Headrest adjuster clip missing

I called Ranchos and they won’t sell just parts off a seat...dangit

 

There are occasionally folks on the TW Buy/Sell/Trade 1st Gen Tacoma Parts Marketplace (1995-2004) Forum who are parting out vehicles with seats they are willing to cannibalize. Bonus, these tiny parts won't cost an arm and a leg to ship! LOL

 

Seems like seats hardly ever get parted out.

 

do you know where you can find the springs? mines missing both and it sits there rattling the whole time.
hardware stores didnt have a spring small enough.

 

Sorry I don't.

 

all good. dont have one to take measurements off of and order one online so i might try to make one. thanks anyway though.

 

no idea if the size is anywhere close to right but would the spring from a clicky type ball point pen work?

 

that was the first thing i tried Haha. even a few different mechanical pencils, theyre too big. i went through my whole pen drawer looking for a sacrifice.

 

Maybe hit up a local junk yard and check some headrests? I've never taken one apart but I imagine any of the ones that have some sort of release button might be built very similarly.

 

Spring:
I was able to replicate the springs today using a #87 extension spring. I got a 1 inch #87 extension spring, and extended it out about 1.75 inches stretching it essentially making it a #87 compression spring. I then clipped it to the same size in length as the original. It doesn't work as well, but it gets the job done. It's a little too strong so, if you are really OCD about it you could probably make it just perfect.

Fixing the Headrest:
I pulled the upholstery off mine, used some duct tape on the inside to get the bar down on the foam, and then put some Flex Waterproof Silicon Epoxy down on the bottom of the bar on the inside. Then I sprayed inside, filling the gaps of the foam with "Great Stuff" Expanding foam, the yellow fire-resistant type. I then duct taped the thing into shape with only three strips to keep it closed, and then used more Flex waterproof silicon on the cracked edge exteriors of the foam to keep them closed, and also filled the inside of the holes where the metal bar comes in at the bottom with Flex Silicon. After an hour of curing, I flattened or cut off any protruding "Great Stuff" foam that expanded out of the cracks. Left the duct tape on, the thing is solid worked great!

 

I have a second one more to do, and I can grab another spring for a buck tmrw so I'll shoot some photos

 

Gracias! I find Ace Hardware has an incredible array of springs for sale.

 

How do you remove the pin/nail from the button bracket? Can’t seem to get it out

 

You need to pull up the little "bump" or "set pin" with something that won't tear it up too bad. Besure to HOLD ONTO the side push button because the second you pull that "set pin" up the spring for the side button will shoot it out and the spring will go with it and you can lose the spring super easy.

 

Thanks for responding… what did you use to pull it up? I’ve tried a push pin to kinda dig it out and a magnet to try and pull it up but nothing was working. Any suggestions?

 

I wouldn't advise for it cause it could cause possible damage, but I wrapped the ends of needle nose plyers with electrical tape and was able to get a small purchase on it.

 

Awesome thanks… I was gonna try a stronger magnet and if that doesn’t work put some sort of tacky adhesive on the end of a paperclip… any other suggestions are welcome

 

The pin on mine had worked it's way up a little, so it was easy to get it the rest of the way out. Maybe the hole goes all the way through and you can push it up from the bottom.

 

I got mine out by working it up with the tip of a sharp knife (disposable razor blade). Kind of ended up gouging the surrounding plastic, because I had to dig for the head of the pin a bit. Worth it for a locking headrest! Bonus tip--if you can't find a new clip for your driver's seat, there is always a passenger seat ready to cannibalize Also can vouch that the clip and springs will come flying out with 3x more force that one would imagine, have a catch cup or something ready.