Seatbelts

[KenC]

I just got some new seatbelts in the mail, but the belts on both are retracted and I can't pull them out of the rolling mechanism. It's almost as if they're locking when I try to pull them out; they'll pull out about 1/8" and then lock. Any ideas how I can pull them out so I can install them?

[mikeedler]

dont think you can anymore. My friend works at a german stripping yard, and they always tie a knot in them before they take em out.

[KenC]

dont think you can anymore. My friend works at a german stripping yard, and they always tie a knot in them before they take em out.

So they just get to a certain point and they get locked in? Strange...

[Jordan]

Bulshit. I've pulled them out many times. Just figure it out Ken.

[Digitalwave]

Put them in the exact position that they would be mounted in the car, and then pull on them gently and they will come out.

[AndrewBird]

Ah... THe whole locking seatbelt thing. I have messed with e30 seatbelts and they are pretty straight forward. There is a ball bearing inside of them that its on a hinged plate. When in a crash, the ball bearing moves forward or up or what ever and locks the seatbelt. This ball bearing will also lock the seat belt when it is inverted or not sitting in the right mounting postion. If they are mounted in the car, they should work.

Another thing to consider though, was the car you got them out of wrecked, or are they new seatbelts? If it was wrecked, then the hinged plate may need to be put back in place. From what I could tell, it looked as if the bearing pushes the hinged farther then normal in a bad crash to permently lock the belt. Just snap it back in the right place and it should work.

Andrew

[jflower]

keep in mind that if they were in a wreck, they've elongated. it's like a helmet.. use it once and throw it away. not saying the belt will snap in an impact, but it could easily be the difference of inches between you hitting or not hitting the steering wheel in a sub 30mph impact.