Replacement inertia reel seatbelts

[john milner]

The reels on both sides are lacking in retracting power so I need to replace them. I have tried washing and polishing them which got me a couple of years but I need to now replace both sides. The car is a 2003 SV. Caterham have sets listed at £163 which can probably be beaten somewhere. Any idea of where I can buy a set at a better price? I'm not buying harnesses.

[simon_h]

You can get new belts at any number of places. You do want them to be compatible with any location tabs etc in the 7. I’d dismantle the car and get part numbers off them then google is your friend. Or go to caterham or redline and just buy them

[john milner]

I might try the part number idea before going to Caterham/Redline. A straight Google search of the description is not much use apart from finding out that there are four point inertia belts available for about £55 per side but they may or may not be a straight swap.

[Wrightpayne]

If the mechanisms are OK there are companies that make replacement belts in any colour you like. Maybe worth a call anyway as I bet they refurbish older belts than 2003!

From memory (of messing about with minis) belts are specific and its all to do with the latching system that locks the belt in an accident. This has to be in a certain orientation when the belt mechanism is bolted into the car. Some cars have the mechanism bolted in at a slight angle, so the latching actuation has to allow for this. Some are bolted in upright so the latching orientation is different. I do recall a set of belts where the latching system had an adjustment dial where the arrow had to be vertical depending which side the belt was bolted.

[OldAndrewE]

Don't know where you are located but this outfit did a good job of re-webbing some rear belts for a Mini a couple of years ago (actually did a "while you wait" service).  Located just North of Bedford

Safety Belt Services | Seat Belt Manufacturers & Seat Belt Repair

[john milner]

The webbing appears to be fine although a good clean and sprays with furniture polish and silicone did help with the action to get a couple more years out of them. My guess is that the retraction springs have lost tension through time and use. It is sounding as though the best option is to pay for a Caterham set.

This is the set I found quite easily so it is likely even cheaper but still decent quality sets are available somewhere. Ebay have an £18+ set from China but there is no mention of E marks etc. so I'll avoid those.

https://www.holden.co.uk/p/inertia_reel_seat_belt_4_point_mounting_short_stalk

https://www.holden.co.uk/p/inertia_reel_seat_belt_4_point_mounting_short_stalk

[Wrightpayne]

I think take them out and look for distinguising marks / part numbers etc and go from there.

[Wrightpayne]

Just checked out the caterham parts website and they are £163 for a pair (I'd assumed they were £163 each)

I don't think thats a bad price for two belts with the retaining straps/buckles and all new bolts.

I've also just remembered reading that the short strap / buckle is specific to the seven and very short. IIRC longer ones can cause severe injuries in an accident hence caterham specific design. If you buy an alternate it may not fit the caterham buckle.

 

[7 wonders of the world]

whats the aversion to swapping to a harness...? 

[Mrb00ns]

Hi Wrightpayne. I've got a set of inertia belts, virtually brand new - fitted and replaced within 5 miles of new! Could offer you a considerable discount including all nuts and bolts. 

[Wrightpayne]

Its John Milner that wants them not me!

[Mrb00ns]

Good point!

[john milner]

1/ Difficult to use properly as they should be slackened and tightened before use. So for example adjust before leaving home, 10 minutes later adjust again after buying petrol, 10 minutes later adjust again after supermarket, 10 minutes later adjust again after leaving another shop, two hours later adjust again after leaving destination.

2/ Wife would go mental if she had to do the above.

3/ Inertia belt needed for child seat.

4/ I want to operate the heater when ever I like.

[John Vine]

I want to operate the heater when ever I like.

I find that temporarily slackening off the RH shoulder strap allows me to reach the heater knob.

JV

[SM25T]

Extend heater control with a bit of hex bar having M5 thread each end ... M & F. Unscrew knob, fit bar and screw knob on end of it. Various lengths available from on line sellers.

[Wrightpayne]

I always have to remember its 'push off' !

[SM25T]

Same to you ;-)

[Ray Pearce]

First thing the wife says is "Have you got yer knob out?"

[7 wonders of the world]

Heater.....  

[john milner]

It's a thing that stops you getting cold knees and fingers. A very common upgrade that comes as standard on many models.

[7 wonders of the world]

"It's a thing that stops you getting cold knees and fingers."

I have a Duratec for that.....  

[john milner]

When I first got my K Series I thought a similar thing but then realised the heater cable was poorly adjusted and was always on.

[john milner]

Replacement belts are now fitted. Replacements are from a 2013 car (mine is 2003). Reels have a slightly different shape but all threads are the unchanged so it was a straight swap. The bolt that holds the reel behind the triangular plate is a bit odd though as the new and old threads are the same but the old bolt needs an 18mm (or possibly imperial) spanner but the replacement needs 16mm. The smaller head size does make sense though as it is a bit of a squeeze getting it past the suspension coil.

The old reel has a paper sticker with the word AUTOLIV. The are some numbers stamped in the metalwork but I can't make out what it says.