Date:         Thu, 2 Mar 2006 00:50:37 EST
Reply-To:     JordanVw@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JordanVw@AOL.COM
Subject:      mod for removing those rear headrests when you fold the back seat
              into a bed
Comments: cc: vanagon@yahoogroups.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

for those of you who own '87-91 Wolfsburgs or Carats, or '90-91 pass. vans, 
you know what a pain in the butt it is to remove those rear headrests every 
time you want to fold the back seat down into the bed position...   you need like 
3 hands..   2 thumbs to push those little headrest clip tabs simultaneously 
and one hand to pull up on the headrest at the same time...  a pain. 

listmember Dave Obryan from MD ('87 westy soon to be subie powered)  gave me 
the idea for this mod..  all kudos should be given to him for the idea..

this mod is basically simple..but it saves time and temper wrestling with 
those rear headrests..  i did this mod to my carat interior'ed '84 sunroof tonite 
when i changed over to the diagonally striped 89 wolfy sofabed.. took me all 
of 10 mins on the 3 rear headrests..

remove the headrest, and look at the headrest posts..  they have the little 
notched cuts on the back of the metal posts..  the notches in the center are V 
shaped and smaller, these hold the headrest at its adjusted height.   the 
bottom most notch is 90º shaped and larger...to prevent the headrest from being 
pulled out of its sockets without depressing the clip tabs.. (dumb idea from VW, 
IMO) anyway, this bottom notch is what you want to modify.. 
basically take a metal file, or grinder  (use a grinder if you have one, its 
alot quicker) and you just grind the 90º notch down so its a V shape.. do both 
headrest posts on each headrest..  so the headrest can be pulled out without 
pressing the clip tabs.. no need for 3 hands anymore! 
i also ground the bottoms of the posts on the backside as well, just smoothed 
it down a little bit on an angle, to make it easier to pop them back in the 
headrest sockets when reinstalling them.. so they'd slide over the clips 
without needing to press the clip tabs..

easy, simple, practical mod..

thanks dave!

chris