My headrests were NOT removable

[sleveritt]

Regardless of what is printed in the 1999 Owner's Manual (as mine is a 1999 also) or what is in the Shop Manual, MY headrests were NOT removable. I've read several threads about some that can be removed - IF you have the release buttons OR IF you press harder than you expected. Well, after wrestling with my headrest, I got it in my head to tear it apart until I could get them removed. Here is what it looks like after the leather is removed:


I did tear the foam a little because of some "hidden" double-sided tape between it and the frame. Once the foam is folded up and out of the way, I found the headrest shafts had plastic inserts inside the seat. Well, the lower part of that plastic insert has tabs that hold them down:


And the upper part has a similar part that keeps the entire plastic assembly from rotating (as that would release the headrests and assembly):


So the bottom tabs were removed here:


And here


The top part of this assembly acts as an umbrella preventing you from reaching the parts that would allow the top parts to be removed and release the headrest only:


Here is how the pieces line up (note the leather would normally be located on the black mushroom cap on the ribs near the top). Notice this pic shows the metal clip that had the all important metal clip that has the unbreakable metal retaining pin:


Note the other side of the clip is open and rounded for easy removal:


Also note how large the metal pin is. There is probably no overpowering that thing.


Here you can see that last indentation has a flat bottom that prevents the headrest from raising any higher or being released:


Hence, these are the parts that I removed before re-assembly:


This is the new assembly setup


Wiggled everything back together and the headrest is now removable and still adjustable. Mine are still pretty stiff to raise and lower, but even if they were loose you could "modify' the plastic assembly or even the metal shaft to create more friction.

Now that I have the seat assembly taken care of, I'll start researching the coveted heating elements (or perhaps a new seat cover), etc...

Hope this clarifies why some people can't seem to get the dang thing to release.

Sam

[Y33TREKker]

I see that the inward pointing pin on that round spring-clip, and the champfers (sp?) on each headrest shaft are made in such a way that the headrest shafts kind of "pop" (for lack of a better word) into the next champfer as the headrest is moved up or down because of the "give" of the spring-loaded clip.

I can't see what position the headrests are actually in (all the way up, all the way down, etc) in the various pictures, but do you recall if there would have been any position to put the headrest in that would have made it possible to just add some champfer (like with a small dremel bit) to the bottom of the very last notch on each headrest shaft so that they would both pop past the last champfer and allow for total removal?

Even if a person had to drill through some of the white plastic surrounding each shaft to get access to the bottom of the last champfer, I think I would still prefer to do that and retain the spring-loaded clip (and the ability of the headrest to "pop" into place at each adjustment position) as opposed to it just sliding freely up or down as it must do now on yours with that spring-clip removed. I mean, is that how your's work/feel now?

[Cobrajet]

If the bottom notch was beveled like all of the other notches, I would think the headrest would then be removable. A bench grinder should be able to take care of that.

Is the pin be too deep/long to allow reinserting the headrest?

Can the sping/pin be removed without removing the plastic sleeve? It looks accessible.

Here's what I'm thinking...

1) remove the seat back
2) pop off the spring/pin assy
3) remove the headrest
4) bevel the last notch
5) reinstall the headrest
6) reinstall the pin assy
7) reinstall the seat back

[Ldub]

If the bottom notch was beveled like all of the other notches, I would think the headrest would then be removable. A bench grinder should be able to take care of that.

Is the pin be too deep/long to allow reinserting the headrest?

Can the sping/pin be removed without removing the plastic sleeve? It looks accessible.

Here's what I'm thinking...

1) remove the seat back
2) pop off the spring/pin assy
3) remove the headrest
4) bevel the last notch
5) reinstall the headrest
6) reinstall the pin assy
7) reinstall the seat back

I tend to take the path of least resistance...AKA, the easy way out...

I'm thinking bevel the last notch in place with a dremel...

[Y33TREKker]

I tend to take the path of least resistance...AKA, the easy way out...

I'm thinking bevel the last notch in place with a dremel...

That's what I just said.

[Ldub]

That's what I just said.

L0L...I missed your post.

You posted just after I left work, & I just read CJ's post when I got home...

[crotchrocket]

just out of interest, what do you need to take them off for??

[circmand]

come with a piece for the seat back and a different piece for the head rest. The holes for the bars on the seat backs will not stretch over the headrest.

[Y33TREKker]

I believe some also like to take them off just to increase rear visibility.

[sleveritt]

My seats are a bit worn, so a recover or replacement/updgrade is likely - after I get the mechanicals all taken care of. I took the seat apart to fix the recline lever and to see the condition of the foam for future use and possible install of heating elements.

Yeah, the bench grinder/dremel tool would be the better solution. In all honesty, I was pretty pi$$ed that my headrest weren't coming off - like so many other posts claim. Since, no one had posted my situation - I kept the camera clicking for the benefit of all interested/confused.

(Mental note - never reassemble/modify/post while angry.....)

Sam