Rear seat belts

Post by **m3evo321** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:30 pm

Hi Does anyone have any info on fitting rear lap belts in a convertible please
regards

Post by **rayofleamington** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:08 am

AFAIK you can fit rear belts in a convertile the same way as done for a saloon. Lap belts might be harder to get hold of.
The one thing to take care of if/when choosing seatbelt base units for the rear shelf is that they are not too big, so that they don't interfere with the hood too much.

Post by **simmitc** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:20 am

Lap belts (as opposed to inertia reel) are easy to fit as there are only two mountings (one at each end) which are bolted through the floor (near the tunnel) and the inner wing (near the joint with the main rail). Belts are available from many traders (definitely Birmingham) and the area around the bolts should be reinforced - ESM supply suitable plate with nut already welded on.

A lap belt does not provide the same degree of protection as an inertia reel, which is not as good as a harness; but it's horses for courses. A lap belt would be ideal for a third central passenger.

Post by **Peetee** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:10 am

A lap belt does not provide the same degree of protection as an inertia reel

Too true. Personally I wouldn't fit lap belts because of the proximity of the front seat frames to a torso swinging forward. Sorry to be so brutal but it is the top half of a body you need to protect so if you are considering seatbelts at all they should be 3 point.
I fitted these to my convertible by bolting the reel inside the boot and passing the belt through a slot in the parcel shelf.
I will do a diagram and post a link this afternoon.

Post by **chrisd87** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:17 pm

Fitting static 3 point belts in the rear would get rid of the reel-box problem. You could use the parcel shelf quite easily then. I agree with the others here that lap belts aren't all that great as far as protection goes...

Post by **moggyminor16** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:34 pm

lap belts no go there sorry it will be better for you to put a slot in the rear shelf then pass throw the belt bolt it in the boot ,that is the way you should do it and will help the passagers in a accedent

Post by **Peetee** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:22 pm

As promised - a link to a diagram.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1 ... tbelts.jpg

Post by **FlyingScot** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 9:12 pm

Thanks for the image.
The belts you suggest from the VW polo, is that the rear belts or the front ones?
Steve.