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Old 11-07-2000, 02:54 PM   #1
Imprez Me
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Location: Illadel
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MY00 RS MY04 RX-8
BRP, and Ricy Yellow

Thumbs up DIY: rear fold down seats.

if your like me and u snowboard/ski, you hate people that ruin the perfect looking Impreza with a ski rack. well the Impreza doesn't have a rear fold down seat until now. you can do it yourself just by removing some bolts. its very simple.
1. remove the bottom 2 bolts that hold the seat bottom to the car.
2. after u take the seat bottom out of the car, then u will see 3 more bolts. one on the far left, one in the middle, and one on the far right. remove them.
3. to remove the seat back, u must pull up on the top of the seat back because it is held on by 3 hooks.
4. after the seat back is removed out of the car u will see 2 layers. one is a rubber on one side, and a sort of insullation on the other. the other layer is a plastic backing. what i did is i used a spray adhesive to glue the 2 layers together, then glued the layers to the foam seat backing. it seamed to hold together nicely.
5. after i let the glue dry i then put the seat back, back into the car, but i did not put the 3 bottom bolts back in. i just used the 3 top hooks to hold it up.
6. finally put the bottom back in, and then put the 2 bolts back in. make sure u pull the seatbelts through.
ITS DONE
to fold the seat down all u have to do is lift the seat back off the 3 hooks and it comes down.
all in all it took about an hour for this whole mod.(to let the glue dry and stuff)

now u can fit your snowboard/skis inside the car without messin up the perfect exterior look with a ski rack.

sorry to say i threw out the adhesive i used but im sure u can find some that would work.

just want to say thanks to Ridin Low for the help!!

[This message has been edited by Imprez Me (edited November 07, 2000).]
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Old 11-07-2000, 02:58 PM   #2
RidinLow
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Post

I did the same thing except I tossed the insulation blanket & just ziptied the corrugated plastic to the back.

Edit: Oh yeah... you're welcome!

[This message has been edited by RidinLow (edited November 07, 2000).]
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Old 11-07-2000, 03:01 PM   #3
Imprez Me
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i wanted to keep the insullation because the trunk gets pretty cold and i didn't want it to come through in the winter.

oh yeah, i emailed you on how to remove the seat yesterday. thanks again.
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Old 11-07-2000, 03:09 PM   #4
cakagan
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Black

Wink

I do like to ski and board, but I'm nothing like you...

-Chris
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Old 11-07-2000, 05:52 PM   #5
omahasubaru
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2002 Legacy

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Anyone with this process documented with Pics, or do I have to do this and take pics??

Also does it rattle or slide around at all or alot??

Thanks - [email protected]
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Old 11-07-2000, 07:06 PM   #6
RidinLow
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There's no real need for pics, it's all quite simple once you look at it.

Foam on metal doesn't rattle much.
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Old 11-07-2000, 07:09 PM   #7
wistful
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i just removed the whole darn thing and keep it in my dorm room. *shrug* At least peeps can't bum rides off of me anymore. hehe.

Don
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Old 11-07-2000, 07:09 PM   #8
wistful
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i just removed the whole darn thing and keep it in my dorm room. *shrug* At least peeps can't bum rides off of me anymore. hehe.

Don
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Old 11-10-2000, 05:37 PM   #9
kevinsUBARU
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so whats wrong with a Thule rack with a 6 pair ski holder, fork mount bike carrier, and a wind fairing!?!?
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Old 11-10-2000, 09:23 PM   #10
JahWind
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Nothing wrong, I have a Yakima rack and fairing and 2 bike carrier. I just can't fit everything on the roof. I also like the security of having my windsurfing gear inside.

JahWind
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Old 11-11-2000, 10:38 PM   #11
Geb Firneisz
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We have to work with what we've got, and thats better than nothing!!
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Old 11-11-2000, 11:02 PM   #12
JahWind
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I finished my Rear Seat mod. Check it out.

<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1457078&a=12282449&p=44814991&Sequence=0&re s=high" border=0>

<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1457078&a=12282449&p=44814992&Sequence=0&re s=high" border=0>

<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1457078&a=12282449&p=44814996&Sequence=0&re s=high" border=0>

<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1457078&a=12282449&p=44814998&Sequence=0&re s=high" border=0>

<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1457078&a=12282449&p=44817383&Sequence=0&re s=high" border=0>

The upper part of the back seat is out of the car. A 21"Wx40"Lx.25"H plywood sheet replaces the seat back. It is held in place by 3 hinges. The plywood is covered on both sides with grey carpet runner with rubber backing which matches the trunk carpet, and I then covered the seat back side with a black fabric to match the interior. I also covered exposed areas of the body pan with black fabric which adds to the appearance especially when the seat is down. I just cut notches where 3 hooks are that the seat back would hang on, and I wedge a large washer on the center hook to keep it in an upright position. It is not super comfortable but passengers could still use the back seats if necessary and the seatbelts are still functional. It would unbolt easily by removing 3 bolts. It basically rests on the bottom part of the seat when folded down which keeps it pretty much level with the trunk.

JahWind



[This message has been edited by JahWind (edited March 25, 2001).]
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Old 04-02-2001, 07:11 PM   #13
the spacecowboy
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jahwind

how long did it take to make this...

how much did it take..

thanks,
space
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Old 04-02-2001, 10:38 PM   #14
JahWind
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the spacecowboy,

It probably takes 2-3 hours maybe, if you have all the materials on hand.

Plywood-$6.00
Hinges-$6.00
Black Fabric-$6.00
Carpet Runner-3.00 per 1'x3'
Screws-$2.00

With a Jigsaw it would be nice and quick.

JahWind
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Old 04-03-2001, 08:11 AM   #15
nikkicalves
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I would love to have rear fold down seats, but you have to remember that they did this for a reason. The seats in place give the car more rigidity and stability. Even the new WRX is the same. It has a fold down "arm rest" By taking them out, You are sacrifising the cars integrity/strength. You might not notice it but it will when you window seals don't line up.

Nick.
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Old 04-03-2001, 08:32 AM   #16
Herbie
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Quote:
I would love to have rear fold down seats, but you have to remember that they did this for a reason
Yah, but the reason was cost reduction, not structural rigidity. That's why overseas models still get the fold down seats. The fold-down seats were eliminated when Subaru went to an All-AWD lineup, the same time as the trunk light, Jesus-handles, etc.

Take the time to pull out the four bolts, you'll realize that the "structure" of the seats is entirely molded foam. There's a thin metal "backstrap" to help with something to lean against, but its too flimsy to provide any added structural strength.

The strength of the body shell comes from the "ring" formed by the lower floor pan, C-pillars, and cross-tube just under the rear window.
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Old 04-03-2001, 08:35 AM   #17
skidplatez
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nikkicalves-

Please don't say such stupid things until you have some experience with what you are talking about!
The rear seat back adds absolutely NOTHING to lateral rigidity. If you have ever had it out you would know this it is a 4 pound piece of soft foam there is no earthly way this could add rigidity to anything!!!
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Old 04-03-2001, 08:52 AM   #18
subieboy
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sweet I was just about to ask if there was a mod for this, cuz I've always wanted a folding rear seat so I can open up my trunk cuz of the subs....
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Old 04-04-2001, 12:14 AM   #19
JahWind
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Cool

If anyone is interested in buying my seat mod let me know (Just the 1 piece in photo's above). I now have a WRX so I don't need it anymore. I can find out how much shipping is. Approx. $20.00 plus shipping.

JahWind
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Old 05-14-2001, 10:08 PM   #20
Faraz
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Do they speak English in What?

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still selling the seat back?
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Old 05-14-2001, 11:34 PM   #21
gypsymoth
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If the over-sea has the fold-down rear seats, is it possible to install them in the US model? Has anyone imported them?
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Old 05-17-2001, 03:46 PM   #22
Rmak
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Aspen White

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Does removing that thin metal "backstrap"
in back of the seat safe? (look in jahwind's pics)
if i took it out would the person sitting back there fall thru into the trunk ? =]

thanks
Rob

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Old 05-17-2001, 06:31 PM   #23
Rmak
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Anyone??

bump

rob
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Old 05-17-2001, 06:33 PM   #24
Andrew
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rob, im prettys ure that bar is so for when you slam on your brakes or get in an accident so that stuff in the back wont fly through and kill the passangers or whateveer. i could be wrong though.
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Old 05-17-2001, 07:33 PM   #25
Rmak
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anyone else? is it safe to remove it....

rob
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