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Floppy armrest - how to fix?

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SebRogers View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SebRogers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Floppy armrest - how to fix?
    Posted: 22 Jun 10 at 09:47
One of the armrests on the passenger side captain's seat on my Westy has gone all wobbly and floppy Cry It still swivels up and down but has way too much play in it, probably not helped by my five year old's tendency to use it as a piece of playground equipment LOL

Anyhoo... I can't for the life of me work out how to get inside to see what the problem is. There are two screws holding the black plastic trim on the underside, but the angle adjuster knob thingumy is in the way of one of them and doesn't seem to want to screw all the way out.

Anyone got any pointers?
'85 T3 Doka EJ22
'94 T4 Westy Cali Club ABT 2.4td
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BALDY3260 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 10 at 12:15
hi seb had the same problem with one of mine, i did find a thread either here or 80-90 to help fix it but buggered if i can find it nowConfused, what i remember is, squeeze arm rest near swivel point and there is a roll pin to knock out, arm rest then comes off, tighten the two screws that fix it to the seat(the swivel bar) then slide arm rest back on, fcuk about for ages trying to get roll pin back in( i think they only go in one way) finally have non floppy arm restWinkLOL baldy
quite helpfull if you can get another pair of hands to help out tooWink

Edited by BALDY3260 - 22 Jun 10 at 12:30
'95 T4 syncro multivan '08 fiat500(mrs b's)1968 eriba pan/familia (also mrs b's)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wilf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 10 at 14:31
There's some useful info on this site http://www.weidefamily.net/vanagon/

From home page go to /interior/armrest repair and you'll find step by step instructions with photos as well!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RichardN Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 10 at 15:46
Just a word of warning here - don't unscrew the big adjuster thingy too much as they can come off the nut inside the armrest and are a pig to get back (or so I'm told).

Richard

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BANANABUS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 10 at 16:01
Originally posted by RichardN RichardN wrote:

Just a word of warning here - don't unscrew the big adjuster thingy too much as they can come off the nut inside the armrest and are a pig to get back (or so I'm told).

Richard



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jason k Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 10 at 17:12
yup its the roll pin thats gone prob seb. easy enough to do .
 
new roll pins available at vw too.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Joker_Club Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 10 at 17:13
    What Richard said, it`s a right tw@t if you unscrew the adjuster. Here`s how it`s done, from the link above........
      Carefully remove the couple of phillips screws holding the black plastic end cover on.
    1. Slip the fabric off the foam like a stocking. It will be a tight one but it is possible to remove it w/o damage.
    2. Once off, it will be obvious how that adjusting knob and rod goes into the armrest.
    3. First you have to cut the molded foam cover.
    4. The plastic channel within the armrest should now be visible.
    5. Within that channel is the free sliding nut which is supposed to mate with your adjusting rod.
    6. I used a needle nose pliers to hold the nut steady whilst threading the adjusting rod back in.
    7. Don't forget to thread it through the plastic end piece or you will have to start over.
    8. Glue foam back together again.
    9. Pull upholstery back over and you should have a functioning armrest. Easier said than done but it is possible.
    10. Reinstall, being careful of the angle that you put the rest back on at, I did mine backward, just once.
    Sunny Lancs
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    Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jason k Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 10 at 17:17
    yeah but thats if he has unscrewed it all the way. his problem sounds like lateral movement which is the roll pin.
    Bcs shallowest surf award winner 2006
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    Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SebRogers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 10 at 08:50
    Thanks everyone, some brilliant information and advice there Smile I'll get to it when I have a spare 1/2 hour...

    Cheers!
    '85 T3 Doka EJ22
    '94 T4 Westy Cali Club ABT 2.4td
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    Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RichardN Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 10 at 10:57
    Just to add to this thread, I have just fixed my armrest (yesterday) which had one of the two screws holding the arm on come out completely and drop into the chair. Luckily it was stuck on the vinyl so I could reach it. How one could unscrew and fall out while the other was still in tight I don't know. It must be some sort of vibration thing as you move the armrest up and down.

    Anyway, after trying various methods to get the roll pin out for about 20 minutes I found the perfect answer with a Philips screwdriver with a shank the same diameter as the pin. Stick the end of the screwdriver into the end of the pin that has a slight bevel and twat it hard with a hammer. It came straight out in seconds.

    After tightening the screws on the bracket (or whatever it is you need to fix) put the armrest back into place, lining up the holes as well as you can, then put the pin onto a long thin screwdriver (where the shank goes right through the pin) to line up the pin into the holes by pushing the screwdriver through the hole. If you use a long screwdriver it holds all the foam out the way for you as well which makes this far easier. Give the head of the screwdriver a few taps to get the pin started through the hole and then swap back to the bigger Philips one and give it some more wacks with the hammer until the pin is in the right place.

    This method made a job that I had struggled with for about 30 minutes so quick that I got the pin out, tightened the bracket and got the pin back on the other armrest in under 5 minutes.

    Hope it helps.

    Richard
     
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    Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Joker_Club Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 10 at 12:59

    The armrests on my seats are held on with 6mm thin-headed allen bolts and Nylocs, not roll-pins. All 4 are the same, so I don`t think they`ve all been changed from roll-pins to bolts.

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    Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RichardN Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 10 at 13:27
    I would expect that, if one armrest is loose the chances are the others could do with a tighten at the same time so it's possible that the PO (or a lazy mechanic) checked and tightened them all but couldn't get the roll pins back in (or couldn't be bothered to try) so took the alternative route of using the bolts. I've never seen any mention of bolts in posts about this on any other T3 sites.

    It's a mystery!!!LOL

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    Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jason k Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 10 at 18:07
    Originally posted by Joker_Club Joker_Club wrote:

    The armrests on my seats are held on with 6mm thin-headed allen bolts and Nylocs, not roll-pins. All 4 are the same, so I don`t think they`ve all been changed from roll-pins to bolts.

    the roll pin is not where the bracket bolts into the seat. the roll pin is where the arm fixes to the seat bracketWink
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    Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Joker_Club Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 10 at 19:27
    Originally posted by jason k jason k wrote:

    Originally posted by Joker_Club Joker_Club wrote:

    The armrests on my seats are held on with 6mm thin-headed allen bolts and Nylocs, not roll-pins. All 4 are the same, so I don`t think they`ve all been changed from roll-pins to bolts.

    the roll pin is not where the bracket bolts into the seat. the roll pin is where the arm fixes to the seat bracketWink
    That`s where the bolts are, through the tube part in the armrest and  through the smaller diameter tube that it fits over, that is the bracket screwed to the seats. ISRI seat if that makes a difference?
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    Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tee3 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 10 at 19:49
    my ISRI seats had nuts and bolts on their armrests.

    My Bluestar has roll pins


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    Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Joker_Club Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 10 at 21:01
    Cheers Tee3, that clears that up Thumbs Up  For those struggling to get the roll pins back in, might be easier to use allen bolts and nuts.
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    Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote simoncummins Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 10 at 22:08
    Mine was loose but i found it was held on by alan screws i cut the short side of a 4mm alan key even shorter held the foam back and got the alan key in with out removeing the arm rest. Hope that makes sence.
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    Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote robthedon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 10 at 23:23
    Originally posted by Joker_Club Joker_Club wrote:

      What Richard said, it`s a right tw@t if you unscrew the adjuster. Here`s how it`s done, from the link above........
        Carefully remove the couple of phillips screws holding the black plastic end cover on.
      1. Slip the fabric off the foam like a stocking. It will be a tight one but it is possible to remove it w/o damage.
      2. Once off, it will be obvious how that adjusting knob and rod goes into the armrest.
      3. First you have to cut the molded foam cover.
      4. The plastic channel within the armrest should now be visible.
      5. Within that channel is the free sliding nut which is supposed to mate with your adjusting rod.
      6. I used a needle nose pliers to hold the nut steady whilst threading the adjusting rod back in.
      7. Don't forget to thread it through the plastic end piece or you will have to start over.
      8. Glue foam back together again.
      9. Pull upholstery back over and you should have a functioning armrest. Easier said than done but it is possible.
      10. Reinstall, being careful of the angle that you put the rest back on at, I did mine backward, just once.


      Hi all,

      Ok, so I'm trying to correct the problem where the adjusting knob has been over loostened and nut has fallen off inside, leading to droopy armrest.

      I have done stages 1-4. However now revealed, the plastic channel is almost entirely enclosed, with only a couple of small square shaped holes (2 on the underside, 1 on the back) where you can see the thread of the adjusting pin. I can hear the loose nut rattling around inside but try as I might (I've fiddled with it for about 1.5 hours this evening), I can't get it to go where the holes are so I can set it in the right place to thread it back on.
      Has anyone else encountered this problem and how did they get past it?

      I'm tempted to drill some holes in the plastic housing now, but not knowing what lies inside, I'm not sure if I'd damage things?

      Also do others find the adjustment know and thread will not come out from the plastic housing? It feels like there is a shim inside stopping this?

      Finally for future reference of others who wondered at stage 3 where to cut the foam, the section you need to cut is the back and underside rear 3 inches. Make a gash going front to back along that section and it will reveal the 3 "windows" I mention above (n.b they might be behind the glue layer of the foam to start with so might not be instantly visible).

      Any help on stages 4, 5, 6 greatly appreciated!!

      Rob


      Rob Don

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      Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote robthedon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jul 10 at 20:35
      anyone any ideas?
      Rob Don

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