Handbrake Bracket Lowering
I have recently fitted the same seat swivel to my van. I didn’t want to use the shims which raise the seat quite a bit in addition to the swivel itself.
For me the best option was to modify the seat base. Sounds hard but it’s actually pretty easy.
There are some photos in my build thread. And I did buy a spare seat base on eBay for £80 so that I could change them out and keep the van on the road. I plan to sell the spare one when I am done and can get it modified if that’s what’s wanted.
Remove the seat and base from the van. Get a drill and about a 6mm bit. Carefully drill out all of the spot welds that you see holding the handbrake bracket on the seat base. Carefully grind or hacksaw through the small weld on the rear of the box.
The handbrake box should now come off in one piece.
Cut 20mm off the bit hat sticks out of the bottom rear.
Weld the bracket back on 20mm lower than it was and in the same alignment that it was before.
20mm lower makes the lower edge of the handbrake bracket line almost line up with the bottom of the seat base.
(Any competent welder can do this for you and it’s out of the van so you can drop it off and collect it)
Bolt it back in and refit the handbrake. Adjust the cable to tighten it up properly, best done at the rear but you might get away with doing it at the front.
Mark 20mm and cut off the bottom of the lower plastic housing and pop it back on.
Refit seat and it should clear fine and look OEM.
Windsurfing Dream Van
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