On this install, we used to oem X3 seats, so yes you can absolutely use a factory seat, but this will vary depending on the make and model. Ultimately, you'll be able to run these seats on any vehicle with enough effort. All things considered, using the 5th point (the in-between leg strap) is optional based on what you want. The owner of this X3 that we did the video on didn't want it, so we decided not to use it. If you wanted to use the fifth strap, you would just need to mount it somewhere in the middle of the seat on the floor or connected to that cross bar that the front of the seat is bolted to.
There is only so much room in the area to make a supporting brace for the steering rack without doing something like Sandcrafts design. We made a brace with an unpatented design to bring an affordable option to the market. Thanks for your comment.
We must've just clipped it out as it wasn't too climatic. Once you remove the ball joint bolt, it should easily pull up out of the knuckle. If it doesn't, try lightly encouraging it with a dead-blow. It shouldn't be too seized in there.
