SEABELT HARNESS Report

[PDQSHIP@aol.com]

In a message dated 96-11-03 19:00:33 EST, you write:

<< In reference to your mentioning that some people don't use the harnesses
 in the cars.....
 
 In NH......if you have a 5 point harness installed in your car, your car
 will not pass inspection unless the original belt system is there.
 Reason?  The 5 point harness is not a federally approved "safety device".
 Duh.....
  >>
....  And after seeing (and correcting) some of the installs of aftermarket
harnesses I know why...  I might even go so far as to not pass a car if the
aftermarket uses the same mounting points with the original belt system...
 Some of the belts have upgrade hardware that is actually unsafe in the
mounting of belts...  FI, the 5kt/q's use a 17mm bolt on the belt clip
attachment at the center of the car, both driver and passenger....  Adding an
additional belt to that mount would require a longer bolt to attach to that
mounting point (yup, included with kit).....  Hmmmm, when one does that (BT),
the seat will no longer move fore and aft...  So, the choice is to <delete>
factory belt, or ignore the fact that you will use the stock bolt length on a
double mount....  Safety now compromised on both belt systems...  In NH, by
your definition, trisha, this would be perfectly legal....   Hmmmm....   

In regards to aftermarket belts, there are several out there...  I have a
racing background and would always recommend the professional (FI:simpson and
pyrotect) belting systems...  I have installed a few of the schroth systems,
and found them to be a little on the skinny side, but the protection is
better than a stock belt....  Most, schroths won't pass a race tech
inspection anyhow, so not a big deal....  I will warn however, that one NEVER
EVER install a used belt system....  A certain audi "vendor" is/has selling
some units here in the US, used from europe....  I refused to install them
for the guy that asked, that to me is a no-no....  You don't know what
stresses (environmental and driver) that belt was exposed to, and for the
savings in price, one could pay the biggest price, just once....  Reminds me
of the bad joke about the cracked helmet for sale (only used once)....

My observations on most of the street car install/applications is that the
folks that buy them usually don't install the crotch belt with the
shoulder/lap system...  Given the fit of separate shoulder belts, this
absence tends to create lap belt creep-up, which, can negate all the gains
one is trying to acheive...  Specifically, I found the schroths electric
retractor feature on the shoulder belt tends to exacerbate this syndrome....
 I personally wouldn't put an aftermarket on without the crotch feature, esp
when one considers the propensity to submarine when audi drivers need to
recline the seat to fit helmet into car (thanks to motorized seats and
sunroofs mostly).....  I might add (hey, on a roll anyhow) that you may want
an SCCA racer teach you the proper tie down to the mounting buckles on your
belts, esp the slip fit ones......  Been in several cars that the belts would
have just slid right out if there was a catostrophic impact....  

Bottom line is, the stock belts on your auto are adequate, properly mounted
(anchors and driver) racing belts are prolly better, but properly mounted and
used is the key for either...  Anyone can sell them, doesn't mean anyone who
uses them is safer....

Scott