Headrest question

you have to remove the seat back covering. there is something in there holding the rods. do a search, there are some good threads on this procedure.

 

Quite frankly, it will be easier for you to take the entire seat to the shop rather than go through the drill of removing the headrest.

 

I did mine a couple weeks ago. Pain in the ..... . Bring the seat. There is a thread I found showing a picture of it. If you do a search you'll find it.

 

two clips in the seat, you have to remove the leather and cut the foam with a razor.

pull clips then the head rest lifts up.

Rocco

 

Here is the link to the picture of the headrest and pin.
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=238727&highlight=headrest+removal

 

I went through that whole procedure, and found no pins in my seat back, and it didnt look like it had ever been opened up. the headrest was stuck in there like a mo-fo.

It made me wonder why there are notches in the hest rest posts? are you really supposed to take the pins out, adjust the headrest, then reset the pins?

 

I tried very hard to pull on mine to get them out and coudn't do it. After removing the pins they came out right away. I was thinking about making a tool to override the job of taking the seat appart. It would be a tube cut in half on it's lenght to slide along the headrest post, push it down to cover the notches and then pull the headrest. I think it would work.

 

This is what I do, I remove my targa top off then I stand on the seat and I wiggle the head rest while pulling it up.

 

I might give you a dollar for a photo of you doing that.

Klatu

 

LOL. I did that too - nearly gave myself a hernia. Never did find any pins.

 

78 308 GTS USA model. There is a clip, the back doesn't have to be removed and foam does not have to be cut.

My headrests were also stuck in the down position.

First, try to loosen them up-push down, then up and repeat several times.

Next use some lubrication-protect leather, push up the leather on the underside of the headrest and let several drops of WD-40 go down shaft. Move up and down repeatedly. You can also carefully use some plastic or nylon upholstery tools to use some leverage against the black grommet and the bottom of the headrest. Use caution and be patient. It also helps to have someone lifting the headrest as you do this.

Eventually, the headrest should lift to the middle position. Now that the black grommet is exposed use some more lubricant and move the shaft up and down, but try not to lock it in the notches.

Now to release the headrest. Raise headrest into the highest position. There are clips that can move toward the front which will allow you to pull up on the headrest which allows the clip to ride past the notches of the headrest rods.

Put your palms on the top of the seat. You should be able to feel the clips by placing your thumbs approximately 2 1/2 inches down from the top and 1 1/2 inches toward the center from the centerline of the post. Keep feeling around and the clip will become obvious. Have someone pull up on the headrest as you push with your thumbs.

When mine came out there was no indication or change in feeling of the clip. It just happened. One just came out. While the other one, I had one post loosen and rise a bit and then I worked on the other post and it came out.

See the attached pictures of the pin at rest, pin compressed and the location of the clip.

Good luck and instead of bruised and bloody knuckles now you will have sore thumbs for two days.

It seems like a lot of work just to get a headrest out..and it is, but that is one of the many things we put up with to drive these cars.
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Joe. How did the black grommets come out?

 

It's funny that the owners manual states that these cars have adjustable headrests but provide no instructions on how to adjust them.

 

As far as I can tell, it is just a press fit. I worked a plastic upholstery tool under the edge and gently used some leverage. Obviously, protect the leather. Once it comes out a bit, you can put some string, I use parachute cord, under the lip and use that to get some upward pull. You may also have to twist them back and forth initially to loosen the grip.

 

Thanks. I need to take it all apart for a redye

 

Success. No cutting or accessing the foam needed. I used the method above. Find the edge of the clip and push...push as hard as you can and the push a little more. One post at a time and it came right out. Soften your leather first so it has the stretch required to prevent damage. After its out just rub the leather with your hand to generate some heat and the indents from your thumbs will go away

 

Steve,

Glad it worked for you. I always thought that cutting the foam was always a silly solution. As quirky as these cars are, I always thought that even Ferrari would use a standard method of removing the headrest. I cannot imagine a factory tech cutting the foam and removing a clip to take the headrest off.

One thing I have learned about working on these cars is that it takes a bit of thinking, figuring and planning before you tackle a project, whether its removing a headrest or refurbishing the rear suspension. Even though they are still just a car, they are not Chevys or Fords or BMWs; they"re Italian and have a way of their own... and in this day and age, that is a good thing.

 

Quick tip to remove the grommets. Screw a 3/8 eye hook in to it and pull or tap up with a hammer.

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Once I knew how to get the headrest out after the first one, it took less than 20 seconds to get the 2nd one out. The key is to do one post at a time using two thumbs to press each pin forward while a friend pulls he headrest up. In my case, my wife.
use the same method to adjust them up and down.

 

The dimensions listed above by Joe were just perfect. Was able to get headrest out by myself. I did find it much easier to have the back panel off and slide hand under leather. I could easily feel the spring clip through the foam. I also ground at an angle the lowest detent on the headrest shaft, so I never have to do this again. Took about 5 seconds with a grinder. Looks really "factory" to me.

As far as the black "sleeve"(grommets) that the headrest shafts slide into, I was able to pull those out with a threaded 7/16" bar, fairly easily. I bought a 3/8" thread eye hock based on Steve's suggestion above, but it was too small of a diameter to thread into the grommet. 1/2" was too big.
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Hey all,
This is a very useful thread, so thank you for the info posted.
However I've tried to remove mine, unclipped the leather and can find a clip on one side easily. The clip pushes forward freely, but the headrest just will not budge, not even a millimeter.

I've now removed the clip altogether, but still nothing. Any tips?

 

So both clips are out. The chrome shafts must be stuck to the plastic grommet. Try putting several drops of a penetrating oil on the shaft where it meets the plastic. Protect the leather because it will stain. After it has sunk in I would try a plastic upholstery tool to pry the headrest up. Try to find something that is long enough to give leverage and smooth enough so it doesn't permanently damage the leather. I would use some padding of some kind between the headrest and the top of the seat. While you "lever" it out, another person can try pulling it up at the same time. good luck

 

Geez, just remove the 4 bolts anchoring the seat to the floor, and then take the entire seat to town..