Back Problems Resulting in Wanted Car Mods

japanesecowboy14 · Post by **japanesecowboy14** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:48 am

i'm a new user to the site. a guy i worked with @ super-rupair sent me here.

I drive a 92 Legacy L Wagon N/A and i have a slipped disc in my back. the car is a very comfortable ride at times, but sometimes long trips get painful and i REALLY hurt getting in/ out of the car. is there a way i can lift my seat up a bit or at least put heated seats in? i know there are leather/heated seats in 95's, but i'm not sure if it's compatible. also ; how would i go about picking the car up to allow better height and something to soften the bumps?

I would just go get a small truck, but (what i can afford) they ride like an I-Beam with wheels.

Someone PLEASE help me out here?

AWD_addict · Post by **AWD_addict** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:41 am

Try sitting in the seat from a Legacy Turbo. It is height adjustable and still comfy.

japanesecowboy14 · Post by **japanesecowboy14** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:44 am

MMMkay, i'll give it a whirl... i'll call dougie & see if he has any for cheap. do they still have the lumbar option, because i do worship that.

and this is off topic, but i was just looking @ mufflers because mine is cracked... the cherry bomb (not glasspack) turbo mufflers 2"inlet 2 - 2 1/2 out, are they any good? i guess if not, it's a 20$ replacement.

AWD_addict · Post by **AWD_addict** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:58 pm

I don't think they have the lumbar adjust.

2" is smaller than stock, so that would be worse.

internetautomart · Post by **internetautomart** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:44 pm

japanesecowboy14 wrote:MMMkay, i'll give it a whirl... i'll call dougie & see if he has any for cheap. do they still have the lumbar option, because i do worship that.

and this is off topic, but i was just looking @ mufflers because mine is cracked... the cherry bomb (not glasspack) turbo mufflers 2"inlet 2 - 2 1/2 out, are they any good? i guess if not, it's a 20$ replacement.

if you have a slipped disc, you don't want a cheap muffler as it will resonate and more than likely irritate your back.
heated seats are something that you can add on with an aftermarket kit, or get lucky and find some from an Alpine model, but good luck with that.

All_talk · Post by **All_talk** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:15 am

AWD_addict wrote:I don't think they have the lumbar adjust.

My '91 SS has the manual 3 position lumbar adjust.

And, the Turbo seats have stiffer foam, I dont think you want them if you have back trouble. I think the leather seats from a LSi might be your best bet. Or look at seats from the newer upscale Outbacks, I'm pretty sure they are a bolt in.

Gary

smh0101 · Post by **smh0101** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:16 am

I think the drivers side Legacy Turbo seat has lumbar... its a little, very little swinging handle on the right side of the seat (towards the console)...

Can anyone make sure im right? I'm pretty sure it does... but just in case...

Aerotech · Post by **Aerotech** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:59 am

You can use any Legacy or Impreza seats, but you'll need to run wires & switches for heaters or power adjust.
Seatbelt mounts may have to be modified as well, but generally, everything is cross-compatible except SVX.

japanesecowboy14 · Post by **japanesecowboy14** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:29 pm

that's quite alright with me.. i think i can probably get some cheap rocker switches from auto zone, and use them, and as far as the rest, wiring is my middle name

abracc · Post by **abracc** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 3:13 pm

smh0101 wrote:I think the drivers side Legacy Turbo seat has lumbar... its a little, very little swinging handle on the right side of the seat (towards the console)...

Can anyone make sure im right? I'm pretty sure it does... but just in case...

My '93 Legacy Turbo wagon has the height adjustable seat and also the adjustable lumbar support....but the handle for the lumbar adjustment is missing...

japanesecowboy14 · Post by **japanesecowboy14** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 3:30 pm

well i guess i can just try, and if it doesn't bolt on, that's what a drill bit's for, lol. make new spots to bolt up! now i just gotta figure out where i can get em for cheap, because i don't want the car to look stupid with ONE leather seat, but i don't think the LSi had leather in the wagons tho?

skid542 · Post by **skid542** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:42 pm

Another option is the early Outback seats. I have a fused lower back and broke my hip when I was younger and have troubles on long rides. My SS starts hurting pretty quickly some days, though the height adjust does help.

However, my 96' OBW is the best car I have ever riden in for my back. It has the height adjust and the lumbar and it also sits a bit higher than in the SS. Definately makes a difference in how it rides and feels, though it does not feel like a 'sports car' like the SS does.

Just another option.

smh0101 · Post by **smh0101** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:47 pm

Wont outback seats be like... SUPER high?

I thought those and Forester seats slammed your head against the roof?

japanesecowboy14 · Post by **japanesecowboy14** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:54 pm

i've been meaning to get an OBW especially because of the height & suspension, but my budget is low right now, and the medical bills are kickin my heinie

skid542 · Post by **skid542** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:39 pm

Yeah OBW seats may sit really high in the Leggy. How high, I don't know.

But seriously, my OBW is the only car I've been able to ride or drive in for more than 2.5 hrs without having to get out to work out the pinched nerves. I can drive a full 8 hrs straight and get out and be comfortable and happy.

Keep us posted on what you decide to do Cowboy and my best wishes for a solid medical recovery.

japanesecowboy14 · Post by **japanesecowboy14** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:40 pm

will do. any knowledge of seats i can get for cheap or better yet, anyone who's selling an oback for cheap?

smh0101 · Post by **smh0101** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:48 pm

Kindof a side point... But cant you swap the tracks or whatever its called off of the legacy seats and onto the new ones?

japanesecowboy14 · Post by **japanesecowboy14** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:49 pm

i honestly couldn't tell ya. i'm a rookie right now, i'm still learning about subaru's . i just know they're lego's for adults.

smh0101 · Post by **smh0101** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:52 pm

Well... On that note of being a rookie and a n00b to LegacyCentral...

Welcome!

Maybe Lee or someone else could answer that question. I know that many here have done a lot with seat swaps and the like.

japanesecowboy14 · Post by **japanesecowboy14** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:53 pm

thank you! i am pretty excited about modding my car out, to make it run nice off the road. i don't know if i'll get serious about auto-x or rally, i just know i do take it off the road often & play with it a little

smh0101 · Post by **smh0101** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:02 pm

Kool, sounds like fun... As soon as I'm done rebuiling my car I'm gonna start on rallyx and that kind of stuff.

Back to the original topic... jk

GeneralDisorder · Post by **GeneralDisorder** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:37 am

In case anyone is wondering....

All Subaru drivers seats have the lumbar lever. Have since the late 70's at least. I'm not sure when that became standard, but it's been on every one I've owned through 94. Most people never use or notice them.

GD

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:03 am

I have a herniated disc as well. L5/S1.

Swapping in the front seats from an 02 WRX did a lot to improve the ergonomics. They're more supportive just because they're not worn out, but they also sit a good deal higher than stock. They bolt right up (they have 4 mounting tabs as opposed to our stock seat's 5, but they bolt right up. You have to swap your stock seat belt stuff over though, and do a little custom stuff to make them sit right.

The factory lumbar support was insufficient for me though. After driving around with a towel around my waist for a while, I made my own little inflatable lumbar support dealie. I got one of these:

http://www2.vital-signs.com/VSIHome/htm ... nfuse.aspx

And placed it under the seat cover in the lumbar region, running the hose, stopcock, and bulb out to the side. It is awesome. I'd imagine the commercially-sold inflatable lumbar supports would be at least as good.

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 3:21 pm

I got one of those heated seat/massage seat covers. It's got a 12v lighter outlet plug so it works in the car.

It was only like 30 bucks. Maybe try that?

And what Vikash said, WRX seats are really nice. They don't have lumbar adjustment, just height. One thing I've noticed is that 04 seats have a tighter fit than 02 seats.

Good luck with your back, that's never fun.

japanesecowboy14 · Post by **japanesecowboy14** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:31 pm

Sounds good. i'll have to act soon, so i may be just getting a heating pad or something like that, because i just found out i have inflammation going on and it's pinching my nerves, so my right leg goes COMPLETELY numb after sitting for a 1/2 hour. thanks for your input though. i didn't know they made heated ones (12v)

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Back Problems Resulting in Wanted Car Mods

Back Problems Resulting in Wanted Car Mods