77 308 -- stubborn headrest--any solutions?

Those headrests can be a royal pain to move. Most of them have not moved since the car was new. WD-40 is a good idea provided you keep it off the leather and and some brute force comes in well too. Be careful because they may go loose all of a sudden and you don't want to punch yourself in the face by mistake.

 

I have a "78 308 and one headrest moves but the other does not.

Let me know how successul you are in loosening them.

Maybe a VERY small drop of high quality oil once in a while on the metal shaft will help?

The smell of WD40 is horrific and would detract from the smell of the leather.

Yours,

Tom

 

on both of my 308's, when i finally got the damn headrests out i stuck a large shafted screwdriver in the holes and moved the metal retaining clips to allow some movement. i also used an artist paint brush and a SMALL amount of bearing grease on the shafts. there are detents that you are supposed to push in to release the holding clips, but i have yet to have these work properly. you can feel them in the leather a few inches down on the shafts.

 

I wiggled mine side to side in lieu of yanking vertically to get them up.....

Definately adjust them to the proper height......

 

I had the same problem. Probably from all the leather oil applications over the years getting between the seat and headrest. I took a credit card and slid it between the two to free things up. then I just lifted up vertically and they came apart.

Dan

 

You can just drill off the rivets on the seat back to get in and fix it properly.

If you want, you need not replace the rivets, just use screws with cup washers like on the doors.

 

My headrests didn't work at first, they seemed to be glued down by leather dye. Finally worked them loose.

Also remember someone reporting that their headrest shafts had started rusting. This may well be what you're fighting. If so, then polish the rust off with fine rubbing compound, metal polish, or a gentle household cleaner like soft scrub or Bartender's Friend.

Do not use WD40, the solvent in it attacks plastics. A little light machine oil like 3-in-1 s/b ok to get things off, however once things are apart I'd clean it all off.

When you get them loose, I recommend a small amount of Radio Shack's Teflon Lube Gel. Very inert, no smell, doesn't attract dust & won't hurt the plastic.

Alternatively, spray some silicone lube on a pad & wipe the shafts down with while it's still wet.

BTW, Ferrari.uk has the plastic guides for the headrest shafts. If they ever run out, contact me, I've got a pair of NOS ones tucked away in case I ever need to make a mold.

 

Seem like this is the only way mine will pull up, I tried every way and this is the only thing that works without taking it apart.

 

Guys the simple way is just to remove the back panel and see what the problem is and then fix it. It only takes 10 minutes to remove the panel. Seems like you have taken more time trying to pull it up. Simple job , no brainer and even a caveman can do it.

 

I borrowed some silicone spray at a Harley Dealership and slapped it side to side a few times....I found the leather dressing over years had stuck it to the top of the seat.

Didn't pull the seats but slid them to mid travel to get better leverage....

They watched out the window from Parts Department and laughed.......

 

Could a therapist?

 

What do you mean "the rapist"?

 

I had the same problem w/my 308 2V...someone mentioned pushing something behind the seat..realized later I was getting my chain jerked, Never did move them...
Now My 328 I have the same "stuck" headrests, I will try some silicone & the side to side motion. Makes me think Ferrari built them to spec exactly this way...stuck!

 

It's the plastic siezing on the steel rod IMO.......there was still snow on the ground where I was having the issue..

Also be careful of the plastic bushing breaking or pulling out!

Beat it side to side gently, if you know what I mean.......it took a good tug once I had worked it a few times, then it yanked all the way out in my hands....slid it back in, to the desired height.....

 

HAHAHA no to many brains

 

Is it the age or the design that makes this stubborn?

 

I have an 85 308 GTSi QV with only 7,128 miles on it. I have pulled the seats out and am refurbishing them with LEATHERIQUE products. I to would like to move the headrest up several inches for safety reasons. The best suggestion seemed to be, was to remove the back panel however this component of the seat seems to be riveted into place. I am reluctant to drill these rivets out. I'm sure, most all of us have willing invested more money in these cars than we wanted and I for one am reluctant to accidentally damage the seat. There is no mention in my 308 owners manual addressing adjusting these headrest. To play it safe I am going to let the headrest stay where they are.