Pinrut
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Andrew
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2019
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 59
- Reaction score
- 27
- Location
- California
- Car(s)
- Honda Clarity Hybrid, 2020 Supra Premium Nocturnal
- Thread starter
- #1
Threw out the back again. Needed to recline more, but the stupid aluminum brace going across the trunk opening wouldn't allow it.
Guess what? It's most likely not a brace at all. It's probably only Cosmetic and is easily removed.
tl:dr: Remove aluminum cross bar piece, gain 2 inches of backwards movement on seat and about at least 1 extra inch of tilt back. Or 3 inches of tilt back and 0 inches of leg room, etc etc.
For reference I am 6'2", with a 34" inseam, 34" waist, and about 205 lbs.
Disclaimer: use at your own risk. I am not a Toyota engineer and am only making assumptions about the removal of this part and whether it will affect the structural stability or any other functionality of this vehicle. Use your own judgement.
TRIM-1 by , on Flickr
The piece in question is shown in the Microfiche as a "trim" piece.
I thought it might be structural, but then I noticed the odd shape and no place to put a couple bolts. It would generally need 2-3 bolts if it were a structural member (think strut tower braces)
TRIM-2 by , on Flickr
https://toyotaparts.mcgeorgetoyota....-engine/body-cat/interior-trim-rear-body-scat
Decided to pop off the seat belt cover trim pieces and lo and behold, it's only held in with a single bolt on each side. Not only that but the bolt goes into a plastic grommet designed to allow it to slide around inside as the body of the car flexes. All this points to it being a non-structural member:
IMG_20200903_114903 by , on Flickr
The plastic grommet to allow the bar to slide back and forth as the chassis flexes around it...
IMG_20200903_115419 by , on Flickr
The bolt has a washer on it as well to allow the bar to slide back and forth:
IMG_20200903_115428 by , on Flickr
It was pretty easy to pry off the trim pieces, just start under/near the seat belt hole and pry up and inwards working your way back towards the bar. At some point the whole trim piece and the attached one for the C pillar will pop out:
IMG_20200903_114851 by , on Flickr
IMG_20200903_114844 by , on Flickr
Guess what? It's most likely not a brace at all. It's probably only Cosmetic and is easily removed.
tl:dr: Remove aluminum cross bar piece, gain 2 inches of backwards movement on seat and about at least 1 extra inch of tilt back. Or 3 inches of tilt back and 0 inches of leg room, etc etc.
For reference I am 6'2", with a 34" inseam, 34" waist, and about 205 lbs.
Disclaimer: use at your own risk. I am not a Toyota engineer and am only making assumptions about the removal of this part and whether it will affect the structural stability or any other functionality of this vehicle. Use your own judgement.
The piece in question is shown in the Microfiche as a "trim" piece.
I thought it might be structural, but then I noticed the odd shape and no place to put a couple bolts. It would generally need 2-3 bolts if it were a structural member (think strut tower braces)
https://toyotaparts.mcgeorgetoyota....-engine/body-cat/interior-trim-rear-body-scat
Decided to pop off the seat belt cover trim pieces and lo and behold, it's only held in with a single bolt on each side. Not only that but the bolt goes into a plastic grommet designed to allow it to slide around inside as the body of the car flexes. All this points to it being a non-structural member:
The plastic grommet to allow the bar to slide back and forth as the chassis flexes around it...
The bolt has a washer on it as well to allow the bar to slide back and forth:
It was pretty easy to pry off the trim pieces, just start under/near the seat belt hole and pry up and inwards working your way back towards the bar. At some point the whole trim piece and the attached one for the C pillar will pop out:
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