Seat Track

Remove and replace the seat track assembly on a 2005 Dodge Viper, including disconnecting electrical connections and securing the seat to the floor with proper torque specifications.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Seat track assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification for driver or passenger side
• Anti-seize compound × 1 — Thread lubricant for seat mounting bolts

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake
2. Disconnect negative battery cable and wait minimum 2 minutes for airbag system capacitor discharge
3. Move seat to full forward position for access to rear mounting bolts
4. Verify which seat (driver or passenger) requires service and obtain correct replacement track

Procedure

1. 1

   Disconnect seat electrical connectors
   Locate the electrical connector(s) under the seat. On Viper seats, check for any electrical connector(s) under the seat base before removal. The 2005 Viper uses manually-adjusted seats with limited wiring; if a connector is present (e.g., for occupant/belt sensing), press the release tab and disconnect it. Press the release tab and disconnect the connector. If equipped with heated seats (rare on 2005 Viper but verify), disconnect that connector as well. Route connectors clear of the work area.
2. 2

   Remove front seat mounting bolts
   With the seat in the full forward position, locate the two rear seat mounting bolts. These bolts secure the rear of the seat track to the floor pan; verify the exact head type and size against OEM documentation before selecting a socket, as it may be a hex/metric bolt rather than a Torx. Remove both rear mounting bolts completely. Move the seat to the full rear position to access the front mounting bolts. Remove the two front mounting bolts; verify the exact head type and size against OEM documentation before selecting a socket.
3. 3

   Remove seat assembly from vehicle
   With all four mounting bolts removed, carefully tilt the seat rearward and lift it out of the vehicle. The seat is heavy and the Viper cockpit is tight, so angle the seat back slightly and lift upward while pulling rearward. Set the seat on a clean, padded work surface with the bottom facing up. Verify all electrical connections are disconnected before fully removing the seat.
4. 4

   Remove seat track-to-seat mounting hardware
   With the seat inverted on your work surface, locate the bolts securing each seat track rail to the seat frame. Verify the exact bolt count and head size against OEM documentation, noting position and orientation before removal. Remove all mounting bolts from the track assembly you are replacing. Note the orientation and position of any spacers, washers, or alignment shims between the track and seat frame. Keep hardware organized if reusing.
5. 5

   Separate seat track from seat frame
   Once all mounting hardware is removed, carefully separate the seat track assembly from the seat frame. The track may be tight against the seat frame due to years of loading. Gently work it free, being careful not to damage the seat frame mounting points. Inspect the seat frame mounting points for damage, corrosion, or elongated bolt holes.
6. 6

   Prepare mounting surfaces
   Clean all mounting surfaces on the seat frame where the new track will attach. Use a wire brush to remove any corrosion from the seat frame mounting points and the floor pan mounting locations in the vehicle. Clean threads in the floor pan mounting inserts with a thread chaser or tap if necessary. Inspect floor pan mounting inserts for damage or looseness.
7. 7

   Install new seat track to seat frame
   Position the new seat track assembly onto the seat frame, ensuring proper orientation (front-to-back and left-to-right). The adjustment mechanism should face the correct direction for operation. Install any spacers or shims in their original positions. Install the 4 mounting bolts per rail and tighten in a cross-pattern to seat the track evenly against the frame. Torque the track-to-frame bolts to the OEM-specified value; if the specification is unavailable, do not guess — consult the factory service manual before final tightening.
8. 8

   Verify seat track operation
   Before reinstalling the seat in the vehicle, operate the seat track adjustment mechanism through its full range of motion. Verify smooth operation without binding or excessive play. Check that the locking mechanism engages properly at all positions. Verify the track slides smoothly and locks securely.
9. 9

   Reinstall seat assembly in vehicle
   Do not apply anti-seize to the seat mounting bolt threads unless specified by OEM, as it alters the torque-to-clamp relationship on these safety-critical fasteners. Install the bolts clean and dry (or with OEM-specified thread-locker). Carefully position the seat assembly back into the vehicle, aligning the four mounting bolt holes in the seat tracks with the threaded inserts in the floor pan. Start all four mounting bolts by hand to ensure proper thread engagement before tightening any of them.
10. 10

    Torque seat mounting bolts
    Tighten the seat mounting bolts in a cross-pattern (front driver side, rear passenger side, front passenger side, rear driver side) to ensure even seating of the track assembly. Torque all four mounting bolts to the OEM-specified value using a calibrated torque wrench (commonly around 45 Nm / 33 lb-ft for Chrysler seat mounts, but verify against the 2005 Viper factory service manual as this is a safety-critical fastener). This is a safety-critical specification and must be followed exactly.
11. 11

    Reconnect electrical connections
    Reconnect all electrical connectors under the seat. Ensure each connector clicks fully into place and the locking tab engages. Route wiring so it cannot interfere with seat track movement or become pinched during seat adjustment.
12. 12

    Reconnect battery and test
    Reconnect the negative battery cable. Turn the ignition to the ON position (do not start engine) and If the vehicle is equipped with any seat-related airbag or occupant-sensing circuits, verify no airbag warning light remains illuminated after the initial bulb check; confirm the seat's airbag content against OEM documentation.. Operate the seat through its full range of adjustment, verifying smooth operation and secure locking at all positions.

Reassembly

1. Torque all seat mounting bolts to exactly 45 Nm (33 lb-ft) in a cross-pattern
2. Ensure all electrical connectors are fully seated with locking tabs engaged
3. Verify seat track operates smoothly through full range before final testing

Verification

• Operate seat adjustment through full travel range, confirming smooth movement and secure locking at multiple positions
• Physically attempt to rock the seat on its mounts to verify no movement at the floor attachment points
• Verify airbag warning light extinguishes after initial bulb check and does not return
• Confirm all four mounting bolts were torqued to 45 Nm (33 lb-ft) with a calibrated torque wrench
• Test seat under load by sitting in it and adjusting while occupied to verify proper operation

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