[tnorfitz]

We removed the rear seat head rests. Improves the rear vision and accessibilty for attaching car seats.

 

[RIT333]

We removed the rear seat head rests. Improves the rear vision and accessibilty for attaching car seats.

Can you explain the process again, pls. I tried last night, but wasn't successful. THX

 

[NoobNox]

I've been told by the dealer they cannot be removed or adjusted...they are fixed.

Pls tell us your method...as I can now see a bit of an advantage to doing this.

I know the method, but wasn't successful on my single attempt to do it by myself. You'll need something long and small enough to fit the tiny holes in 2 plastic bases where the headrest rods go into the seat. Two allen wrenches of appropriate size would be best since one of the holes will be facing directly under the headrest..the trick is to push in the release for both rods simultaneously and then lift the headrest off. The hard part is that you can't start lifting until both are released, and that is very difficult to do since the headrest sits so close to the seatback. It would help if you had a second person push down slightly on the headrest while a second carefully inserts the tools and clicks the releases...and the the push person could pull up on the headrest after they are released. Hope this makes sense..

 

[tnmats]

I know the method, but wasn't successful on my single attempt to do it by myself. You'll need something long and small enough to fit the tiny holes in 2 plastic bases where the headrest rods go into the seat. Two allen wrenches of appropriate size would be best since one of the holes will be facing directly under the headrest..the trick is to push in the release for both rods simultaneously and then lift the headrest off. The hard part is that you can't start lifting until both are released, and that is very difficult to do since the headrest sits so close to the seatback. It would help if you had a second person push down slightly on the headrest while a second carefully inserts the tools and clicks the releases...and the the push person could pull up on the headrest after they are released. Hope this makes sense..

Interesting, as I too thought you could not remove the rear headrests. In the owner's manual it says the rear headrests are fixed and cannot be moved. Look on pg. 2-2 in the Equinox owner's manual:

"The vehicle's rear seat head restraints are not adjustable."

I took that to mean they can't be taken out.

So where exactly is this hole? I looked over the headrests and couldn't find anything that would allow removal.

 

[TerryG]

The holes are quite small and are on the side of the posts right at the seat level. I used a jewlers driver (small and rigid). Once I pressed on the clip I lifted it the least little bit to keep it from locking in place again. That was the challenge. Once both have been depressed then it will slid up and off. It was a challenge but hang in there.

 

[BigDanInTX]

Took all of two minutes to remove both head rests. Once I saw what I was doing, I quickly found the right tool and went to work. =-]

It's odd that all four holes face the same direction. I expected them all to be on the outside. The inner holes were a little tricky, but easy to trigger once I figured it out.

I imagine one of the bigger paper clips would suffice for rear head rest take-down. Smaller ones would probably not.

 

[Mrmidnite2]

Thanks folks...followed your instructions and got the rear headrests out real quickly.
NOW I can see to back up into my garage without the headrests blocking the view..
Thanks!!!

 

[airplane]

The rear vision is very poor with the rear head rests in place. I did remove the head rests but do think that the head rests should be in place with passengers in the rear seats. What I did was purchased pan head screws #4 by 3/8 inch and screwed them into the holes that hold the headrests in place. Now if there are passengers in the rear seats I just slip the headrests in place. Very easy to remove.

By the way I painted the screws black. You can hardly see them now.

 

[georgi55]

The rear vision is very poor with the rear head rests in place. I did remove the head rests but do think that the head rests should be in place with passengers in the rear seats. What I did was purchased pan head screws #4 by 3/8 inch and screwed them into the holes that hold the headrests in place. Now if there are passengers in the rear seats I just slip the headrests in place. Very easy to remove.

Can you describe what you did in layman terms and how it works? They was I nunderstood is you blocked the opening with screw, so how does that work when "slipping" them back?

 

[gar187er]

the screw pushes on the retaining clip so that the headrests slide in and out without locking into place...

laymans terms- that what he used...he put a screw into the hole.....

 

[skiziks]

Dang it, I learn so much from this forum.

Can't thank you members enough.

Removing those headrests and making them permanently removable was a chore of joy.

And a little wonderment as to why GM thinks that they should be permanent and non-adjustable.

Thanks again.

 

[scbearsfan]

And a little wonderment as to why GM thinks that they should be permanent and non-adjustable.

Thanks again.

[/quote]

Could be possible lawsuits, even if the owner took them off, GM might still be sued if someone is injured from not having the headrest in by a lawyer looking for a quick settlement.

 

[tmozer]

Well I just gave it a shot. It is the small hole in the black plastic bushing that the headrest rods go into correct?

I tried with large bent paperclips. I tried with small nails. I tried from the back seat. I tried from the rear compartment. I tried with the seats folded down.

I push in but do not feel anything happening. How is it supposed to feel when they release?

 

[bowtieman]

You have to take the black piece off, just get under it with something flat like a large flat head screwdriver or trim remover and it will pop up. You will then see the spring piece, you have to press both sides with fingers to release the headrest rods and push up. Hope that helps. I am gonna make a how to video soon.

Here are some pics

 

[bowtieman]

Ignore the lil holes the black pieces have, they are useless lol well at least on the 2012 and up.

 

[ronwel]

Ignore the lil holes the black pieces have, they are useless lol well at least on the 2012 and up.

I have a 2012 Nox, and was able to remove the headrests without removing the plastic caps. I used the metal ends of an very small bungie cord that I had. I bent the ends into an 'L" shape, and they fit perfectly into the little holes. I worked on one post at a time...applying pressure to the metal pin AND pushing up on the headrest at the same time. I was able to wedge my hand under the headrest (I was in the back cargo area) and pushed up. Once the post moved up a little, I kept upward pressure on the headrest, and then worked on the second post. Once the second post moved a bit I applied equal upward pressure on the headrest, and it popped right up.

Took about 3 minutes.

I removed my headrest so that I could attach the centre strap of my son's car seat. I did not remove the headrest with my daughters headrest, and now there is a permanent dent in the foam. The back of the car seat also is a bit "sharp", and it creased the foam as well.

 

[tmozer]

Thanks for all the suggestions and help. However, after thinking about it, I had a "smack yourself in the head" moment. I was going to remove the rear headrest because it is only my wife and I the vast majority of the time. But those few times we do have rear seat passengers I would want to have the headrest present and probably would be legally required to have them installed. Then I thought "You know, the freaken seats fold down. If the headrests bother me, just fold the seat down." A much more practical solution.......

 

[bowtieman]

Yea folding down the seat is prob better solution if they bug you. I thought about that too if I have passengers and we got in a accident, prob not that good for their neck's lol
But when we moved it was nice to take them off to gain more room.

 

[g-man]

Yeap found the two holes and removed the headrests. Did a little different route and did not put in a screw but popped the plastic cap off and removed the sliding locking tab and replaced the plastic cover. Now I can when I remove and replace the headrest and they will not lock any more. Keeping the parts so could in the future put the locking pins back.

 

[RIT333]

Yeap found the two holes and removed the headrests. Did a little different route and did not put in a screw but popped the plastic cap off and removed the sliding locking tab and replaced the plastic cover. Now I can when I remove and replace the headrest and they will not lock any more. Keeping the parts so could in the future put the locking pins back.

How did you get the plastic cover off ?

THX