Seat Lock Alternative Review!
#1
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Thread Starter
Seat Lock Alternative Review!
Ok so some of you may have seen this thread.
https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/909...k-alternative/
Now there was alot of talk about if they would would work or what not. Insted of waiting for pics to get posted I went and bought the 2 different ones that seem to be discussed as alternatives.
First off these will only replace the front bolts in the S seats. I know these are by no means full proof ways of stopping a thief and there is bound to be the discussion of seats getting slashed and whatever/ My thoughts are anything that slow down a thief is a good thing and has the chance of them being caught or leaving.
Gorilla Automotive 781 Flat Seat Cap Locks
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...00_i01_details
Average price is about $10 for a set of 4
McGard 77796 Center Cap and Wire Basket Locks
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...00_i00_details
Average price is about $20 for a set of 4
I ordered both from Amazon and they arriving in about a week or so. On to the info.
As you can see from the pics above the bolts are nearly the same size, shape, length etc. There are a few differences but nothing crazy.
From left to right you have the stock bolt, Gorrilla Bolt, and McGard Bolt.
As you can see the main differnce is the the bottom of the bolts which really didn;t make a difference when installing them
Gorilla is the Left McGard on the right
As you can see they are slightly different and something to note is that the tools are not interchangable.
Mcgard left Gorilla Right
Here is the main difference. The tool used to tighten/loosen the bolts. The McGard tool is metal but I found it harder to use however I did not feel like I was twisting it to hard when tightening the bolt. The Gorilla tool is plastic and you can use a 21mm Socket on it which was very nice but again I felt like it would break if I really cranked on it. I was still was able to tighten them just fine.
Gorilla Installed. Seats all the way in just fine and the head of the bolt is only slightly smaller than the oem washer.
McGard installed basically looks the same.
So all in all they are both great options if you are worried about your seats. Either one is a good option. I installed the McGard ones in my 05 and the gorilla ones on my buddies 06. Not sure about an AP1 but as long as the bolts are the same they should work. I hope this helps some people out and keeps some S2k seats safe!!
https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/909...k-alternative/
Now there was alot of talk about if they would would work or what not. Insted of waiting for pics to get posted I went and bought the 2 different ones that seem to be discussed as alternatives.
First off these will only replace the front bolts in the S seats. I know these are by no means full proof ways of stopping a thief and there is bound to be the discussion of seats getting slashed and whatever/ My thoughts are anything that slow down a thief is a good thing and has the chance of them being caught or leaving.
Gorilla Automotive 781 Flat Seat Cap Locks
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...00_i01_details
Average price is about $10 for a set of 4
McGard 77796 Center Cap and Wire Basket Locks
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...00_i00_details
Average price is about $20 for a set of 4
I ordered both from Amazon and they arriving in about a week or so. On to the info.
As you can see from the pics above the bolts are nearly the same size, shape, length etc. There are a few differences but nothing crazy.
From left to right you have the stock bolt, Gorrilla Bolt, and McGard Bolt.
As you can see the main differnce is the the bottom of the bolts which really didn;t make a difference when installing them
Gorilla is the Left McGard on the right
As you can see they are slightly different and something to note is that the tools are not interchangable.
Mcgard left Gorilla Right
Here is the main difference. The tool used to tighten/loosen the bolts. The McGard tool is metal but I found it harder to use however I did not feel like I was twisting it to hard when tightening the bolt. The Gorilla tool is plastic and you can use a 21mm Socket on it which was very nice but again I felt like it would break if I really cranked on it. I was still was able to tighten them just fine.
Gorilla Installed. Seats all the way in just fine and the head of the bolt is only slightly smaller than the oem washer.
McGard installed basically looks the same.
So all in all they are both great options if you are worried about your seats. Either one is a good option. I installed the McGard ones in my 05 and the gorilla ones on my buddies 06. Not sure about an AP1 but as long as the bolts are the same they should work. I hope this helps some people out and keeps some S2k seats safe!!
#2
Registered User
#4
#5
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Thread Starter
Like I said they are not an answer to everything. Clearly this is not an answer for "what if they steal my entire car?" Well then it doesn't really matter what you have in there. The entire interior could be welded together and that wouldn't do anything.
I used full proof since really there is no such thing as a 100% way of stopping a thief. If they want it that bad to bring a saw or plasma cutter or just steal the entire car it doesn't really matter what you have to prevent theft.
Let me repeatt The goal of these or anything like this is to slow a thief down or discourage them and make them leave. Yes they may have slashed your top and yest the may slash up your interior but I rather have to get the seats re wrapped and just replace the top insted of having the car totaled out because they stole the seats. Anyways I am happy with them and I feel safe that the bolt will hold in a crash.
I used full proof since really there is no such thing as a 100% way of stopping a thief. If they want it that bad to bring a saw or plasma cutter or just steal the entire car it doesn't really matter what you have to prevent theft.
Let me repeatt The goal of these or anything like this is to slow a thief down or discourage them and make them leave. Yes they may have slashed your top and yest the may slash up your interior but I rather have to get the seats re wrapped and just replace the top insted of having the car totaled out because they stole the seats. Anyways I am happy with them and I feel safe that the bolt will hold in a crash.
#6
Sooo. What happens if a seat theif just buys a set of each to get the keys?
Are there diff key patterns? If so how many?
I always wondered how difficult the keys would be to get for a theif. If there are only like 4 diff patterns, there isn't much stopping a theif from tracking down all 4 just to have.
I know kodokan or whatever makes you send proof of s2000 ownership but these seem like anyone can order them.
Are there diff key patterns? If so how many?
I always wondered how difficult the keys would be to get for a theif. If there are only like 4 diff patterns, there isn't much stopping a theif from tracking down all 4 just to have.
I know kodokan or whatever makes you send proof of s2000 ownership but these seem like anyone can order them.
#7
Site Moderator
Thread Starter
Not sure on that one. If I had some of Kodokan's locks I could test it. They are made by Mcgard and at least from the pics of his the head looks very similar to the ones I bought. The key did feel like it had to be put in a certain way for it to work but that could just be me fat fingering it and working in the dark. The bolt on the passanger seat in the middle was a PIA to tighten down on both because I couldn't see very well and it was hard to get both tools lined up.