Bucket Seat Headrest Removal

[Marccus]

How do you remove the headrest (1989 SHO).


It's seems simple enough.

I unscrewed the plastic collars on the metal rods and pulled (and pulled and pulled ...) up on the damn thing but I can't get it out. headbang

I looked for any "tab releases" I thought might be there but found none. shrug

Subsequent pulling with a chain attached from the headrest to an 18 wheeler removed the seat from the car. eek!

Seriously, any suggestions?

 

[jelloslug]

There is a metal clip on each of the rod that support the head rest. They can be very tricky to remove, first try lifting the head rest all the way up, unscrewing the black plastic bezel (you may want to tape it to the bottom of the headrest) an then press the upholstery around the rod against the frame. If you then move the hole around between the two posts sometime you may be able to reach you finger in and feel the clip. The clips slid off to one side either toward the middle of the seat or to the outside. If you cannot get to the clips this way you can try unzipping the big zipper at the bottom of the seatback and reaching up the seat to the top. You have to have long arms to do this and its still hard to reach.

<small>[ September 17, 2003, 08:19 AM: Message edited by: jelloslug ]</small>

 

[Marccus]

Thanks, I'll give it my best shot.

I don't know why they make it this complicated. Volvo and others just have a simple tab outside the seat interior on the collars that surround the rods. You just press this and the headrest releases. Very simple and uncomplicated.

 

[steevil]

a word of caution:

the inner steel seat frame has some pretty sharp edges. I hacked open a finger doing exactly what you need to do. You may be better off using a flat bladded screwdriver to reach down and slip the clip out.

Also, try not to pull the clip completely out. If it slips out, it is a royal pain to replace. It will probably fall out inside the seat making it very difficult to find let alone replace.
The headrest rods are tapered to allow for replacement while leaving the clips fully seated.

 

[billyshoe]

this clip is works the same way a speedo cable clip does.