OK, now that the headrest is off, the
REAL fun begins! Kinda push the seat material down around the hole as far
as you can. Get a couple good, flat screwdrivers..get the blade of each
screwdriver under the flat part of the sleeve, one on each side of the
hole. (right below where the clip is). When you get the screwdrivers in
there, kinda
level..push them in further and pry a bit..the plastic thing will break
in two pieces...if you're lucky, the finger things holding it in on the
bottom will break and practically the whole thing can be removed from the
top. If you're not so lucky (me!), the sleeve will break right about where
you pryed on it. Remove what pieces you can from the top with
needle nose pliers. Then you have to get a hunk o' pipe (or the butt
end of the screwdriver) to push the remaining piece down through the bottom
hole into the seatback. Now get your new sleeve (be sure the clip is on!)
and gently put it in the hole (sounds perverted!), use a small screwdriver
to get the seat material around the "ears" on the sleeve, then feel your
way in, lining up the "fingers" with the bottom hole..go easy! Once again,
it's all feel..now screw one of the collars on and press it in with a gentle
whack! (MAKE SURE it's lined up the right way before whacking!) You'll
hear it click in place. Remove the collar and put it back on the headrest
so ya don't forget it. You have four of them to replace, and it's easier
the second time around..after four of them, you will be a certified headrest
sleeve pro! Once you have both of them replaced, just put the headrest
back in (don't forget the collars!) and it'll lock into place. Screw
the collars into the sleeves now. Doesn't it feel nice and solid now? Wait
until you take it on a bumpy road! (If you live in PA., EVERY road is a
bumpy road!)
OK..we have one more thing to deal with, and it's your call! You can leave the broken pieces in your seatback (sorta like a "time capsule"!) and deal with the two freakin lumps back there (conversation piece for the rear seat passengers!) or remove them by opening the zipper on the bottom of the seatback and letting them fall out..once again, it's your call!
This whole ordeal took me about twenty minutes
per seat..and about fifteen bucks..just for the record.