2002-06 Subaru Baja Armrest Reupholstery Kit

Step 1. Begin by gently lifting the back side of the shift bezel to release the clips. Unscrew the knob and separate it from the boot by pulling upwards.

Step 2. Pull the bezel towards the rear of the car to slide out the pins located at the red arrows.

Step 3. Here is a bottom view of the boot assembly. It is glued in and held by six small friction clips (silver circles).

Step 4. Invert the boot to reveal the factory shift knob collar.

Step 5. Remove the factory collar and save it for reinstallation of the knob and the new boot.

Step 6. These are the clips that need to be removed before the glue can be separated.

Step 7. Using a small pair of scissors, get underneath the clip and “shimmy” it out by twisting the scissors along the blade axis (tilt, don’t spin).

Step 8. The clip should lift up and off. Be patient and do not force these, the plastic pins are delicate.

Step 9. The boot assembly should now be easily separated from the bezel.

Step 10. Using a heat gun (low) or a hair dryer heat a small area of where the boot meets the plastic ring.

Step 11. Begin separating the boot from the ring along the inside first.

Step 12. Then continue out to the top of the ring.

Step 13. Slowly continue to lift the boot until it is removed completely.

Step 14. Here’s the separated factory boot and the factory ring used for reinstall of the new boot.

Step 15. The boot only fits the ring one way. Be sure that the holes at the base of the boot line up with those on the ring.

Step 16. Using a spray adhesive, coat the top of the ring and the inside of the base of the boot.

Step 17. Being certain to line up the holes, adhere the boot to the ring (start with one and work your way around).

Step 18. The holes in the boot and the ring should line up.

Step 19. Here’s what it should look like at this point.

Step 20. Next coat the inside of the ring and the base of the boot with the spray adhesive.

Step 21. Next, carefully lay the boot into the ring so that it adheres into the proper shape.

Step 22. This is how it should look when the boot is completely set to the ring.

Step 23. Invert the new boot and place the collar with the large side up (as shown).

Step 24. Return the boot to the correct configuration, being certain that the collar has not slipped out of place.

Step 25. Here is how the inside of the boot collar combination should look.

Step 26. Now reattach the new boot, ring and collar combination to the bezel. Be sure to reinstall the silver circles.

Step 27. Here is the new boot assembly reattached to the bezel.

Step 28. Finally, reinstall the entire assembly into the vehicle and you’re done (be sure to take care when rejoining the knob into the collar, be patient). e-brake BOOT INSTALLATION.

Step 29. Begin by gently lifting the back side of the shift bezel to release the clips. Unscrew the knob and separate it from the boot by pulling upwards.

Step 30. Pull the bezel towards the rear of the car to slide out the pins located at the red arrows.

Step 31. Remove the highlighted screws.

Step 32. Remove the highlighted screws and lift out the center console panel.

Step 33. Remove the rubber insert from the console panel.

Step 34. The boot should be placed with the visible stitching closest to the armrest.

Step 35. Slide the rubber insert in from the top (to protect the visible side of the panel from adhesive). Spray the area at the top of the boot opening.

Step 36. Spray the top of the boot up to where the slits end (cover with a straight edge).

Step 37. Using the plastic pins as a reference, adhere the topside of the boot so that the pins fit in to the crooks of the slits.

Step 38. Repeat 36 + 37 for the bottom of the boot.

Step 39. Remove the factory rubber e-brake cover.

Step 40. Insert the e-brake cover into the boot (should look something like this).

Step 41. Work your way around the sides of the boot, adhering the boot around the opening.

Step 42. Adhere it to the cupholder and around the opening as close to the edge as possible (it will fold in when the brake is engaged.

Step 43. Poke holes in the boot where the remaining plastic pins are and rplace the friction clips (silver circles).

Step 44. The final install should look something like this. Install the panel and boot assembly back in to the vehicle and your done. ARMREST COVER INSTALLATION.

Step 45. Remove the two highlighted screws at the hinge of the cover.

Step 46. Remove the six screws that connect the two halves of the lid. Wrap the cover over the top of the lid and screw the two pieces back together.

Step 47. The cover should wrap all the way around the lid and be tucked in between the two pieces (screws will keep the cover in place).

Step 48. Be sure that the cover is firmly between the two pieces all the way around.

Step 49. Reinstall the lid with the two screws at the hinge. Here is the final product.