Headrest re-stuffing - anyone done it?

[worzella]

I bought new seat sets from World Up. and was pleased to see new headrest covers. I finally took my old ones and clipped the threads holding the opening together. Then I muscled the crap out of the metal frame and got it out and equally pushed, pulled, crushed and otherwise man-handled the formed foam insert.

I got it out, but I was hoping for any advice on getting it back into the new covers... without tearing the new opening!

If anyone has done this, are there any tricks? Can the foam be "warmed" in a low oven or with a heat gun to make it more compressible maybe? It is fairly rigid material, especially the hard side pieces.

Anyway, I know this is an obscure question, but one of you smart '02'ers has the answer

Randy

[Timmer]

Randy,

I've put new headrest covers on, bought them from World Upholstery as well and had some sore finger tips after that but don't know about replacing the foam as the pieces in my '76 2002 were still in fine shape. With all the different types of foam/poly-foam, etc..probably something out there pretty managable.

Tim.

[esty]

i'd recommend warming the vinyl...it'll stretch more...have a hair dryer handy and warm it as you go...just be careful and don't burn it

[worzella]

Thanks Tim and Esty,

I'll try the hair dryer approach... I plan to re-use my original foam since it, too, is in fine shape... although a bit musty smelling ;o)

BTW... Esty, my carpet set is down to the final install of the center tunnel piece and then the floor items.... my re-done seats are just "jones'in" to be installed. Looks awesome.. thanks again.

[Timmer]

Randy,

Do your new headrest covers from "World" have the zipper?

Tim.

[worzella]

If, by zipper, you mean the cloth strips on either side of the opening... no... that seems to be the only difference from my originals. Instead, the World items just have the vinyl edge... which I guess I can pull the two together and use some thick upholstery thread and sew a few stitches across to close the opening.

Randy

[esty]

If, by zipper, you mean the cloth strips on either side of the opening... no... that seems to be the only difference from my originals. Instead, the World items just have the vinyl edge... which I guess I can pull the two together and use some thick upholstery thread and sew a few stitches across to close the opening.

Randy

or find a couple of small zip ties and pull the opening together near the posts

[bluedevils]

Professionals use a plastic bag and vacuum cleaner. You put the foam in a bag and vacuum it. It will shrink the foam and make it easy to slide the cover. Then you can leave the bag or pull it. This place might have the special bags:

http://www.atrim.com/

It is an ancient web site so it is a little odd to navigate.

[jgerock]

Try using a dry cleaner bag wrapped pulled down over the seat back or head rest foam.