Hi all,

Been thinking of removing unnecessary items to save weight - does anyone know how much items like the rear seats (cloth trim) and spare wheel + kit weigh? Will prob go down the tyre weld route.

Also was wondering if there is an internal strut brace for the fabias?

Thanks in advance

back seats (the part you lean back on) weigh a lot. The two probably weigh 25kg together, maybe more. The bits you sit on weigh nothing in comparison.

You can go silly. I have gone fairly silly without compromising too much

1 - Battery moved to spare wheel well.

2 - I carry a space saver only loose (and tools in spare wheel well all the time - There's a practical limit really )

3 - Carbon fibre bonnet has saved a lot at front end

4 - A/C died so I removed pump, A/C condensor and all pipework back to bulkhead. Another 20kg odd saved.

5 - single mass flywheel has saved a few KG over dual mass equivalent

6 - Back seats are in the shed along with all the seatbelts

Rear seats may be 10-15kg tops really and maybe same again for the spare wheel. Not sure exactly though.

There is an internal strut brace. Forge make one so does a member on here.

Thanks all, could presumably carpet out the rear area and with a strut brace I think it'd look pretty cool

Have you noticed any chance in the balance of the car Devonutopia? I'd imagine its quite a bit noisier now too :-/

Thanks all, could presumably carpet out the rear area and with a strut brace I think it'd look pretty cool

Have you noticed any chance in the balance of the car Devonutopia? I'd imagine its quite a bit noisier now too :-/

With what I have done to the exhaust there is no escaping the noise, you EMBRACE the noise.

I'm either very weak as I thought lifting both seat rears up with one hand felt comparable to lifting a bag of cement with one hand. Might be slightly out but I think 10kg is a little on the low side. I'm sure someone weighed their interior when removing it

I don't think it's just you...I tried moving them once and they're pretty hefty....but then maybe im a weakling too....

Haha my bad, I tapped the wrong button lol

25kg seems more realistic

The whole of the back of the back of the backs seats is steel covered by material, and is braced for strength IIRC. I never weighed the two bits but 25kg doesn't seem to far out.

dont keep it standard inside as whats the point its a fabia a family car not reallt a rally car if thats what u want buy a cheeap imprexa

Need MPG Deano

This is how far I went with my fabia

Lightweight rims saved a few kgs too.

I think i went too far with the weight saving?

As some have said seats are very heavy items indeed. look to swap the fronts for light weight buckets. The steering column is very heavy due yo the rake adjustment etc if your going serious Id look into making a fixed item to save a heap load. underlay and carpets throughout are very heavy also so again if your serious remove it all

Ah yes, I forgot I removed my carpet and underlay for a clean, and just put back the carpet, not the underlay.

dont keep it standard inside as whats the point its a fabia a family car not reallt a rally car if thats what u want buy a cheeap imprexa

Supermini is a family car & mid sized car is the one to strip out? Surely it depends what everyone wants to do with thier car?

The fabia is noticeably lighter without rear seats. Feels more nimble.

The fabia is noticeably lighter without rear seats. Feels more nimble.

Amen. Over the bump at the top of Avon Rise and the back end goes very light under heavy braking before Quarry

The fabia is noticeably lighter without rear seats. Feels more nimble.

It does feel more nimble, but I've found out on track it upsets the balance of the car, and not in a good way unfortunately. I tend to leave mine in now, you can easily gain more time by your driving rather than weight loss.

Shame as it sounds awesome without the rear seats in! Maybe I should do as that muppet did and gain myself a few hp by folding my seats down?!....

I'm inclined to move the battery to the boot, dump the rear seats and dump the ac kit from the engine, hopefully keeping the balance good but losing a fair cunk of weight.

That's my thinking too, best chat to Jason about this!

Its all a big balancing act

I like to think I have got my removal / redistribution quantity about right, but I do sure still "suffer" (can be advantageous at times ) from the light rear end under heavy braking. Sometimes it can be controlled to point the car into a corner, but I definitely prefer to go a little bit slower and retain traction at all times, at all corners. Guess thats the advanced driving training coming through - wanting a more balanced car at all times.

Washer bottle to the boot too!

Washer bottle to the boot too!

How do u do that?

Use the existing washer pipe lines backwards?

Has this been done? And where was the bottle mounted?

Haven't done it as of yet..

Doing the battery and bottle at the same time.

Buying a universal bottle from eBay or the likes.. And running the tubing to the front and taking a feed from wherever for the pump.

Did it in a fiesta track car I had a while ago, fairly easy to sort out!

I like these suggestions thing is I need the car for longish commutes (circa 250 miles some days). Am really looking to lighten it without compromising too much comfort in the process. I have no need for the back seats as I never pick anyone up so that's an easy win. I don't really wanna lose my aircon so could I get a lightweight bonnet instead? Would ideally be looking for a colour as stock as possible that's the only thing.

Does anyone know of some super lightweight wheels that look standard ish??

Does anyone know of some super lightweight wheels that look standard ish??

Don't exist really. I use 17" OZ Superleggeras as they are among the lightest wheels around given they are also 8J wide. Weird thing is I use these on the road, and my track wheels are actually a little bit heavier (Team Dynamics Pro Race 2)

Backbox weighs a fair bit also.

If you haven't upgraded it/have plans to then replacing it with a straight through pipe would save you 15kgs