by Astraist » Sat Aug 17, 2013 1:50 pm
I have a few. The first is not about adjusting the seat, but rather how you sit in it. Sit in the seat, not on it! Push your rump square into the corner of the seat and sit up straight.
The next is obviously the adjustment of the seat. Adjust it so all pedals can be comfortably depressed. This includes the throttle, brakes, clutch and dead pedal. Start the engine and press the brakes a few times to build up pressure in the booster and depress the pedal. The pedal should be depressed fully with the ball of the foot on the pedal and the heel on the floor. Your knee should remain slightly bent throughout.
Once you have adjusted the seat, erect the rake of the back so you can turn the steering wheel in any situation without unnesecary back movements. For this end, the rake of the back and the steering wheel should be as close and as parallel as possible within reason.
Adjust the seat height so your eyes are level with the upper half or third of the windshield. For most private cars, this can be more accurately measured by keeping a margin of four to five fingers between your head and the ceiling. Readjust steering angle so you can see all the instruments in the panel and ensure that your reach at the steering and pedals remains unhindered.
Now, reach your wrist forward to the top of the steering wheel. You should be able to comfortably rest your wrist and bend it over the top of the rim without drawing your shoulder blades forward from the seat back and towards the wheel. This should mean that when gripping and turning the wheel, you never straighten your elbows or lean forward.
Ideally, the crossbrace of the steering wheel should be a few centimeters below your shoulder height at this position, this will facilitate an easier grip while still allowing to turn the wheel freely.
Once the driving position is adjusted, adjust safety measures to fit. Ensure 10 inches between the center of the steering wheel hub and your sternum. Adjust seatbelt height so it fits to the socket in your shoulder, not on the arm, calvicle or neck. Place the lapbelt on your pelvic, not the soft belly, and ensure it's snug enough so you cannot grab the slack with a pinch of your fingers.
Adjust the head restraint to a height between your eye-brows or the top of your head and as close to your head as possible (between 6 to 3 cm). If it does not move forward, bring the entire backrest to a more upright angle to achieve the desired adjustment.
Once everything is properly adjusted, position your left foot on the footrest and your right foot with the heel roughly in front of the brake pedal. Position your hands on the wheel on both sides, at three and nine (with the wheel as a clock) or slightly above or below that height; your palms should be cupping the outside of the rim, thumbs inside, and your grip should not be tighter than required to keep the wheel under your control.