[shifty]

I installed an adjustable blow up type lumbar support inside the seat (open up the back of the seat cover by unclipping where the backrest cover meets the underside of the cushion cover). You can get either manual or power type. I ordered the manual one. Once set it keeps its position without having to pump it up occasionally.

Manual Pneumatic Lumbar Support Pack - Seat Frames - Frames - Conversion Center

would you mind explaining better just how you opened up the seat? I looked yesterday and couldn't really see what/where you are describing. And did it all go back together nicely? Thanks

 

[Studum]

I've made 3 adjustments to my seat and my regular daily commute (1+ hrs each way) has become much more comfortable in the un-modified seat. After reading around I did the following:

- raised the seat as high as I could - a fist worth of space between my head and the headliner
- tilted the seat back more upright
- reduced the lumbar support adjustment
- also pulled the steering wheel closer to my body so I wasn't reaching for the top of the wheel.

Although it now feels like I'm a tad close to the wheel compared to what I'm used to I am now much more comfortable both upper and lower body. The only downside is my left arm no longer reaches the armrest on the door even when fully relaxed (I have short T-Rex arms). However left elbow on the window edge and hand-to wheel is much more comfortable.

At this point I actually haven't touched the seat controls since before the drive home Monday afternoon, whereas prior to that I was fiddling with them at least once a day.

With all that said I still intend to install that electric air bladder lumbar support I ordered - I can't cancel it anyways as it's already been shipped. Although I am now much more comfortable than before I feel the OEM lumbar adjustment just isn't in the exact right spot for me and if this kit offers me greater flexibility and customization it can only be a good thing for me.

Having the seat foam modified was not an option for me. I want it adjustable in case my needs change down the road or my wife needs to drive the car so she can make it comfortable for herself.

 

[Studum]

would you mind explaining better just how you opened up the seat? I looked yesterday and couldn't really see what/where you are describing. And did it all go back together nicely? Thanks

From what I saw in the '14 service manual the seat cover snaps together at the bottom of the chair then it either unzips or unclips up the sides at the back to reveal the back of the chair.

What I don't see is the OEM lumbar support. I'm just hoping that it's a basic bar-type adjustment and it won't interfere with the kit I want to install.

 

[scotty]

would you mind explaining better just how you opened up the seat? I looked yesterday and couldn't really see what/where you are describing. And did it all go back together nicely? Thanks

If you look at the two thumbnail diagrams that Studum kindly posted above, it explains how to open up the seat back. I only had to follow the steps shown in Figure 1 and did not have to do any more disassembly as shown in Figure 2. Note that I have cloth and not leather seats (not sure if that makes a difference or not).

I was able to slide the lumbar support in front of the support wires (shown in Figure 2) and then used nylon cable ties to secure the lumbar support to the wires so it would not move around. Getting the lumbar support in front of the wires was the only really tricky part of the whole operation. The hose was positioned facing down and routed through the small opening at the base of the seatback (on the driver's door side). I secured the hose to the left side seat track with cable ties so that the pump is situated between the seat and the driver's door and does not interfere with the seat slide mechanism.

I will take a couple of pictures and post here so it's easier for you to visualize.

 

[louisbosco]

mazda 6 seat swap into 3, anyone reckon that's possible?

 

[scotty]

I will take a couple of pictures and post here so it's easier for you to visualize.

Sorry for the delay in posting. Let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[scotty]

I've made 3 adjustments to my seat and my regular daily commute (1+ hrs each way) has become much more comfortable in the un-modified seat. After reading around I did the following:

- raised the seat as high as I could - a fist worth of space between my head and the headliner
- tilted the seat back more upright
- reduced the lumbar support adjustment
- also pulled the steering wheel closer to my body so I wasn't reaching for the top of the wheel.

Although it now feels like I'm a tad close to the wheel compared to what I'm used to I am now much more comfortable both upper and lower body. The only downside is my left arm no longer reaches the armrest on the door even when fully relaxed (I have short T-Rex arms). However left elbow on the window edge and hand-to wheel is much more comfortable.

At this point I actually haven't touched the seat controls since before the drive home Monday afternoon, whereas prior to that I was fiddling with them at least once a day.

With all that said I still intend to install that electric air bladder lumbar support I ordered - I can't cancel it anyways as it's already been shipped. Although I am now much more comfortable than before I feel the OEM lumbar adjustment just isn't in the exact right spot for me and if this kit offers me greater flexibility and customization it can only be a good thing for me.

Having the seat foam modified was not an option for me. I want it adjustable in case my needs change down the road or my wife needs to drive the car so she can make it comfortable for herself.

It took me about 3 months to get comfortable in my car whereas it normally only takes about 1 month for me in a new car.

What I eventually figured out by getting out of the car and kneeling down right next to the seat and then adjusting it and closely watching the seat movement as I made different adjustments was that the seat height adjuster also moves you incrementally closer to the steering wheel as you raise the height. So if you get the fore/aft distance right and then adjust the height after that it changes the fore/aft distance slightly, just enough to throw you off as you think the fore/aft is set right and then as you drive it feels off because the height has changed this distance. I've never seen this before but I think this may be the reason some people find it hard to get comfortable in these seats.

Once you are aware of this behaviour it makes it easier to adjust accordingly. In a roundabout way this is actually a benefit as it allows you to make smaller fore/aft adjustments by using the height adjuster, raise it one or two settings to move closer and lower to move further away without having to use the seat slider adjustment.

 

[Studum]

It took me about 3 months to get comfortable in my car whereas it normally only takes about 1 month for me in a new car.

What I eventually figured out by getting out of the car and kneeling down right next to the seat and then adjusting it and closely watching the seat movement as I made different adjustments was that the seat height adjuster also moves you incrementally closer to the steering wheel as you raise the height. So if you get the fore/aft distance right and then adjust the height after that it changes the fore/aft distance slightly, just enough to throw you off as you think the fore/aft is set right and then as you drive it feels off because the height has changed this distance. I've never seen this before but I think this may be the reason some people find it hard to get comfortable in these seats.

Once you are aware of this behaviour it makes it easier to adjust accordingly. In a roundabout way this is actually a benefit as it allows you to make smaller fore/aft adjustments by using the height adjuster, raise it one or two settings to move closer and lower to move further away without having to use the seat slider adjustment.

I am aware. It's due to the linkage in the seats for the adjustments. Rake of the seat back does the same.

For these reasons I adjust in this order:
- Seat height
- Seat back rake
- Seat position fore / aft
- Steering column (for arms / reach)

Of course there's always little tweaks here and there in the process, but that's the main order I aim for.

And as a follow up I have been MUCH more comfortable in the car since my last post about seemingly finding my sweet spot. I haven't touched it since and discomfort / lower body pain on a daily basis is gone.

No multi-hr drives to really test it since then, but I've been in the car for 3+ hrs in a day and have been good.

 

[Studum]

Sorry for the delay in posting. Let me know if you have any more questions.

That blue bar - that's the OEM lumbar adjust I assume?

Thanks for the pics - immense help.

 

[scotty]

I am aware. It's due to the linkage in the seats for the adjustments. Rake of the seat back does the same.

My post was meant as general information for anybody that has these seats and may be having issues getting comfortable, it's great that you were aware but not everybody may be.

 

[scotty]

That blue bar - that's the OEM lumbar adjust I assume?

Thanks for the pics - immense help.

No problem. I don't have the factory lumbar adjuster so it's not for that. It looks like it's fixed in place from what I can see in the picture so it's probably just part of the base seat support structure. It also looks too low to be a lumbar support mechanism if you look at its position in comparison to where I installed my lumbar support (I moved the lumbar support up and down to make sure it was in the correct position before I secured it with the cable ties).

 

[Stinkyjim]

Scotty, Did this solver your seat problems? I am desperately seeking a solution.

 

[adzee]

a chiropractor told me to roll up a small towel and use that for lumbar support. I like it because I can still rest my back against the seat and adjust the position

 

[494634]

Reviving this. Any ideas to add the OEM lumbar support? Every little part of the seat is available separately -- I'm curious if anyone has tried adding that to their seat, or even swapped out the seat.

 

[lordnikon]

I've seen the premium cloth seats with manual lumbar but it's not available here.

The best equipped seat is the leather, 10 way power seats, 2 person memory with lumbar. The Australian Mazda 3 SP25 GT Astina has it.

 

[Chazzy J]

One of my biggest complaints about this car (really probably my only complaint). Look at how "plump and plush" the seats look in Mazda's marketing image. Then go look at how lifeless and flat your seats look in your car. I was quite disappointed with this.

 

[lordnikon]

I want these seats

 

[scotty]

Scotty, Did this solver your seat problems? I am desperately seeking a solution.

Sorry, been offline for a while. Yes it did solve my lack of lumbar support issue.

 

[Xtyklys]

I'm sitting now with a little gray one behind my lumbar. Don't remember where I got it though.

The GTs have lumbar support.

Ralph

GT has lumbar huh? My 2015 SGT doesn’t.