HOW TO: Fix your loose wobbling seat (05 LGT UnLTD)

I have noticed since I owned my car that the seat never felt fully secure, like it wobbled forward and backwards a little. It didn't make much of a sound, but it felt 'loose.' I went to fix my seat heater wire when I decided to kill two birds with one stone. Since my seat was out anyways, I looked under the seat and could physically move the frame while the seat was secured. It had a good 1/4" of physical play in it that I have hated since I owned the car. I took an educated guess as to which bolt was causing problems, and unbolted it. Turns out my guess hit the nail on the head on my first try. Here is my walkthrough:

 

The bolt must be accessed behind the trim panel on the left sde of the seat. It is approximately located in this position:

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a332/jrroszko/2005%20Legacy%20GT/FSM%20Pictures/IMG00007-20100125-1309.jpg

 

Now unbolt the seat height lever (pop out the center cap with a small flathead screwdriver and unbolt the 14mm bolt in the center) and pull here on the plastic (picture was taken with lever still on):

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a332/jrroszko/2005%20Legacy%20GT/FSM%20Pictures/IMG00008-20100125-1309.jpg

 

Once you pop this front section (no need to unpop the entire piece), you will see this bolt along with the pop rivet near the front of the seat:

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a332/jrroszko/2005%20Legacy%20GT/FSM%20Pictures/2010-01-10190516.jpg

 

This bolt is the culprit!!! When I went to loosen this bolt, the thread on the bolt stripped out. This bolt was never fully secured from the factory on my car, if not cross threaded. Here are some pictures of the bolt after I took it out (take note of the completely destroyed threads):

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a332/jrroszko/2005%20Legacy%20GT/FSM%20Pictures/IMG00001-20100115-2101.jpg

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a332/jrroszko/2005%20Legacy%20GT/FSM%20Pictures/IMG00002-20100115-2101.jpg

 

Here is the bolt location from under the seat:

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a332/jrroszko/2005%20Legacy%20GT/FSM%20Pictures/2010-01-10190529.jpg

 

I simply replaced this bolt with another bolt I had in a nuts&bolts box (new bolt is already in on the last picture). Most of you may not have that luxury, so just take the bolt with you to a hardware store and find the right thread/pitch. My guess would be an M8x1.25x25. After I put the new bolt in and fully tightened it, I couldnt get the seat frame to even budge. Hopefully this helps out a few owners with the driver's seat flaws. I also added a post to the seat heater thread going in to more detail if anyone is interested in making their seat perfect once again.

I notice my passenger seat wobbling at highway speeds. Nice guide.

Not positive if it will work on the passenger seat for the same bolt, but please post up if it does.

Not positive if it will work on the passenger seat for the same bolt, but please post up if it does.

 

Yes please let us know...I have messed and messed with the passenger seat and cant figure out where te rattle comes from. It drives me NUTS! I can quiet it a bit down by leaving the seat slid a few inches forward from its farthest back location, but it's still there a bit. Plus, my OCD doesn't like that seat sitting farther forward than mine..... Ill have to tear into the passenger side on friday.