• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

The Infamous Headrest Mod

chavey

chavey

SM 2012
SM 2011
SM 2010
SM 2009
SM 2008
SM 2007
SM 2006
SM 2005
Full Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2005
Messages
4,237
Location
Austin, TX
You know, I've heard about it, I've seen it, I've seen it done, and now I've even done it myself.? BUT I don't think I've ever actually seen the thread on it (mind you, I didn't search).

So here it is.

For those wondering, to remove the headrests, you have to get a paper clip, push in the side of one of the headrest mounts while pressing the lever on the other one, hold your tongue just right, circle around three times while chanting the Kama Sutra, and then maybe, just maybe, you can get the headrest to come out of the seat.

So once you finally do that, you think that you don't want to actually put the headrest back in because you'll never get it out again.

That's where this mod comes in.? On one post of the headrest, the very last "notch" is cut to not allow the headrest to come out.? Why the General does this, I don't know.? But the fix is really simple.? In fact, you've now spent more time reading this post than what it would take to actually perform the mod (presuming you've already spent the 1-1/2 hrs to get the headrest actually out).

Just grab yourself a little grinder, dremel, metal file, etc.? Turn that last notch into a full "V" where the bottom side is angled like the top side.? Make it nice a smooth, and it will work out great.

Here's the before and after pics.? Sorry, camera flash makes it a little hard to see.
 

Attachments

  • Headrest Before Small.jpg
    Headrest Before Small.jpg
    88.6 KB · Views: 2,117
  • Headrest After Small.jpg
    Headrest After Small.jpg
    73.1 KB · Views: 2,111
I'm wondering what the point of being able to remove the headrest would be.  I understand if you feel the need to do something to it (re-cover it, stitch your name in it, etc.), but why would it be necessary to remove it often enough that you would bother with the removal just to cut a notch in it?? :p

 
ms38w said:
I'm wondering what the point of being able to remove the headrest would be.  I understand if you feel the need to do something to it (re-cover it, stitch your name in it, etc.), but why would it be necessary to remove it often enough that you would bother with the removal just to cut a notch in it?? :p
Click to expand...

So you can remove the head rests when you have the midgate down thus allowing you to have the seat back all the way.  As it comes from the factory, there isn't enough room with the head rest still attached for the front seats to go all the way back.
 
Tdybr27 said:
So you can remove the head rests when you have the midgate down thus allowing you to have the seat back all the way.? As it comes from the factory, there isn't enough room with the head rest still attached for the front seats to go all the way back.
Click to expand...
Yep, what he said.
 
I did this one a while back... its come in handy a few times. I wouldn't consider it "infamous" though...
 
Tdybr27 said:
So you can remove the head rests when you have the midgate down thus allowing you to have the seat back all the way.? As it comes from the factory, there isn't enough room with the head rest still attached for the front seats to go all the way back.
Click to expand...

I figured there had to be a logical reason that I just didn't see.  Being only 5'9" with boots on, the drivers seat doesn't ever go all the way back (and the wife is only 5'4")...nor have I yet had the desire/need to put the mid-gate down, but I have put the back seats down to haul groceries...works better with the seats up due to the slippery, hard seat backs.
 
Thread is old 2002ish
Started by XROVER i beleive

great mod for all to do.. heck GM should have done it
 
Very cool.  I still move the front seats to drop the back seats.

Im doing this mod but i dont have a Dremmel.  Filing it works just as good?
 
BlueDevil said:
Very cool.? I still move the front seats to drop the back seats.

Im doing this mod but i dont have a Dremmel.? ?Filing it works just as good?
Click to expand...

Yep, but it will take a little (okay, quite a bit) longer.  Ask a neighbor to borror a grinder.  It will take you less time to ask him, get it out of his garage, walk back to your house, do it, and then return it.
 
chAVey said:
Yep, but it will take a little (okay, quite a bit) longer.? Ask a neighbor to borror a grinder.? It will take you less time to ask him, get it out of his garage, walk back to your house, do it, and then return it.
Click to expand...


Douh!
doh.gif


I have a bench grinder (y)
 
Yet another thing to add to the list. Is there a better pic. on how much needs to be taken down? Or just match the other notches. Thanks.
 
firemedic said:
Yet another thing to add to the list. Is there a better pic. on how much needs to be taken down? Or just match the other notches. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Just match the other notches.  This is an EXTREMELY useful mod for those of us that drop the midgate alot.  You don't have to mess with moving the seats forward to let the seats and midgate down.  As for putting groceries in the back seat...... (n)  That's where the Bedslide comes in handy.... (y)
 
If I remember, it only takes about 15 seconds of filing with a hand file to get the notches to match up.  That metal is pretty soft.
 
Superbee383 said:
If I remember, it only takes about 15 seconds of filing with a hand file to get the notches to match up.  That metal is pretty soft.
Click to expand...
that's about it  (y)
 
After years of reading about this mod I finally completed it this weekend, it sure makes it easier to get the midgate down. I used my bench grinder to get her done.
 
ygmn said:
Thread is old 2002ish
Started by XROVER i beleive

great mod for all to do.. heck GM should have done it
Click to expand...

The reason GM has it set this way is a safety factor.  The thought behind it is: In a violent crash the headrest will stay attached to the
seat.  This will prevent them from comming loose and turning into projectiles in the cabin and causing bodily injury.

Yeah, sounds kind of trivial. But we all know that if they are left to come out freely and someone gets impaled by a headrest,
the first phone call they (or their family) is making is to an attorney to sue GM for failure to devise a way to keep the headrest in the seats.
 
Tango Chaser said:
The reason GM has it set this way is a safety factor.  The thought behind it is: In a violent crash the headrest will stay attached to the
seat.  This will prevent them from comming loose and turning into projectiles in the cabin and causing bodily injury.

Yeah, sounds kind of trivial. But we all know that if they are left to come out freely and someone gets impaled by a headrest,
the first phone call they (or their family) is making is to an attorney to sue GM for failure to devise a way to keep the headrest in the seats.
Click to expand...

But when seat is down.. they cannot go anywhere as they are against front seat....
and if seat is in nirmal sitting position then they cannot fly out as out is only UP???
 
ygmn said:
But when seat is down.. they cannot go anywhere as they are against front seat....
and if seat is in nirmal sitting position then they cannot fly out as out is only UP???
Click to expand...

Imagine truck rolls over => headrests fall out, then truck hits a tree or wall => headrests fly forward.

Still, it's a risk remote enough that I'm willing to take it in order to get better use of the seat folding.  I always feel scrunched in the front when the seat is forward enough to allow the back seats to fold.  This makes a big difference.

-- Rich
 
I think the last thing I would care about is a headrest hitting me if the AV is rolling over with me in it.
 
Cant really see how they would come out in the raised position..  You still have to exert a good amount of force to remove them..  When the seat is in the lowered position they tuck nicely underneath the seatback with the amps, strobe controllers, fuse panels, tool pouch, blanket,  empty bottles etc...
 
I got this mod done via Tom ( Z66 Moderator) while at the 2008 Wild West in Oregon. But have to say the seats still will not go all the way back in my AV anyway. The bottom rear seats go forward to the same position they always did and the midgate still goes where it always did and my seat has a built in kind of head rest in the center so if I gained any room it is very minimal at best.
 
Aussie Red said:
I got this mod done via Tom ( Z66 Moderator) while at the 2008 Wild West in Oregon. But have to say the seats still will not go all the way back in my AV anyway. The bottom rear seats go forward to the same position they always did and the midgate still goes where it always did and my seat has a built in kind of head rest in the center so if I gained any room it is very minimal at best.
Click to expand...

I'm 6' 1" (and shrinking  :p ).  For where I keep the driver's seat, not having the headrest in the back seat makes me able to put the back seat down without moving the front seat (either sliding it forward or tilting the back up).  Your mileage may vary.  In my case the rear seat bottoms are not tipped all the way forward, but are resting on the back of the front seat.  My moveable headrest is about twice as high as the "bump" headrest for the middle seat, and also the seat bottom seems to be thicker on the side seat, giving less clearance for the headrest as the seatback swings down.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top