A reclining seat assembly comprises a lower seating structure having an inboard side and an outboard side and a seatback pivotally affixed to the lower seating structure, the seatback having an inboard side and an outboard side. A gear system operatively couples one of the inboard side or the outboard side of the seatback to the corresponding inboard side or outboard side of the lower seating structure. The gear system operatively rotates the seatback relative to the lower seating structure. An actuator is coupled to the gear system to move the seatback between angular positions. A metal rod extends between the inboard side and outboard side of the seatback and has an inboard end and an outboard end. A threaded fastener assembly operably couples the inboard end and the outboard end of the metal rod to the inboard side and the outboard side of the seatback.