SL-Class (R129) 1990-2002: SL 280, SL 300, SL 320, SL 500, SL 600, SL 60 AMG

SL/R129: Headrest adjuster gear stuck 1996 SL500

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Old Mar 2, 2025 | 05:33 PM
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rbc3az's Avatar
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From: Arizona
2004 E55 AMG, 1996 SL500, 2004 E400 4Matic Wagon
Headrest adjuster gear stuck 1996 SL500

Hello,

I’m trying to replace the gears for the head rest adjuster but I can’t get one of the gears out. It just won’t budge. I’ve removed the clips but I’ve mangled the gear trying to get out but something else seems to be holding it. Is there a supersecret way to remove it that no one talks about nor shows in their videos?

Stuck gear
Stuck gear


Thanks
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Old Mar 2, 2025 | 08:09 PM
  #2  
rbc3az's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 47
Likes: 12
From: Arizona
2004 E55 AMG, 1996 SL500, 2004 E400 4Matic Wagon
I got it off! It was counterintuitive (to me anyway) but lightly tapping down on the center spindle with a punch pushed the spindle slowly out of the bottom and forced the gear off. Then, to install the new gear, I put the spindle back in from the bottom and used a long metal rod to hold it in place. There is a small hole in the bottom of the assembly that lines up with the metal tube where the spindle goes. The rod has to fit through this hole and up into the tube. I gently tapped the new gear down onto the spindle using a socket to protect the new gear.
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