Outer Belt Assembly RH & LH (Outback Model)

Disconnect the ground cable from battery and wait for at least 60 seconds before starting work.
CAUTION: The airbag system is fitted with a backup power supply. After disconnecting the battery ground cable, the airbag may operate if you do not wait for 60 seconds before starting the service of airbag system.
Remove the rear seat cushion.
1. Pull up the seat cushion and release the hook.
  CAUTION: If the hook is disconnected from the vehicle body, replace the hook with the new part to prevent the decline of the fixed force of the seat.
  
  Fig 1: Identifying Rear Seat Cushion
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  
  Fig 2: Pulling Up To Seat Cushion
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
2. Remove the hook (A) by pushing it back while lifting the front side of the seat cushion, and remove the seat cushion.
  
  Fig 3: Removing Seat Cushion
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Release the clips and claws, and then remove the side sill cover - rear INN. (On the side where seat belt assembly is removed)
CAUTION: Do not pull with excessive force. Doing so may damage the claws of the side sill cover INN.

Fig 4: Identifying Rear Inner Side Sill Cover Mounting Claws
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
NOTE:
To release the claws of the side sill cover INN, the following steps are recommended.
1. Take out the weather strip from under the side sill cover INN.
2. Turn over the floor mat and release the claw (C-C and D-D) by accessing from behind the side sill cover INN.
Remove the headrest.
Remove the backrest assembly RH.
1. Remove the hinge bolts at the front of the backrest assembly RH.
  
  Fig 5: Locating Backrest Assembly RH Front Hinge Bolts
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
2. Tilt the backrest forward, and then turn over the backrest backside mat.
  
  Fig 6: Removing Backrest Backside Mat
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
3. Remove the clips, and remove the rear floor mat - front.
  
  Fig 7: Removing Rear Floor Mat (Front)
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
4. Remove the nuts at the rear of backrest hinge.
  
  Fig 8: Locating Backrest Hinge Rear Nuts
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
5. Disconnect the backrest cable and reclining cable.
  
  Fig 9: Identifying Backrest Cable And Reclining Cable
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  
  NOTE: The backrests cannot be detached while pin positions of the hinge assembly and backrests are not aligned.
6. Remove the backrest assembly RH from the hinge assembly RH.
  
  Fig 10: Removing Backrest Assembly RH From Hinge Assembly RH
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  
  NOTE: The backrests cannot be detached while pin positions of the hinge assembly and backrests are not aligned.
7. Take out the part outside the vehicle so that the body is not damaged by the hinges.
Remove the bolts, and remove the backrest side pad assembly RH.

Fig 11: Locating Backrest Side Pad Assembly RH Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the clips, and remove the luggage floor box and rear floor edge cover.

Fig 12: Identifying Luggage Floor Box And Rear Floor Edge Cover Mounting Clips
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the rear quarter trim LWR. (On the side where seat belt assembly is removed)
1. Remove the caps, screws, and bolts. (A), (C)
2. Take out the hook and remove the screw inside. (B)
3. Remove the clips, and remove the rear quarter trim LWR.
  
  Fig 13: Identifying Rear Quarter Trim LWR With Clips, Caps, Screws And Bolts
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the outer seat belt assembly.
1. Remove the seat belt lower anchor bolt.
2. Open the cap and remove the bolt to remove the seat belt anchor.
3. Remove the bolts, and remove the seat belt retractor assembly.
  
  Fig 14: Locating Seat Belt Retractor Bolts
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.