Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 23:37:24 -0500
Reply-To: Randy Charrette <rcharrette@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Randy Charrette <rcharrette@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Removing arm rests for repair of arm rest posts and to
install perfect fit seat covers
Content-Type: text/html
<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV>
<P>I just had to remove an arm rest myself a few weeks ago (it was loose). My biggest problem was getting it off! It took some big wacks with the hammer to get that pin out. As far as getting it back together I didn't have any trouble. Next time start the pin in the arm rest first. then insert onto knob. Then I had trouble getting the punch to sit right, so I took a smaller hammer (more surface area) and laid that on the pin and hit it with bigger hammer. I know this is not recommended and all that, but it went right in. No trouble. I would pull an arm rest any time with this method. No problem! </P>
<P>Randy Charrette</P>
<P>87' Syncro weekender</P>
<P><BR><BR> </P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>>From: developtrust <DEVELOPTRUST@HOME.COM>
<DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: developtrust <DEVELOPTRUST@HOME.COM>
<DIV></DIV>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Removing arm rests for repair of arm rest posts and to install perfect fit seat covers
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 19:55:55 -0800
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I took my seats out to remove the arm rests and install sheepskin seat cover
<DIV></DIV>>for a perfect fit. Below are my suggestions and advice.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Many of us have found a great deal on sheepskin seat covers at Costco in
<DIV></DIV>>California (a wholesale membership only warehouse.) These seat covers are so
<DIV></DIV>>fine, and such quality with pockets behind the seat for only $38 each.
<DIV></DIV>>Lesser quality at Pep Boys, Kragen and other stores is $60 each. Many stores
<DIV></DIV>>charge up to $300 a set or more for custom fit seat covers.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Taking off the arm rests is a MAJOR undertaking.
<DIV></DIV>>If your arm rest posts on the seat are not loose like one of mine was
<DIV></DIV>>(needing to be tightened with an Allen wrench) then it is possible to just
<DIV></DIV>>slip the seat covers over the headrests and between the arm rests and seat
<DIV></DIV>>for a satisfactory fit. You can also cut a larger hole that will fit around
<DIV></DIV>>the arm rest then sew it back together around the arm rest post with an
<DIV></DIV>>upholstery needle (The kind curved like a 1/2 moon.) In my opinion pulling
<DIV></DIV>>the seat cover around between the arm rest and seat is a mediocre fit. (I am
<DIV></DIV>>a perfectionist.) Cutting a slit large enough to fit around the arm rest and
<DIV></DIV>>re sewing it around the post is very do able and this is what some seat
<DIV></DIV>>cover installers do. It is unlikely anyone would notice the stitching. This
<DIV></DIV>>might be the way to go if you do not want to tackle the removal and
<DIV></DIV>>replacing of the arm rests. I needed to remove my arm rests due to the fact
<DIV></DIV>>one was so loose it was beginning to wobble and all my arm rest posts needed
<DIV></DIV>>to be tightened. had this not been the case, now, in retrospect I might have
<DIV></DIV>>cut a slit in the sides then re sewn them back together around the arm rest
<DIV></DIV>>posts.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>First the pins need to be knocked out of the arm rest. To do this I made a
<DIV></DIV>>tool out of a large spike from a hardware store the same diameter as the pin
<DIV></DIV>>hole. I cut the tip of the spike off to make it flat like a punch. If you
<DIV></DIV>>want to see photos of the tools and of the seat cover fit go to this
<DIV></DIV>>preliminary web page:
<DIV></DIV>>http://members.home.net/holisticdream/seatcoverinstall.htm
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I will publish photos of the final completed and installed seat covers on
<DIV></DIV>>this web page in a few days.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Notice the spike nail home made tool next to the Allen wrench. This was an
<DIV></DIV>>essential tool I discovered.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>The next step was to fit the seat cover over the seat, pull it snug and cut
<DIV></DIV>>a small hole around the post. See the on the web page above.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>One mistake I made and had to correct was pulling the tie straps for the
<DIV></DIV>>seat across the seat rails. They must not interfere with the tracks. The
<DIV></DIV>>second mistake I made was to tie the straps to each other under the seat.
<DIV></DIV>>Big error. see photo #3 under the pin photo on the web page. These straps
<DIV></DIV>>must be individually hooked under the seat to the seat holes and NOT TO EACH
<DIV></DIV>>OTHER or they will pull the hooks apart.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Putting the arm rests back on is a very difficult job. A person has to be
<DIV></DIV>>very motivated to do a good job. It took me about 15 minutes to take off
<DIV></DIV>>each arm rest and I needed to use liquid wrench to get a few off. To get the
<DIV></DIV>>arm rests back on took me almost two hours per seat to wrestle with the
<DIV></DIV>>tight quarters using a mini flashlight jammed between the arm rest and seat,
<DIV></DIV>>the home made tool to line up the holes and a needle nose pliers to insert
<DIV></DIV>>the pin-- then the home made tool again to bang the pin back in with a
<DIV></DIV>>hammer. The pin and holes must be lined up exactly and this is very
<DIV></DIV>>difficult to do.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>My recommendation is YES go through the trouble to do a quality job for a
<DIV></DIV>>superior fit and a look that appears as though the owner cars about his or
<DIV></DIV>>her vehicle. But be prepared for a very difficult task ahead of you.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>If you want to hire a VW dealer mechanic to do it they will charge you a
<DIV></DIV>>minimum of $100 per seat to do the job. Some mechanics will just not do it
<DIV></DIV>>for you. Other seat cover installers will cut the sides in an unacceptable
<DIV></DIV>>way and sew them back around the arm rest posts. You can do this too. It
<DIV></DIV>>will probably not show if you use a good upholstery curved needle.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>As for me, you could not pay me enough to do this job again for anyone else.
<DIV></DIV>>I did it for myself and my fiancée because I like a perfect fit and a
<DIV></DIV>>quality job.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>If you are satisfied with just pulling the seat covers between the arm rest
<DIV></DIV>>and the seat for a not so perfect fit then this may be another alternative.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Then again, no seat covers is a good alternative also if the original seats
<DIV></DIV>>look good.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>If you need any additional advice email me at developtrust@home.com and I'd
<DIV></DIV>>be happy to help.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>William
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