Seat belts

[cdn97986]

I have a set of TRW/Repa front seats belts I bought from a German eBay seller last year that I am getting ready to install. When searching for install info, it appears that others have purchased these belts from Bludevils or others in the past, but I can't find posts showing how they installed them. These have the shorter tongues with the smaller hole versus the 46 year old Repas I have in the car now, and I'm wondering what combination of the included bolts / bushes / washers pictured below others have used to install? My old belts were missing some of the washers, etc, so hoping I can install using the included hardware if possible. Thanks, Craig

[TobyB]

Oh, dear-

 

I used to know this.

On the 2002, the captive nuts are SAE fine thread, 

and the pivot points all used shoulder bolts.

The mount for the 'stalk' was similar, but the bolt was not shouldered,

so it stood 'at attention'.  That said, most cars had either a center hoop

or spaghetti straps.

I THINK because the US was the first to mandate factory belts

in '69, and the spec was written that way, it's  7/16 fine?  I forget.

BMW used a metric head and an SAE thread...

 

As to the rest, the bolt was shouldered such that the 

retractor and the shoulder point could pivot- important, as an 

off- axis point will shear the webbing.  There were various small plastic

washers, stock, that made sure things couldn't bind under load.

 

It was pretty specific hardware, and it was consistent across many cars,

so I can only guess that the Federal spec was pretty clearly defined.

 

t

 

[Son of Marty]

To add to Toby's post, the two spacers in the top picture shown under the shorter bolts go through the shoulder belt mount on the pillar so they can swivel with the bolt tight. Also IMO the retractors do not swivel but need to be fixed with the belt end upward or the ratchets in the will lock when yoy try to pull the belts out.

Edited March 14, 2021 by Son of Marty

[cdn97986]

Thanks guys for the input, I think I'm pretty good on the pillar mount and the buckle assembly mounting to the tunnel, its the reel / tongue attachment that has me perplexed. I can't figure out the combo of hardware to either allow the tongue to pivot somewhat behind the reel, or fixing the tongue position behind the reel at the angle the belt needs to be in when fastened. I had seen where some used the mount under the rear seat for the reel, and just use the original reel mount for the tongue. I gave that a shot but the seat interferes with the belt retraction due to the tight fit. Was hoping to use the stock mounting position only, but looks like that might not be possible.

[cdn97986]

After doing some additional searching, I found the image below of what looks like a good option to install in my '75. I circled the plastic piece that allows the belt to be routed between the seat cushion and trim panel without being pinched. Anyone know where something like that can be purchased? In this image it was part of the retractor assembly, but wondering if anyone had luck adding something similar to do the same? Google searched show all kinds of pads, etc for belts, but nothing rigid like needed here. Thanks, Craig

 

 

 

New TRW/Repa Seat Belts Made in Germany - BMW 2002 and Neue Klasse Parts For Sale - BMW 2002 FAQ

Edited March 14, 2021 by cdn97986

[02Les]

The bracket (tongue) at the B-pillar needs to pivot, and (as BMW designed it) so does the reel fixing at the floor.

 

The pic shows the 'flanged bush' on my set-up required at the B-pillar (basically a bush & distance piece combined), the one for the reel attachment has a thinner flange.  HTH.

 

[xr4tic]

5 hours ago, cdn97986 said:

After doing some additional searching, I found the image below of what looks like a good option to install in my '75. I circled the plastic piece that allows the belt to be routed between the seat cushion and trim panel without being pinched. Anyone know where something like that can be purchased? In this image it was part of the retractor assembly, but wondering if anyone had luck adding something similar to do the same? Google searched show all kinds of pads, etc for belts, but nothing rigid like needed here. Thanks, Craig

 

 

New TRW/Repa Seat Belts Made in Germany - BMW 2002 and Neue Klasse Parts For Sale - BMW 2002 FAQ

 

Pretty sure that protector/guide is part of the retractor, the retractor would also have to be designed to work at that angle.

My 76 has both the retractor and end piece in the same bolt hole closest to the door, and that's probably how yours is designed.

 

I have a set of seatbelts from Al (bluedevils), he provides a nylon spacer to go between the retractor and seatbelt end to clear the webbing.  Also keep in mind that when the retractor is installed, the belt is pulled out to reach the upper pivot point, which reduces the belt thickness on the reel.

 

2 hours ago, 02Les said:

The bracket (tongue) at the B-pillar needs to pivot, and (as BMW designed it) so does the reel fixing at the floor.

 

The reel/seatbelt end at the floor on my 76 does not pivot, it's pinned to the body.  The retractor is straight up and the end comes out at an angle.

[02Les]

23 minutes ago, xr4tic said:

The reel/seatbelt end at the floor on my 76 does not pivot, it's pinned to the body.  The retractor is straight up and the end comes out at an angle.

 

The reel doesn't pivot, but the belt anchor should.

 

Item 19 (2 of them) are the bushes to allow this.

[xr4tic]

Interesting, I don't have those, so a PO probably had them apart previously.

 

How much does it need to rotate though?

 

For aftermarket belts, I'm guessing a nylon spacer on each side would probably work fine.  I compared the holes in the original belts to bluedevils, and the stock belt hole is much bigger, so the original bushings wouldn't fit.

[cdn97986]

xr4tic, do you have the same aftermarket belts that I have per chance? Bluedevils was selling these a couple of years ago. The reels do not have the locator pins, and the belt mount is shorter in length and the hole to mount behind the reel is smaller than the stock one. So the stock bushings do not fit as you mentioned. Do you have a pic of that nylon bush bluedevils includes that goes between the belt and retractor? Or at least a thickness? Thanks.

[xr4tic]

I bought them a couple years ago and never installed them, I'm currently waiting for my carpet set to arrive before they go in.

 

Here's a pic I took when I pulled one out, with the spacers still on them.

 

 

I can measure the bushing tomorrow

[cdn97986]

Awesome...thanks for the pic. So when you install, the order will be reel - bushing - belt anchor - flat washer - split washer - threaded car mount? Interested what that gold-colored extension bracket will be used for...is is for the reel or pillar mounting point?

[xr4tic]

I contacted Al about it, and that's basically what he said:

"I would keep the nylon spacer between the end fitting and the retractor to give some clearance for the webbing. Then install them together using the long bolt on the lower B pillar anchor with the split lock washer as the final washer"

 

The extension bar is for the belt receptacle to space it out for shorter drivers.

 

I will probably buy a thin nylon washer to go between the belt anchor and flat washer (on the body/thread side) just to reduce friction if it needs to rotate.

[xr4tic]

22 hours ago, cdn97986 said:

xr4tic, do you have the same aftermarket belts that I have per chance? Bluedevils was selling these a couple of years ago. The reels do not have the locator pins, and the belt mount is shorter in length and the hole to mount behind the reel is smaller than the stock one. So the stock bushings do not fit as you mentioned. Do you have a pic of that nylon bush bluedevils includes that goes between the belt and retractor? Or at least a thickness? Thanks.

 

Just measured the nylon spacer, 0.127" thick, 1.12" OD, 0.54" ID

[cdn97986]

John, thanks for measuring that for me. Hopefully Home Depot or Lowes has something close to that size!

 

Craig