Are 1997 and 1998 Legacy Outback wagon front doors identical

[jeryst]

I hava a 98 Legacy Outback station wagon. I found a 1997 in a salvage

yard that I would like to take the doors from. I am assuming they are

identical, but I just want to make sure because I dont want to buy them

and then find out that some change will stop me from just swapping them

out on my car, since they are not returnable.

[Mike104]

95-99 Legacy Outback doors should be the same, less trim and possibly wiring.  Use car-part.com to verify interchangeability

[moosens]

Just did the same for a friend. As mentioned the door body is the same.

Might see differences in power locks and heated mirror , but you’ll figure out what works easy enough.

I swapped the friends inside door panel (card) over to the replacement door and found the issue of the window power line. The outgoing door had a double “tail” that went to power locks and power windows. But the new door only had a single whip there so we chose to power the window and forget the passenger side vehicle lock switch. The connectors is the same , which was nice.

Enjoy!

[Gloyale]

95-99 Legacy Outback doors should be the same, less trim and possibly wiring.  Use car-part.com to verify interchangeability

true for front.

 

Although in 97 they added a seperate door lock switch instead of using the Drivers lock as a master.

 

Rear doors, they added a notch and a heavy pin in the lower door frame.  This is to help strengthen the rear door jamb in an accident.  

 

97+ doors willl fit on a 95/96 car, but a 95/96 door won't have the notch to fit the reinforcement post to fit in a 97+ car.

[jeryst]

Just did the same for a friend. As mentioned the door body is the same.

Might see differences in power locks and heated mirror , but you’ll figure out what works easy enough.

I swapped the friends inside door panel (card) over to the replacement door and found the issue of the window power line. The outgoing door had a double “tail” that went to power locks and power windows. But the new door only had a single whip there so we chose to power the window and forget the passenger side vehicle lock switch. The connectors is the same , which was nice.

Enjoy!

So if I put the door on and plug in the connector, what will work and what wont?

[Gloyale]

from 98 to 97 it will all be the same.

 

trying to put a 96 door into an 98 you might not have the connector for the door lock actuator.

 

you'd have to swap the wiring harness from the 98 door to the 96.

 

but again......97/98 are identical.

[jeryst]

Thanks for all the help. I got two beautiful 97 doors at the recycling

yard for $100 total. Now I have extra everything.

 

I will be putting them on within the next week or two depending on the weather,

and I will leave an update. It sounds like all I have to do is take off the old

ones, bolt on the new ones and plug in the harness, and hopefully everything will work.

[moosens]

You’ll be fine. A good milk crate or something to assist propping it up while you align bolt holes. A second person too , but you’ll also want the support underneath.