Front Seat: Assembly

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2012 Subaru Outback and 2012 Subaru Legacy. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

CAUTION:

The slide rail mounting bolts for the manual seat are coated with the thread lock material. Therefore, do not reuse the removed bolts. Always use new bolts during assembly.

Fig 1: Identifying Slide Rail Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Do not confuse the harness routing of the side airbag and inner seat belt etc. Assembling with harnesses improperly routed may cause the harness to get caught and short out.
If the flat mat hood of backrest frame assembly is deformed or detached, replace it with a new hook.

Fig 2: Locating Mat Hood Of Backrest Frame Assembly
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Make sure that the side airbag module assembly is installed as shown in the figure.

Fig 3: Identifying Side Airbag Guide Cloth, Backrest Cover, Side Airbag Module Assy And Side Airbag Tape
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

Fig 4: Identifying Side Airbag Module Components

Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

When the backrest cover is not installed securely, the side airbag module may not be deployed properly, therefore keep strictly to the following procedure.

When replacing the side airbag assembly with new one, be sure to attach the side airbag tape.
Be careful not to stain or damage the backrest cover during assembly.
Do not reuse hog rings and S hooks.
Secure the hog ring using hog ring pliers.
Install the hog rings to the specified points securely and make sure that no wrinkle or twisting on backrest cover.

Make sure that there is no foreign matter on side airbag module.
Assemble the seat cover.
1. Adjust so that the left and right clearances between wire and seat pad become equal, and mark the seat pad.
  
  Fig 5: Identifying Left And Right Clearances Between Wire And Seat Pad
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
2. Mark the center of the wire on the pad side to which the hog ring is attached.
  
  Fig 6: Marking The Center Of The Wire On The Pad Side
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
3. Insert the wire into the seat cover, and align the wire with the position marked in Step 1).
  
  Fig 7: Inserting The Wire Into The Seat Cover
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
4. Mark the wire on the seat cover side according to the markings on the seat pad.
  
  Fig 8: Marking The Wire On The Seat Cover Side
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
5. Perform Steps 1) - 4) to all sections to which the hog rings are attached.
6. Make sure that all hog rings (A) are attached securely.
  
  Fig 9: Identifying Hog Rings
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Assemble remaining parts in the reverse order of removal.
NOTE:
- When installing the inner seat belt assembly, follow the procedures described in the seat belt section. Refer to INSTALLATION
- Install the backrest assembly and seat cushion assembly in the following procedure.
  1. Temporarily tighten the four reclining hinge bolts.
  2. Place the backrest in the most upright position.
  3. Tighten the reclining hinge bolts in order from (1) to (4) two or three times, until they reach the specified torque.
    
    Fig 10: Reclining Hinge Bolts Tightening Sequence
    Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    
    Tightening torque: Refer to , FRONT SEAT , COMPONENT, General Description.
If any wrinkles are found after the assembly of the seat cover, finish the seat cover with iron.
1. Place the wet towel on wrinkles.
  
  Fig 11: Placing Wet Towel On Wrinkles
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
2. Touch up with warm iron.
  CAUTION: Keep moving the iron, otherwise the seat cover surface can be damaged.
  
  NOTE: This method is available for genuine leather, synthetic leather, cloth, etc.
  
  Fig 12: Touching Up With Warm Iron
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Install the seat assembly.
CAUTION:
- The seat mounting bolts differ between the front mounting points and the rear mounting points. Make sure that you are using correct bolts at correct positions.
- Tighten the slide rail installing bolt gradually in several steps to the specified torque in the order as shown in the figure.
  
  Fig 13: Slide Rail Installing Bolts Tightening Sequence
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
- Front (bolt A): Washer diameter 22 mm (0.87 in)
- Rear (bolt B): Washer diameter 26 mm (1.02 in)

Tightening torque: 53 N.m (5.4 kgf-m, 39.1 ft-lb)