To mount a sim racing seat in 2026 you need three things: a seat with a mounting pattern that matches your rig, the right brackets for that pattern, and usually a seat slider to move the seat forward and back. Side mounted bucket seats bolt to side brackets. Bottom mounted seats bolt straight onto a slider or a flat plate. Check the pattern before you order, and the build takes less than an hour.
Many first time buyers expect the seat to drop straight onto the cockpit. In reality the seat, the brackets and the slider are often three separate products. This guide shows which parts you need, why they matter and how to choose them.
Side mount or bottom mount: what is the difference?
The way your seat attaches decides which extra parts you buy.
A side mounted seat has threaded points on the left and right of the shell. Two steel brackets hold it from the sides, like in a real race car. A bottom mounted seat has a bolt pattern underneath the seat base. It sits on a slider or a plate and bolts down from below. Neither method is better by default. What matters is that the brackets carry the seat firmly, because every brake press pushes your body back into the shell.
Why the bolt pattern matters
A bolt pattern is the distance between the mounting holes, measured in millimetres. If the pattern does not match your slider or plate, the seat simply does not fit. Our guide on which mounting hole spacing a sim racing seat needs explains the most common sizes.
Which parts do you need for a side mounted seat?
A side mounted bucket seat needs a pair of side brackets, and often a slider under those brackets.
The SIMGASM Atlas seats are a good example. Both the Atlas GT and the Atlas Formula use side mounting. The separately sold SIMGASM Seat Bracket Set connects the seat to the cockpit and lets you set the seat height and the seat angle. The brackets are made of 4 mm steel, so they keep the seat calm under heavy braking. The set is designed for the Atlas range but also supports many side mounted bucket seats from other major brands.
SIMGASM | Seat bracket set - Black
Height and angle in practice
Brackets with several holes let you tilt the seat back a few degrees or lift it a little. In a GT setup you sit more upright. In a Formula setup you sit lower and lie back further. Take a look at how high a sim racing seat should sit in your rig before you tighten the last bolt.
Do you need a seat slider?
A slider is the part that moves your seat forward and back, like the rail in a road car.
Without a slider, you move the whole seat along the profile slots every time someone else drives. With a slider you pull a lever and slide into place in seconds. The SIMGASM Dual Locking Seat Slider Set is made for sim racing cockpits. It has four integrated welded nuts, so you do not fight with loose nuts in a narrow rail. Its reinforced build and dual locking system keep both rails locked under heavy braking. It also keeps universal seat mounting options, so many third party seats fit too.
SIMGASM | Dual locking seat slider set - Black
When can you skip the slider?
If only one person drives the rig and you never change shoes or posture, a fixed position works. Most households share the rig, though, so a slider pays off quickly. Read more in what seat sliders do in a rig.
How do bottom mounted seats fit?
Bottom mounting is the quickest route when the seat already has a bolt pattern underneath.
The SIMGASM Core Bucket Racing Seat has an integrated 360 x 385 mm bolt pattern underneath, designed for bottom mounting. For fore and aft adjustment you combine it with the SIMGASM Dual Locking Seat Slider Set. The Core Recline Seat has a 193 x 193 mm pattern underneath, which fits almost all standard office chair mechanisms. That is a different job from a cockpit mount, so check the product page for how it fits your rig. All of these seats live in the SIMGASM seat range.
SIMGASM | Atlas Sim Racing Seat Formula - Black
What else is worth planning before you mount?
A few small extras are much easier to fit before the seat goes in.
The Atlas shell has a predefined bass shaker mounting pattern, plus an extra mounting point for accessories such as a cup holder or headset holder. Plan your cables now, so they do not get trapped under the slider. And once the seat is in, keep it clean with our tips on how to clean and care for a sim racing seat.
Why does SIMGASM treat these small parts so seriously? Founder Johan Akkerman designed and led the development of the complete range, from the 3D model to the final inspection of materials. Before SIMGASM he worked at Trak Racer, where he was responsible for the design of the TRX seat. A great seat only feels great on solid brackets. That is why every SIMGASM product is tested as part of a complete simulator, not as a loose part.
Questions and answers about mounting a sim racing seat
Here are quick answers to the questions buyers ask most.
Does a SIMGASM cockpit include seat brackets or a slider?
No. The seat, the seat brackets and the seat slider are sold separately, so you combine exactly the parts your seat needs.
Which brackets fit the Atlas seats?
The Atlas GT and Atlas Formula use side mounting with the SIMGASM Seat Bracket Set, which also sets height and angle.
Does the SIMGASM slider fit other seats?
Yes. It keeps universal seat mounting options, so a wide range of universal and third party seats fit.
How long does mounting a seat take?
With the right parts, most drivers finish in under an hour. Leave extra time to fine tune height and angle.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
