KamokuWan

Would it be possible to make the rear seat backs pop out for access to the trunk space? I know if that could be done the rear opening size would be less of an issue for me.

I find that the trunk fits more things than I can ask for but as we all know the opening is almost always just half and inch to small.

So I was wondering if anyone had to chance to look into removable seat backs?

Nubo

There is something in the way

RX8Bliss

sorry, the backseats actually support some of the car's structure. without the backseats being in place, the suicide doors would not be possible due to the lack of b pillars.

KamokuWan

The next question is...

Would it be possible to modify the support beams without sacrificing the structure of the car to facilitate this? I am sure the guys at Mazda would have looked into this, but I doubt they would spend a large amount of time trying to figure out a way to make the rear seats removable.

My father in law is a structural engineer, I am suppose to visit him next week I will take this image to him and give him and idea and he should be able to tell me his educated opinion.

:D

Mikelikes2drive

the big question is why?? or at least thats the big question im asking myself.

rotarygod

What??? You're joking right? Apparently you've never taken one apart. The backseats are not structural at all. None. Nada. Zip. You design the structure of a car before you design the interior. No one would dare design a seat as a structural part of a car. It is a simple frame with mostly foam and cloth. The only thing it is designed to support are people.

The diagonal cross braces unbolt. They each have two bolts at each end. The braces are actually quite thin but definitely do something due to their shape. If you wanted to have a frame machined out of 1/2" steel that left the center open that bolted in instaed of the braces you could probably get away with it just fine. You'd have to completely rebuild the rear seats. It isn't just as easy as hinging them though. Seats that are designed to fold down are shaped a little different. The stock rear seat backs go down behind the seat bottoms and the seat bottoms lie in front of them. In order to make the seat fold down, you would need to shorten the bottom of the seat backs and then hinge them. You wouldn't want them to tuck down behind the seat bottoms. Then you'd want a rebuilt seat bottom that extends under the seat back. Now your seats will be able to fold down.

Can it be done? Yes. Will it be cheap or easy? No.

hotpot

The trunk opening is so flippin'small too. Couldn't get a suitcase in the other day. Had to put it on the backseat.

TODreamer

Actually, there is a B pillar.....its built into the suicide doors; When they close, they bring the B-pillar in.

mysql101

that is why the rear doors shut so much nicer than the fronts.

PhineasFellOff

Perhaps this is a second project for KamokuWan.

PhineasFellOff

Man, talk about laying it on poor ol' RX8Bliss. He'll have to change his name to RX8Pissed.

rotarygod

I wasn't trying to be mean. It just came out that way.

KamokuWan

I wasn't talking about having seats that fold down. I was talking about having seat backs that actually come out of the car.

I agree that fold down seats would be difficult to implement and wouldn't be very feasible with the deep set in the rear to accomodate taller passengers.

I was thinking seats that could actually snap out then be snapped back in.

hotpot

What for? What do you have in mind?

RX8Bliss

its monday. i just checked thread just to see my poor *** being shred apart by old rotarygod. i'm not even gonna argue against him -he is god afterall- but I stand by my post. yeah, you can remove the seats, redesign the hinges, take out the supports, put in new ones and put in altered seats, but what person in their right minds would?
as far as I know, the seats were designed the way they were because there isn't any practical way to get around the fact that the braces would block most of the access to the trunk anyway. it was to the best of my limited knowledge that the seats themselves were designed based on that fact to further assist the braces in maintaining structural integrity. but hey, what the hell do i know? i just got chewed out by rotarygod.
excuse me while i go cry in the corner.

crumpmd

I'd like to see others.

WinningBlue

If you were so worried about trunk space, you shouldn't a bought a SPORTS CAR!

Raevik

I've taken the seats out, and it couldn't be much easier.

Basically, you lift the bottom, then unscrew two bolts with a socket wrench, then lift that out.

That's it.

It takes about 30 seconds.

Now, with that said, why?? If you are trying to expand your trunk, you'll have to contend with the wall of shaped metal behind the seats...

rotarygod

Like I said, I wasn't trying to be an ***. It just came out that way. We're all friends here.

kbull

Damn, that was one sad-sounding post by RX8Bliss. I'm gonna have to start prefacing all my posts with "Maybe rotarygod will correct me, but...."