because i asked this guya at a local upholstery shop, and the guy said that metal frame thing runs throught the head rest and if i cut if off my seat will be flimzy and a piece of s**T
i did my 99 like 3 years ago, just cut the bracing off, it will not be flimzy, but seriously, i wish i wouldnt have cut mine off cuz it suks leaning my head on the backwindow while cruizing, i got pics on acrophobia.net