages, and it appears to have been awhile since anyone added to this subject, so I will start a new thread for this issue.

After spending three hours in the seat this past Sunday (beautiful day in N. Virginia, BTW), I find I'd like some more lumbar support. A number of you have voiced similar gripes in the past. In most other cars, the factory lumbar adjusters are actually little airbags that have a pump and valve attached, which you can inflate and deflate to increase or decrease the bump in the middle or low part of your back. The really nice ones have about 3 airbags that you can adjust to practically any shape that fits your back. And in some luxo-boats, you can set the seats to inflate and deflate continuously, to give you somewhat of a massage as you drive down the road.

That's more than I want to try, but I'm thinking of buying some kind of air bladder, like a blood pressure cuff (or maybe a Camelback?) and hook it up to a hand bulb pump (like on a blood pressure cuff) to at least manually change the lumbar support. I think I could stick it to the inside of the seat shell and let the bulb hang between the seat bottom and the side sill.

Has anyone thought of or tried this yet? Any other ideas?
 
Blood pressure cuffs are not usually wide enough. Look for a cuff for the thigh, BUT, cuffs only work wrapped around something (i.e. arm, thigh), otherwise you can't inflate them to any great pressure. You might look at a hemorrhoid donut for sitting on but put it on your back. Talk to a physical therapist or an occupatinoal therapist. They have a much better idea of what's on the market.
 
The lumbar bladders and pump balls are available aftermarket. Got some for my wife's Escape from a seller on Amazon. They are not expensive. Trouble will be with installing them in the GT seats with the vent holes....
 
If you dont need adjustability, you can use foam inserts and cut them to the size/shape that you want. Thats what I use for the race car. You can buy the foam at a local craft store or go with memory foam for a pillow or mattress.
 
Thanks for the suggestion on aftermarket lumbar bladders and pump bulbs. I'll check that out. As for using foam inserts, I'd rather have something that I can change while driving, becuase if I sit in the seat for several hours, I want to shift around and change the pressure points. Any suggestions on which aftermarket offerings to look for?
 
 
Call Steve Hemstock of Knights automotive.A real class act.He also does amazing work.A true craftsman.He is the interior and seat king! do a search to read up on him
715-330-8282 or 715-702-2727 Tell him Roketman gave you his phone numbers .
 
Thanks for the reccomendations.
 
I actually have head rest bladders in both my cars installed by Steve. They work great.
 
The more hours I spend in my GT on the road, the better my back feels - :thumbsup
 
Yes, and the worse your hearing gets.
 
What did you say ?
 
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