Why the front of the centre arm rest never stays in place

[GDII]

I may have found the reason why the front of almost every SW20 arm rest/ centre console never stays in place and moves around like a really cheaply built car.

There is a bracket that the front of the arm rest/shifter plate area screws into under the shift lever surround. This saddle bracket also connects to the ash tray mount and base of the climate control/radio surround. It is not listed as a seperate part number even though it has a part never molded into it. 55463-17010. Based on the parts diagram it is part of the main dashboard or dash pad. Based on the foam on the saddle bracket and the dashboard AND the parts diagram showing it as part of it, it used to be connected to it. Not very well for that matter. So it seems like glueing it down will stop this moving if your car happens to still have all the parts there.

Parts diagram showing the part connected to the dashboard and no separate part number

Parts diagram

1581024637001.png (97.29 KiB) Viewed 1033 times

A few photos showing the mechanical fixings or parts.

SW20 Centre console shifter saddle.jpg (141.57 KiB) Viewed 1033 times

Ash tray mount screw

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SW20 Centre console shifter saddle 2.jpg (182.33 KiB) Viewed 1033 times

You can see here the foam disconnection where it should be glued down. This is where a good mechanical connection should stop the front moving around.

Foam disconnection

How it should stay in place

How far up it can move