In a message dated 9/4/2003 12:08:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

> I got this van and it has two armrests without the adjustable bolt in =
> there.  And they are flopping about.  I found in the pile the two =
> adjusting bolts but they won't go back in. =20
> Anyone did this before?  How to fix it?
> 
       Yes, I recently did this repair for a customer.  First remove the 
armrest by removing the drift pin.  This will be found by compressing the armrest 
fabric & foam where the armrest meets the seat back side at the pivot point.  
Once the armrest has been removed then remove the plastic front cover, four 
screws.  Remove the upholstery.  Slit the foam lengthways and remove the foam 
from the box section of the armrest so that you gain access to the side of the 
box that has a tape cover.    Remove the tape and you will find the "loose nut" 
that the adjuster is supposed to be threaded into.  The problem now is that 
that nut is to be inserted in a slot at the rear of the box and it will fall 
out every time you turn the armrest right side up.  You need to devise a way to 
keep that nut there while you reassemble the armrest to the point the fabric 
and plastic cover are back in place before inserting the adjuster.  I did this 
by using a piece of coat hanger wire from one end through to the other going 
through the nut.  Then once the armrest box tape cover, foam, upholstery and 
plastic cover were back in place with the armrest in upside-down position, so 
the nut does not fall out of its slot, remove the wire and insert the adjusting 
screw.  There is a plastic tab in there that is supposed to allow the adjuster 
to go in but not be unscrewed back out.  This plastic tab may have been 
damaged when the adjusters were removed forcefully by whomever in an attempt to 
repair the wobbling armrest.  The wobble is most often caused by the pivot 
attached to the seat back being broken or its retaining screws have come loose.  You 
only need to remove the armrest from the pivot by removing the drift pin to 
repair this problem.  The adjuster screw retaining tabs can be seen when you 
have the tape cover off the box.  This job is tedious and a giant PITA but it 
can be done successfully if you take your time and work methodically.  The foam 
can be glued back in place, foam to foam and foam to box, using contact 
ciment.  Good luck !

Cheers��

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm">BusFusion</A> a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13, 2004
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Member: <A HREF="http://www.vanagon.com/">Vanagon List</A>, <A HREF="http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/">LiMBO</A>, <A HREF="http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/">IWCCC</A> & <A HREF="http://www.ccvwc.ca/">CCVWC</A>  
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers</A> �
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli & Associates</A> or http://frankcondelli.com