A method for manufacturing a recliner mechanism may include movably attaching a first plate of a recliner heart to a second plate of the recliner heart, positioning a gap ring onto the first plate of the recliner heart, positioning an encapsulation ring around the first and second plates such that the gap ring is disposed axially between the first plate and the encapsulation ring, and removing at least a portion of the gap ring from between the first plate and the encapsulation ring to form a clearance gap between the first plate and the encapsulation ring.