How To Remove Head Restraint?

[javapda]

My 1996 LS-400 has motorized head-restraint (driver's side). How can the head restraint be removed?

Thanks :)

[Kennyr]

Raise the headrest all the way then run a 2 by 4 under it. With a good size hammer bang up on the wood and the headrest will pop off.

[ArmyofOne]

Raise the headrest all the way then run a 2 by 4 under it. With a good size hammer bang up on the wood and the headrest will pop off.

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are you for real? a little brutal isnt it? i mean, what did your car ever do to you? :P

[Kennyr]

Raise the headrest all the way then run a 2 by 4 under it. With a good size hammer bang up on the wood and the headrest will pop off.

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are you for real? a little brutal isnt it? i mean, what did your car ever do to you? :P

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Ok get in there and grab it with both hands and pull up really hard. Hurt your back or whatever. It pops right off with my method. Mechanics know all the tricks on getting tough stuff apart.

[SKperformance]

If you think that is brutal try removing the rear seats which use a 3 foot pry bar.

[ArmyofOne]

If you think that is brutal try removing the rear seats which use a 3 foot pry bar.

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it was a joke guys...holy crap.

im sure the 2x4 trick works fine... LOL.

[javapda]

Ouch, this is a tough crowd.

But really, have any of you removed it? By pulling it out I'd like to avoid damaging the head-restraint position control mechanism.

Thanks

[SKperformance]

I was agreeing it is brutal ,i don;t know why the rear seat is such a pita compared to every other car i have taken the back seat out of.

[blake918]

I don't think the back seat is that hard to take out. Maybe mine is more worn or something because I can pop the bottom cushion out with my hands!

[Kennyr]

Javapda, I dont know how old you are or how much experience you have working with cars but you have to learn that using a little force is the way a lot of things come apart, especially on cars. You will never get a ball joint apart etc. without applied force. I'm a mechanic but I didn't know how to get the headrests off either. I asked my Lexus contact at the dealer how to do it and he told me this method. It worked good and I was able to install my sheepskin seat covers. I am impressed with the fact that you are hesitant to believe every post here. Not everyone knows it all on these boards. Including me. Being a mechanic

30 years gives me an edge but I didn't work on Lexus cars every day, so I ask a lot of questions also. I fixed my car a couple times already by getting the answers here.

[javapda]

Javapda, I dont know how old you are or how much experience you have working with cars but you have to learn that using a little force is the way a lot of things come apart, especially on cars. You will never get a ball joint apart etc. without applied force. I'm a mechanic but I didn't know how to get the headrests off either. I asked my Lexus contact at the dealer how to do it and he told me this method. It worked good and I was able to install my sheepskin seat covers. I am impressed with the fact that you are hesitant to believe every post here. Not everyone knows it all on these boards. Including me. Being a mechanic

30 years gives me an edge but I didn't work on Lexus cars every day, so I ask a lot of questions also. I fixed my car a couple times already by getting the answers here.

KennyR - yes, I am new to this care and I LOVE my LS400. Thanks for your feedback!

[Threadcutter]

I don't think the back seat is that hard to take out. Maybe mine is more worn or something because I can pop the bottom cushion out with my hands!

blake:

I thought you permanently removed your backseat?......................... :whistles: