Are 2003 seats compatible in a 1998?

Rusty98TJ

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Good afternoon! Ok, I am looking to replace the seats in my 1998 TJ. I found a full set on marketplace from a 2003. I am fairly sure the front seats will fit since the seats have the bases as well. I am correct with that guess, right? Also, does anyone know if the rear seat will be a drop in swap? Looks like this year the rear seat has a handle at the top to release to tumble feature which is obviously different than a 1998. Thank help/advice would be greatly appreciated! Thx! Added a picture of the 2003 release handle below:

IMG_0775.webp
 
I know when I replaced my 1997 tub with a 2000...I left the 2000 shoulder belts in assuming they'd buckle right up...and we didn't test until just before we left...and I stayed up late stitching belts together to get my 97 pieces sewed on to the 2000 belts on the passenger side because that retractor was broken.

I then ordered replacements from Seatbelt Planet and they suck. Constantly fiddling with them to get them to retract.

-Mac
 
as long as you have the bases attached to the seats, they will fit. you can't put seats or bases from a 97-02 with seats or bases from an 03+

found this out the expensive way.

Great! Thank you! I think I am probably going have to keep the 98 rear seat in—seems like there is a ton of different mounting positions for the rear seat. I might buy some brackets to see if I can fab something but then I have the that macleanflood mentioned with the seat belts?! It seems like every upgrade I do takes WAY more work than I thought. LOL!
 
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I know when I replaced my 1997 tub with a 2000...I left the 2000 shoulder belts in assuming they'd buckle right up...and we didn't test until just before we left...and I stayed up late stitching belts together to get my 97 pieces sewed on to the 2000 belts on the passenger side because that retractor was broken.

I then ordered replacements from Seatbelt Planet and they suck. Constantly fiddling with them to get them to retract.

-Mac

Mac, thanks for the response! I have found a few more threads on this and I might be stuck keeping the rear seat. Seems like too many fabs I would need to do, but my OCD will drive me nuts having two different seat fabrics! (And I do not want to run with seat covers)
 
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as long as you have the bases attached to the seats, they will fit. you can't put seats or bases from a 97-02 with seats or bases from an 03+

found this out the expensive way.

Glad to know this works. Was thinking of putting 03+ seats in my 98 cause I read they sit a little lower.
 
if you try to put the 03 seats on a 98 base, it wont work. as long as the base and the seats are from the same generation of tj interior, you'll be fine. they didn't alter the bolt pattern on the floor boards. just the seats and bases, themselves.
 
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