Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General need help with drivers seat armrest removal.

After 58,000 miles, my drivers seat in my 98 SE decided that a more practical driving position is lying as far back as the seat will allow, giving me a great view of the dome light. I found a seat at a junk yard for $75, but the cloth is really messy. I took the car to the dealer for an estimate, and they quoted $405 just to replace the recliner adjuster. So that option is out. For some reason, even the "mechanics" at the dealership had no clue as to how to remove the armrest from the seat. The only option I can think of is to cut the d@mn thing off with a hacksaw. Is there a way to remove the armrest, or am I stuck with rust stains from the "new" seat for ever? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

I checked the service CD...

Front Seat Armrest (401310)


Removal

1. Fold the armrest down.

2. CAUTION:
To prevent damage to the seat cover, make sure the tie rod splitter is properly cleaned before use.

CAUTION:
Make sure the tie rod splitter is not contacting the arm rest stop.

Note:
Insert the tie rod splitter between the seat backrest and the armrest.

Note:
The tie rod splitter should split the plastic bush.

Remove the armrest.

Lever off the arm rest from the seat backrest.

Refer to corresponding illustration.

3. Remove the plastic bush from the front seat backrest.


Installation

1. Install the plastic bush.

Immerse the plastic bush in a container of hot water (60ºC/140ºF) for 5 minutes.

2. Install the preheated bush into the front seat backrest.

3. Install the armrest.

Push the armrest into the bush until it locks into place.

There are pictures, but I have no easy way of getting them posted.

DAMN...beat me to it. I just removed mine about a month ago and it couldn't figure it out until I looked at the service manual. I never would have thought to use a tie rod seperator. It will probably seem like it will not seperate because mine did...I thought I was going to break the seat before I got the darn arm rest off. Good Luck.

Thanks for the reply's. But, I dont know if I have the same type of armrest as you guys do. After I put this post up, I went outside again (I think as some sort of sado-masochistic way of making myself feel even more foolish) and got the padding pulled back enough to see the posts. One of them was hex shaped, so I figured I would just start prying away with a wrench, just in case I might get the thing to just break off. To my surprise, the armrest just loosened right up. The post was just a 3/4 inch nut. After a few turns, it fell right off. I will keep your instructions in mind just in case the new seat has a different type of armrest. Thanks again.

Oh yeah, by the way, where would I get a service CD?

Ford must have changed the armrest in 99...a few things changed IIRC. Look for a CD on ebay, or from Bill Jenkins once he gets moved, or a member here(I want to say Todras has some).

BTW, what color is your interior?

I should be getting new seats soon and you're welcome to the front ones if you're interested.

There are armrests on the seats??? I never knew that!! Eww!!

When Ford changed the center console in 98 they moved the armrest from the console 'lid' type like you probably have to the armrest attached to the side of the driver seat like this thread is about.