Swapping 97-02 seats for 03-06 seats: Which brackets do I need?

[Moab]

I want to put 03-06 seats in my 97-02 TJ. Which brackets of the two do I need? Or which are better? I understand that these are matching bolt patterns. Just not sure which brackets I want to use. Or if I need brackets on the new seats.

 

[Moab]

Anyone?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Why do you want 03-06 seats? Unless you're extra-tall, those seats position you lower and you won't be able to see out or over the hood as well. Many end up needing to insert spacers under their 03-06 seats so they can see out as well as those with 97-02 seats can.

After buying an '04 TJ to replaced my stolen '97 TJ, one of the first things I did to it was install spacers to go under the driver's seat to position me at the same height my '97 seats did. You can see one of the four spacers I added under the seat base here. That pair of clips is for a 5 lb. fire extinguisher.

 

[Moab]

Why do you want 03-06 seats? Unless you're extra-tall, those seats position you lower and you won't be able to see out or over the hood as well. Many end up needing to insert spacers under their 03-06 seats so they can see out as well as those with 97-02 seats can.

I'm 6'3" 250 I could use the added lowering. lol. I have no problem seeing with my current seats. But I wish I had more head clearance and more leg room. So I hope to modify the brackets when I do this to get the seat to go back further. I think I recall a simple mod for that. (if you have a link it would be gold to me. I lost it in my bookmarks somewhere.) I'm pretty scrunched in there now. I mean it works. But another couple inches down and back would be great.

I also think the newer seats look about 30 years newer than the funky tear drop shape of the stock 97-02. I just want a more modern look. And my current seats are funky. Ripped sides. And the back seat doesn't match the front. So I'm hoping to find a complete set - front and back. In charcoal grey. Or whatever that stock color was in 03-06.

But I want to use the better of the two brackets if there's a difference.

 

[Jeffreybomb]

I'm 6'3" 250 I could use the added lowering. lol. I have no problem seeing with my current seats. But I wish I had more head clearance and more leg room.

As a fellow Jeeper that is 6' 6", I suggest the opposite of what you're attempting.

My legs sit at a much more comfortable angle with my 1" risers. I've had them in for a couple years and have yet to experience any downside to the diminished head room, even while off-roading.

 

[mrblaine]

I'm 6'3" 250 I could use the added lowering. lol. I have no problem seeing with my current seats. But I wish I had more head clearance and more leg room. So I hope to modify the brackets when I do this to get the seat to go back further. I think I recall a simple mod for that. (if you have a link it would be gold to me. I lost it in my bookmarks somewhere.) I'm pretty scrunched in there now. I mean it works. But another couple inches down and back would be great.

I also think the newer seats look about 30 years newer than the funky tear drop shape of the stock 97-02. I just want a more modern look. And my current seats are funky. Ripped sides. And the back seat doesn't match the front. So I'm hoping to find a complete set - front and back. In charcoal grey. Or whatever that stock color was in 03-06.

But I want to use the better of the two brackets if there's a difference.

To answer the question, the bases between the two years are not interchangeable between the seats. If you use 03-06 bases, you have to use the seats that fit them. I'm fairly tall but evenly split torso and leg length so I prefer the 1.5" spacers under the 03 seats. Longer legs or longer torso requires something different for comfort. I can't drive leaned back like a gangster and I like the support under my thighs. If I had longer legs, it would be a struggle since I would have to lean the seat base down in back with taller front pucks and then the back angle would be messed up.

 

[Moab]

To answer the question, the bases between the two years are not interchangeable between the seats. If you use 03-06 bases, you have to use the seats that fit them. I'm fairly tall but evenly split torso and leg length so I prefer the 1.5" spacers under the 03 seats. Longer legs or longer torso requires something different for comfort. I can't drive leaned back like a gangster and I like the support under my thighs. If I had longer legs, it would be a struggle since I would have to lean the seat base down in back with taller front pucks and then the back angle would be messed up.

Thank you, mrblaine, for answering my question. MUCH appreciated. I'll make sure to get the brackets with the 03-06 seats. Do they really fit the same bolt holes in the bottom of my pan as the 97-02 seats? And will the rear seat - bolt in too? I'd prefer to get a matching set - fronts and back. As mine now don't match each other. And I don't want to spend the money having them recovered.

I'd also like to add some room moving the seat back. Does anyone remember the mod for doing that? It was something like pinching the rails in the rear so the seat can slide further back. IIRC it added another 2-4 inches. But I lost the link to the how to. I'll just keep researching if no one remembers. I really need that length as much as anything else.

But I do hear you all about the risers adding lift to the front of the seat. I didn't understand what you were saying at first. I'll add some spacers. As I do prefer that in my old Yukons electric seats. I would put the seat bottom all the way back. And then move the front lip of the seat up so it supported under my knees. I get what your saying now. I thought it was just for vision clearance. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[Moab]

Why do you want 03-06 seats? Unless you're extra-tall, those seats position you lower and you won't be able to see out or over the hood as well. Many end up needing to insert spacers under their 03-06 seats so they can see out as well as those with 97-02 seats can.

After buying an '04 TJ to replaced my stolen '97 TJ, one of the first things I did to it was install spacers to go under the driver's seat to position me at the same height my '97 seats did. You can see one of the four spacers I added under the seat base here. That pair of clips is for a 5 lb. fire extinguisher.

View attachment 69868

That's a really bitchin' place for the extinguisher. Talk about ease of use and being "readily" available. Where did you get that bracket? And what is that other black clamp? For a flashlight? (Damn. I learn alot from you guys. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.)

 

[mrblaine]

Thank you, mrblaine, for answering my question. MUCH appreciated. I'll make sure to get the brackets with the 03-06 seats. Do they really fit the same bolt holes in the bottom of my pan as the 97-02 seats? And will the rear seat - bolt in too? I'd prefer to get a matching set - fronts and back. As mine now don't match each other. And I don't want to spend the money having them recovered.

The holes are the same in every regard to bolt down the front seats. In 03, the rear seat mounts differently. I'll have to take a peek at the 04 to refresh my memory but it has to do with the way the seat folds. The newer versions have release handle in the middle of the top of the seat to fold and tumble.

I'd also like to add some room moving the seat back. Does anyone remember the mod for doing that?

It was something like pinching the rails in the rear so the seat can slide further back. IIRC it added another 2-4 inches. But I lost the link to the how to. I'll just keep researching if no one remembers. I really need that length as much as anything else.

I'm not aware of that mod. I know some have made extender mounts that mimic the Big Boy brackets.

 

[Moab]

The holes are the same in every regard to bolt down the front seats. In 03, the rear seat mounts differently. I'll have to take a peek at the 04 to refresh my memory but it has to do with the way the seat folds. The newer versions have release handle in the middle of the top of the seat to fold and tumble.


I'm not aware of that mod. I know some have made extender mounts that mimic the Big Boy brackets.

Thanks for looking at the back seat. Maybe I'll have to go with seat covers to match my front and rear after I put 03-06 seats in front. Only solution I can think of. Short of having the backseat recovered. My back seats a bestop anyway.

And a big thank you on the Big Boy brackets. That solves my issue right there. I assume you can use risers with the BB bracket.

Also what size risers do you guys run? I'm looking on ebay. And wondering if you can go higher in the front than in the back? It doesn't look like it. As everything seems to square up.

EDIT - Actually just read up on the Big Boy brackets and they not only move the seat back but they move it up 1.5" as well. So no need for risers. Kind of expensive though. At $80 per side. But I guess unless your passenger is 6' plus you only need the drivers side.

 

[mrblaine]

Thanks for looking at the back seat. Maybe I'll have to go with seat covers to match my front and rear after I put 03-06 seats in front. Only solution I can think of. Short of having the backseat recovered. My back seats a bestop anyway.

And a big thank you on the Big Boy brackets. That solves my issue right there. I assume you can use risers with the BB bracket.

Also what size risers do you guys run? I'm looking on ebay. And wondering if you can go higher in the front than in the back? It doesn't look like it. As everything seems to square up.

EDIT - Actually just read up on the Big Boy brackets and they not only move the seat back but they move it up 1.5" as well. So no need for risers. Kind of expensive though. At $80 per side. But I guess unless your passenger is 6' plus you only need the drivers side.

What seat risers to use will be wholly recommended due to me despising those who copy other's products. I use only Buchanan since he was the first to produce them in 03. It is a very high quality product that has been knocked and copied by shitheads looking to make a buck. You are welcome to use any of the myriad of copies out there. I'd prefer that you avoid the plastic pucks and stick with aluminum.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

That's a really bitchin' place for the extinguisher. Talk about ease of use and being "readily" available. Where did you get that bracket? And what is that other black clamp? For a flashlight? (Damn. I learn alot from you guys. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.)

It does work well in that position @moab, it's totally out of the way too... my feet never touch it getting in or out. The bracket is mounted to a 1/8"x1"x13" piece of scrap steel which is bolted to the seat bases.

You can get the bracket from http://bestfireco.com/cart/index.ph...id=176&zenid=db32b239c9607d247941c352a97d4f2e

The seat is slid all the way back in this photo.

 

[Moab]

The holes are the same in every regard to bolt down the front seats. In 03, the rear seat mounts differently. I'll have to take a peek at the 04 to refresh my memory but it has to do with the way the seat folds. The newer versions have release handle in the middle of the top of the seat to fold and tumble.


I'm not aware of that mod. I know some have made extender mounts that mimic the Big Boy brackets.

I just want to double check something. I can get a set of black Rubicon seats from an 03-06. For a good deal. But they are missing the brackets. Can I use the brackets from my 97-02 seats that I have now? On the 03-06 seats?

 

[mrblaine]

I just want to double check something. I can get a set of black Rubicon seats from an 03-06. For a good deal. But they are missing the brackets. Can I use the brackets from my 97-02 seats that I have now? On the 03-06 seats?

My first response to you-

To answer the question, the bases between the two years are not interchangeable between the seats. If you use 03-06 bases, you have to use the seats that fit them.

 

[Moab]

My first response to you-

To answer the question, the bases between the two years are not interchangeable between the seats. If you use 03-06 bases, you have to use the seats that fit them.

Sorry. Not enough coffee yet. Thank you.

 

[dla]

Actually just read up on the Big Boy brackets and they not only move the seat back but they move it up 1.5" as well. So no need for risers. Kind of expensive though. At $80 per side. But I guess unless your passenger is 6' plus you only need the drivers side.

The Misch Big Boy Brackets only move the seats back. They do not raise the seat any more than the thickness of the bracket.

 

[Moab]

The Misch Big Boy Brackets only move the seats back. They do not raise the seat any more than the thickness of the bracket.

I got that from an Amazon review:

"
Great for "big" boys, but really tall boys beware
September 12, 2016
Verified Purchase
After driving around with this installed for a couple days, I wanted to edit my review. 4" doesn't sound like much, but it feel like a mile actually in the vehicle. That's great, but be aware these brackets will raise your seat at least an inch. Due in part by the nice awesome heavy-duty thickness of the brackets themselves, but also the fact that they aren't fully contoured to the bottom of the floor. At a minimum, the heads of the relocated seat bracket bolts have to go in that space, and in some places its enough to stick a finger inbetween the Misch bracket and the floor. So anyway, its not just a backwards move, it will also raise the seat a bit.

Most aftermarket seats will sit an inch or so higher than stock, due to the mounting bracket adapters. Aftermarket seat adapter brackets PLUS these Big Boy brackets mean your seat is quite a bit taller stock. So tall in fact, my hair is touching the soft top, and my winshield sun visors are directly in front of my eyes. I had to bend down to see my rearview mirror. So unfortunately I had to take the Big Boy brackets out."

 

[dla]

Went out and took a picture for you. As you can see they bolt completely flat to the tub mounting points and the bracket is about 3/16” to 1/4” thick.

 

[Moab]

Went out and took a picture for you. As you can see they bolt completely flat to the tub mounting points and the bracket is about 3/16” to 1/4” thick.

View attachment 70271

Thank you so much for taking the time to do that. That's what I get for listening to Amazon reviews. Any reason to do the passenger seat as well? I don't recall anyone over 6' that will be getting into my TJ's passenger seat. The wife is 5'6". lol. Thought I would only do the drivers side.

 

[dla]

I did both mainly because I'm a bit OCD, but also because oftentimes I will ride passenger when out with my daughter who likes to off-road as well.