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Rattling Headrest--how do a fix it?

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Old Jun 5, 2003 | 06:28 AM
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Question Rattling Headrest--how do a fix it?

I have a '95 F150 supercab with bench seat. The passenger headrest rattles. I can't stop it by stuffing a rag under it and pushing it down because the rattling seems to be down inside the seat back. Is there a way to pull it out and shim it (duct tape or whatever) so it won't rattle?
 
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Old Jun 5, 2003 | 08:48 AM
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Rattling Headrest--how do a fix it?

You can open the hog rings that hold the upholstery on the seat and peel it up far enough to look at the headrest mechanism. It may be bolted to the seat, so you might be able to tighten it & add some threadlocker.
 
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Old Jun 5, 2003 | 12:39 PM
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Rattling Headrest--how do a fix it?

There are little black clips that hold the headrests in and give them the ability to be moved up and down. Yours are obviously broken. I have broken and replaced mine several times. They are around $4 at the dealer for each.
 
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Old Jun 5, 2003 | 12:47 PM
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Rattling Headrest--how do a fix it?

Thanks, I assume the clips are on top of the seatback beneath the headrest. I will certainly replace them before the rattle drives me nuts.
 
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Old Jun 6, 2003 | 10:09 AM
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Rattling Headrest--how do a fix it?

Both black plastic clip holders were OK until I messed with it. I broke one of them. Can't figure how to replace them unless I tear the seat apart. And the rattle seems to be the whole frame inside the seat, not the plastic clip holder part. Actually one holder is broken on my side and my head rest doesn't rattle. But I did get rid of the rattle by simply removing the passenger side headrest. That'll do for now.
 
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Old Jun 6, 2003 | 12:08 PM
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Rattling Headrest--how do a fix it?

Both of my black clips are broken on both seats. Thanks to my brother that yanked up on the headrests one day. All I did to stop the rattling was to spread the posts on the headrest apart a little then put them back into the seat. This gave them a nice interference fit. They stay down and don't rattle. I never pull them up to use them anyway, I'm too tall.


John
 
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Old Jun 6, 2003 | 12:13 PM
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Rattling Headrest--how do a fix it?

All I did to stop the rattling was to spread the posts on the headrest apart a little then put them back into the seat. This gave them a nice interference fit.
Brilliant solution! I didn't think of that, probably because the rattle is front/back and the spread you mention is side/side, but the tightness achieved by the spread would do the trick anyway. Now I don't need new plastic pieces because the posts will keep them in place and there is one clip working on each side to hold the rest up when needed. I will have it fixed tonight. Thanks a million!
 
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Old Jun 6, 2003 | 02:29 PM
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Rattling Headrest--how do a fix it?

Originally posted by John7894
I never pull them up to use them anyway, I'm too tall.
The taller you are, the higher they should be. If your head rolls back when someone rearends you, it can bruise your brain or snap your spine, so the headrest should be directly behind your skull.
 
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Old Jun 6, 2003 | 02:44 PM
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Rattling Headrest--how do a fix it?

John may be about like me, 6'2" Fully extended, the top of the headrest is probably about ear level. Still I keep mine up. I am more concerned about the mere 3 inches between my skull and the roof. Not sure that is much leeway in a rollover.
 
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Old Jun 6, 2003 | 03:52 PM
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Rattling Headrest--how do a fix it?

I'm 6'7". There is no way that headrest os going that high.

John
 
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Old Jun 7, 2003 | 06:16 AM
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Rattling Headrest--how do a fix it?

And they call me tall Paul ... though that was in reference to a 5'2" Paul. You must have it in the legs then or your head would be into the roof.

As it turns out, to stop the rattle I had to bend the last few inches of each headrest post separately in a vise in the front/back direction.

There is still a bit of a rattle, but now I have to address a wheel that has become unbalanced or possible I need to rotate the tires.
 
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Old Mar 22, 2004 | 01:32 AM
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The passenger headrest on my '93 has been driving me crazy since I bought the truck 3 months ago. I finally remembered to take a look at it today when I had some spare time.

Both of my plastic clips appeared to be broken, but were intact enough to hold the headrest very solidly. That said, the clips did not fit tight against the metal frame of the seat, thus the rattle. I took two small finishing nails (3d) and tapped them down between the metal seat frame and the plastic clip (one on each post). There is no longer any rattle whatsoever, and the nails are only visible if you pull the headrest out and look down the holes.

Now if I can eliminate the annoying seat belt squeak on the driver's side, I'll be free of annoying noises in the passenger compartment.
 
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