Swapping Luke four point harness from passenger to driver's side

[Doc007]

Is it possible to swap the harness from one side to the other? When I had the kit delivered they sent two passenger side QR buckles and I recall opening the back assuming it would be a quick swap over but it then seemed to become complicated!

Any advice or How To Guides?

[Roger Ford]

How are you defining 'passenger side'?  Are you assuming the buckle is always on outside/inside of the car? I've swapped driver's side to passenger side before and not worried about the which side the buckle is on. I don't think I've ever seen them sold as left/right versions either, but might be wrong.

 

[Golf Juliet Tango]

Unbolt from chassis and swop outside for inside?  I have set both sets for buckle in the centre of the car.

[paul richards]

I think belts are considered handed because you have the buckle in the centre of the car avoiding it being thrown over the side of the car and denting the bodywork. 
it is possible to swap the buckles by removing the various screws to take the buckle apart but beware there are lots of springs and things that fall out. I also think you probably need to remove the turnbuckle part which on most belts involves removing a central sticker to reveal the holding screw. 

[ScottR400D]

As I understand it kits are supposed to arrive with handed seat belts so that the lap strap with the buckle can be hooked onto or over the tunnel and can't be thrown over the side, as said, though I can't see how that's possible anyway unless the driver is huge! In any case it wouldn't be that much better swinging the other strap over the side! 

My car had two the same so the right hand lap strap, whichever side you're sat, has the buckle. 

When I realised what should have been the case, after about 2 years(!), I tried to dismantle one buckle and change it round but I found it impossible. 

I don't consider it a problem. 

[Jonathan Kay]

"I think belts are considered handed because you have the buckle in the centre of the car avoiding it being thrown over the side of the car and denting the bodywork. "

Yes, that's the most commonly mentioned reason.

"When I realised what should have been the case, after about 2 years(!), I tried to dismantle one buckle and change it round but I found it impossible. "

There is a detailed description of how to do it in the archives. But I don't know for which types or makes it's possible.

Jonathan

PS: TTBOMK all manufacturers will make them the way that you want.

PPS: As they will for "pull up" or "pull down" lap straps, even if they don't advertise it.

[SM25T]

You can change which is the fixed pin and which is retractable when turning the release knob. All fairly obvious once you take it apart.

[Jonathan Kay]

"There is a detailed description of how to do it in the archives."

Found it:

Luke harness - buckle swap, how?

Jonathan

[Doc007]

I spoke to a helpful chap at Luke/Corbeau today. He said it could release the buckle from the permanent strap by pressing in the tiny hole (there are 3 on the backplate,  one overlies the permanent strap) and pulling the strap out.

This way I could swap all the straps but keep the buckles on the same side as they are not worn. That would mean I wouldn't have to eviscerate the buckle. Might give that a go.

[paul richards]

It is possible to dent the bodywork with the buckle, but may depend on seats fitted. You don't have to be huge. In fact if you are short you will have the seat forward and have the seat belt extended. With the belts correctly handed you can tuck the non buckle one down the side of a leather seat and the buckle on a bit of elastic looped over the handbrake. It makes getting in easier by not sitting on them.

[Doc007]

In the end, I swapped both lap straps and the inboard of the two shoulder straps to the opposite side. To avoid opening the buckle up I removed it from the inboard lap strap (by poking a wire into the tiny hole on the back of the buckle and pulling the "male" part out.)

I didn't swap the outboard straps as the bolts were too long and fouled the roll cage diagonals. And frankly life's too short...

Then I spent the rest of the day trying to get the damned seats back in...