DIY: WRX carpet and V4 seats

[Dnut]

Not the most complicated DIY in the world, but it seems like no one has posted in here in a couple of weeks and I'm just trying to keep this section alive... :)

Note: This was all installed in a sedan, so your experience with fitment will probably vary with a coupe.

DISCLAIMER: Modifying your vehicle can be potentially dangerous (Although if you hurt yourself installing interior parts I'm not sure what to tell you) and I'm not responsible for anything you damage while attempting this.
Alright, on to the good stuff.

Here's what I started with:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0163.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0165.jpg

Not too bad from a couple of feet away, but if you get closer you notice all of the lovely stains the previous owner left and the holes in the carpet:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0170.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0169.jpg

Definitely in need of a clean up.

And here's a picture of the finished product for inspiration:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0290.jpg

These seats are awesome by the way. Night and day in terms of support compared to the stock seats. Definitely good for about 20 HP as well. :lol:

On to the install...

Tools needed:
- Staple gun
- 3/8 ratchet
- 14mm socket
- 12 mm socket
- flathead screwdriver
- philips screwdriver
- Trim removal tool
- carpet knife
- Glue
- little bags for hardware
- trash bag (For all of the crap you're going to find under your seats)

[Dnut]

Front seats

Step 1

Remove floor mats if you have them:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0166.jpg

By the way, these Weathertech floor liners are awesome. 02-07 fitment, but they fit our floorpan pretty well, and they're much better than the OEM all-weather mats for coverage.

Step 2

Slide driver's seat all the way forward:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0171.jpg

Step 3

Remove bolt covers from rear bolts, should pop off easily using the flathead screwdriver:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0175.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0173.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0176.jpg

Step 4

Remove bolts with 14mm socket:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0177.jpg

By the way, I always use little sandwich bags to keep my bolts organized. Always a good idea so that you don't end up with missing bolts down the line.

Step 5

Slide seat all the way back, remove front two bolts with a 12mm socket. Bag the bolts so they're not lost.

Two bolts (Don't mind the leaves and dirt; there's a reason this carpet is being removed):

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0178.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0179.jpg

Step 6

Fold seat forward and carefully remove the seat so that you don't ding a door panel:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0181.jpg


Step 6.1 :

Remove the leaves and roughly $1.27 in loose change that you find under the seat:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0182.jpg

[Dnut]

Step 7

Repeat for passenger seat, pick up DVD and misc from under passenger seat (Man, I'm a slob):

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0185.jpg

Seats are out:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0186.jpg


Rear seat

Step 8

There's two bolts holding the rear seat bottom on. Remove them with a 12mm socket:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0187.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0190.jpg


Step 9

Lift up the rear seat and push the middle of the seat in and down towards the trunk:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0191.jpg

There's a hook holding the seat on, which you can see here (Might make it easier to visualize how you need to push:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0192.jpg

The seat bottom is out:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0193.jpg


Step 10

There's three bolts holding the top of the rear seat (One on each side near the doors and one under the hook shown in step 9), remove them with a 12mm:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0194.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0198.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0195.jpg

[Dnut]

Step 11

Push seat up towards roof, remove:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0199.jpg


Step 11.1

Pick up more change and gold chain left behind by previous owner that fall out from behind seat. Get excited over the realization that this install is slowly paying for itself:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0197.jpg

Ok, the seats are out! On to removing the console...







Step 12

Open lid of console, remove change, remove two screws with philips screwdriver:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0200.jpg

Step 13

Pop off screw covers from ebrake cover, remove two more philips screws (I had one missing for some reason):

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0201.jpg


Step 14

Pull ebrake lever up, remove cover by pulling out and up from the shifter plate:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0203.jpg


Step 15

Remove screw from in front of shifter plate:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0202.jpg


Step 16

There's two more screws under the dash that you need to get to in order to remove the console, so carefully pull up on the shifter plate to pop it off:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0205.jpg


The screws in question:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0206.jpg


Step 17

Because I have a 4EAT... :loser:

:: Make sure you're on level ground and the ebrake is up ::

Put keys in ignition, turn to "on", step on brake, and put car in neutral; remove shifter plate:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0207.jpg

Step 18

Remove the final two screws from the console with a philips screwdriver:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0208.jpg

[Dnut]

Step 19

Remove console by pulling out and up:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0209.jpg


Console is out:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0210.jpg

On to removing the trim and old carpet...






Step 20

Starting at the rear driver's side door, remove the side door trim piece:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0211.jpg

There's three clips, two on the door jam and one by the rear seat; remove all three with a philips screwdriver:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0212.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0213.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0214.jpg


Removed:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0215.jpg

Step 21

Loosen the B pillar using a flathead. It's easiest to pop up the bottom first as there's two metal tabs on the floor, and then lifting/popping off the rest from around the door.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0216.jpg

[Dnut]

Step 22
Pop off driver's front door sill/kick panel.
It's 4 plastic clips in the door jam and two clips on either side of the A pillar.
1:


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0218.jpg

2:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0219.jpg

3:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0220.jpg

4:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0221.jpg

5 (Round clip):

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0222.jpg

6:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0226.jpg


The round clips by the A pillar are a little funky, requiring you to pop out the out round piece and then remove the inner clip. It's a little tight for a flathead screwdriver, so I used my trusty trim clip remover:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0223.jpg


Picture of the clip removed so you can see the inner and outer portion:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0224.jpg


Step 23

By the gas pedal there's two more big round clips holding on a trim piece. Remove these by unscrewing them. (Sorry, I didn't get any pictures of this)

Step 24

Looking at the back of the car again, there's three clips by the area where the back seats was. Remove these:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0232.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0233.jpg

[Dnut]

Step 25

Now it's time for the passenger side of the car. Pretty much the same as the driver's side:

1. Rear pass door cover:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0254.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0255.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0256.jpg

2. B pillar

3. Front pass door sill/kick panel:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0249.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0248.jpg



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0247.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0251.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0246.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0244.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0245.jpg


4. Two more of those large round trim covers towards the radio by the dash. (Again, I forgot to take pictures, sorry)

Alright, all the trim is out.
On to removing the carpet....

[Dnut]

Step 26

The carpet itself is held to the door sills by plastic clips (3 by each front door, 1 at each back door), so pop those open using a flathead screwdriver on both sides of the car.

Step 27

At the driver's front door:
Start pulling the carpet up, pulling over the trunk release:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0238.jpg


And pulling towards the middle of the car:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0241.jpg


Step 28

Continue to pull up the carpet from the car, keeping in mind that it might catch on a clip or two if you missed them.

Step 29

Now would be a good time to clean any dirt, gunk, or stuck padding from the floorpan. This would also be a good time to clean your interior a bit before reinstalling. Do so.


Carpet removed from the car:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0257.jpg


Old nasty carpet:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0261.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0262.jpg



New (To me at least) WRX carpet:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0263.jpg



On to the hard part: The install... :eek:





Now this is the part that kinda sucks.
The WRX carpet roughly fits the car, but there's a couple of points where it doesn't and you have to make due. I'd say that it's about 90-95% perfect, and I could have made it 100% with some extra work, but seeing as it's my daily driver and I was losing daylight, I wasn't too worried about the minor imperfections.

Anyways, on to the install:

Step 30

Put the carpet in the car and roughly fit it to the floorpan, installing it over the shifter

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0264.jpg


Step 31

Fit the carpet so that it fits the three holes in front of the rear seat; this is to make sure that it doesn't side around too much while you're fitting the rest of it to the car (covers are in place for the photos):

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0265.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0267.jpg

[Dnut]

Carpet with covers:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0268.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0269.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0270.jpg


Step 32

Notice that the clips on the carpet might be different than your old RS clips:

Old RS clips (large) vs new WRX clips (small):

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0277.jpg

This means that you're going to have to pull the old clips off the RS carpet and install them on the new carpet. A flathead is good for prying the clips off each carpet:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0273.jpg

We'll install these clips later...

Step 33
Now that the carpet is anchored in the back using those covers from step 31, you can fit the carpet a little better to the car.
For some reason the hole cut out for the trunk release is further up on the carpet and larger, so you're going to have to do some cutting.
First, cut a small slit towards the back right of the carpet where the trunk release is so it will be easier to stuff that part of the carpet under the release cover:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0279.jpg

Now the carpet can be fit under the release, but there's still a gaping hole:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0280.jpg
This can be fixed by cutting out a section from the old carpet (Which I did as they were both grey), or cutting out a section from the new carpet which won't be seen, such as by the shifter where the console will cover it, and then gluing/stapling that to the new carpet.
I stapled mine in place as I didn't have glue that would stick carpet to carpet (Not 100% happy with how it looks, but it's good in the meantime until I fix it):
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0285.jpg

Step 34
Now that the carpet is pretty much were you want it (If not, keep adjusting, but there's not much to it), it's time to staple the RS clips to the carpet.
Clip the RS clips to their appropriate places on the door sills, and stretch the carpet to cover them. Mark this place, remove the clips, and staple the clips to the carpet.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0281.jpg

Reattach the clips to the clips on the door sills.

Step 35
Reattach all of the clips and door trim that you removed previously, making sure that the carpet fits under this (Sorry that I didn't get pictures of this, but I was in a hurry to get it all done at this point)

Step 36
Reinstall the console in the reverse order of uninstall (Again, sorry about the lack of pictures for this step)

[Dnut]

Step 37
The new carpet didn't come with a heelpad, so I glued the old one in place:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0283.jpg

There are holes cut in the carpet that match up with bolts on my firewall, so it looks like I'd be able to buy a solid heelpad and bolt it up at a later date. I'm going to look into that.

Alright, you're done with the carpet:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0284.jpg

It might be because I have a sedan, but I didn't really have too many problems with the install besides putting on the new clips and fitting around the trunk release. There's a couple of areas where it doesn't 100% fit, but it's decent for a non-show car.
Here's the worst spot, which is by the rear passenger door:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0286.jpg
You can see it sticking up a bit as it was a little too short there.


That's the hardest part done, now on to the part you've been waiting for, the seats...






Seeing as these are Ver 4 seats, they're meant for the car and as a result are wicked easy to install.
So easy that I forgot to take pictures of the install! :screwy:
Step 38
Remember how you removed the top of the back seat? Do the reverse, taking the top of the back seat and sliding it down over the three hooks by the rear shelf.
Next, bolt down the seat using the three 12mm bolts that you saved. You did save them, right?

Step 39
Slide the seat bottom back under the hook (This time going down, up, and back to the front), and then bolt the seat down using the two 12mm bolts.


Picture of the rear seat installed (I dunno why the fabric in the middle wrinkles so easily, but it smooths out):
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0287.jpg

Step 40
Carefully put the new seats in the car one at a time (You don't want to scratch anything with the seat rail now that you're almost done, right?) and bolt those down using the 14mm bolts, two in the front and two in the back.
It's a little easier to do if you thread each of the bolts in loosely and then tighten once they're all in.

Passenger seat in:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0288.jpg

Driver's seat in:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0289.jpg

And...there you go! You're done!

Now I just need to wash my car:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/SSninja/V4%20seat%20install/DSC_0292.jpg

...I wash it once a week, but it still looks like this in the winter :banghead:

I'd say that this was pretty easy to do for the most part, with the most difficult thing being installing the carpet.
It took me about 3 hours to do, including taking the time to take pictures and notes for this write-up. Definitely manageable in an afternoon.

[GC4-RS]

i've done the seat swap (L to RS) but i havent done my stock carpet yet, and i need to :lol: looking forward to the carpet writeup :up:

*subscribed

[Dnut]

Alright, that should be it!


That limit of 10 pics per post kinda killed it a bit as I was hoping to do one post per task (ex. taking out the old carpet) like I did on rs25, but hopefully it's still readable.

[GC4-RS]

effin work comps have no memory!!! :banghead:

i'll have to check it out l8tr @ home :palm:

[apkarian100]

sweet writeup!

[Jaketips42]

I was just about to find out if an 03 wrx's carpet will work. Thanks, looks like I am doing that!

[Seraphinwolf]

I was just about to find out if an 03 wrx's carpet will work. Thanks, looks like I am doing that!
Yeah most RS swapers do the whole everything so yeah it fits fine.
Nice write up. Enjoy those V4's! I love mine even if I can't drive my car with them in it right now. My car's stripped out inside aside form teh dash which is next when i get to it. Oh and Wagons are way easier to deal with. OBS FTW!
-Gaddis

[kgj996]

Nice write up!

[GC4-RS]

^+1, and i was actually able to see all the pics today :lol:

[Jaketips42]

+2 on this thread. I did it successfully and looks great. My car doesn't smell like piss anymore!

[Suby25]

Good write up! Done both of these mods before, not too bad, just a lot of clips and bolts to undo.

[Bu11dogg2]

looks like a new car inside!

[Dnut]

Thanks guys! I was hoping that the writeup would help anyone who had questions about swapping in a new carpet and/or seats.

I haven’t been online here in a little while and was wondering why all of my photos looked a little off; I realized that they’re resized by the messageboard and that they’re full-size when you click on them. That new?

[Bu11dogg2]

yes it is :)


I got tired of the 1028x968 monster pics skewing the pages :lol: