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!

Randy Charrette

87' Syncro weekender

>From: developtrust

>Reply-To: developtrust

>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

>Subject: Removing arm rests for repair of arm rest = posts and to install perfect fit seat covers

>Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 19:55:55 -0800

>I took my seats out to remove the arm rests and install = sheepskin seat cover

>for a perfect fit. Below are my suggestions and advice. =

>Many of us have found a great deal on sheepskin seat = covers at Costco in

>California (a wholesale membership only warehouse.) = These seat covers are so

>fine, and such quality with pockets behind the seat for = only $38 each.

>Lesser quality at Pep Boys, Kragen and other stores is = $60 each. Many stores

>charge up to $300 a set or more for custom fit seat = covers.

>Taking off the arm rests is a MAJOR undertaking.

>If your arm rest posts on the seat are not loose like = one of mine was

>(needing to be tightened with an Allen wrench) then it = is possible to just

>slip the seat covers over the headrests and between the = arm rests and seat

>for a satisfactory fit. You can also cut a larger hole = that will fit around

>the arm rest then sew it back together around the arm = rest post with an

>upholstery needle (The kind curved like a 1/2 moon.) In = my opinion pulling

>the seat cover around between the arm rest and seat is = a mediocre fit. (I am

>a perfectionist.) Cutting a slit large enough to fit = around the arm rest and

>re sewing it around the post is very do able and this = is what some seat

>cover installers do. It is unlikely anyone would notice = the stitching. This

>might be the way to go if you do not want to tackle the = removal and

>replacing of the arm rests. I needed to remove my arm = rests due to the fact

>one was so loose it was beginning to wobble and all my = arm rest posts needed

>to be tightened. had this not been the case, now, in = retrospect I might have

>cut a slit in the sides then re sewn them back together = around the arm rest

>posts.

>First the pins need to be knocked out of the arm rest. = To do this I made a

>tool out of a large spike from a hardware store the = same diameter as the pin

>hole. I cut the tip of the spike off to make it flat = like a punch. If you

>want to see photos of the tools and of the seat cover = fit go to this

>preliminary web page: =

>http://members.home.net/holisticdream/seatcoverinstall.htm=

>I will publish photos of the final completed and = installed seat covers on

>this web page in a few days.

>Notice the spike nail home made tool next to the Allen = wrench. This was an

>essential tool I discovered.

>The next step was to fit the seat cover over the seat, = pull it snug and cut

>a small hole around the post. See the on the web page = above.

>One mistake I made and had to correct was pulling the = tie straps for the

>seat across the seat rails. They must not interfere = with the tracks. The

>second mistake I made was to tie the straps to each = other under the seat.

>Big error. see photo #3 under the pin photo on the web = page. These straps

>must be individually hooked under the seat to the seat = holes and NOT TO EACH

>OTHER or they will pull the hooks apart.

>Putting the arm rests back on is a very difficult job. = A person has to be

>very motivated to do a good job. It took me about 15 = minutes to take off

>each arm rest and I needed to use liquid wrench to get = a few off. To get the

>arm rests back on took me almost two hours per seat to = wrestle with the

>tight quarters using a mini flashlight jammed between = the arm rest and seat,

>the home made tool to line up the holes and a needle = nose pliers to insert

>the pin-- then the home made tool again to bang the pin = back in with a

>hammer. The pin and holes must be lined up exactly and = this is very

>difficult to do.

>My recommendation is YES go through the trouble to do a = quality job for a

>superior fit and a look that appears as though the = owner cars about his or

>her vehicle. But be prepared for a very difficult task = ahead of you.

>If you want to hire a VW dealer mechanic to do it they = will charge you a

>minimum of $100 per seat to do the job. Some mechanics = will just not do it

>for you. Other seat cover installers will cut the sides = in an unacceptable

>way and sew them back around the arm rest posts. You = can do this too. It

>will probably not show if you use a good upholstery = curved needle.

>As for me, you could not pay me enough to do this job = again for anyone else.

>I did it for myself and my fiancée because I like a = perfect fit and a

>quality job.

>If you are satisfied with just pulling the seat covers = between the arm rest

>and the seat for a not so perfect fit then this may be = another alternative.

>Then again, no seat covers is a good alternative also = if the original seats

>look good.

>If you need any additional advice email me at developtrust@home.com and I'd

>be happy to help.

>William