Do You Want Spinal Compression?

"djgreenlava" (greenlavaproductions) 06/22/2017 at 16:39 • Filed to: Seats, belts, Saab

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That’s how you get spinal compression.

I’ve stumbled across this horrid belt set up on a Facebook for sale page. Is public shaming acceptable? I don’t want to give the ad more attention but it could save some pain down the road. How people screw up safety so bad when information is readily available?

itschrome > djgreenlava 06/22/2017 at 16:44

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now that you mention it. I am a bit too tall..

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > djgreenlava 06/22/2017 at 16:44

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Ok I have never driven a racecar, where should these belts be mounted? To the floor?

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 06/22/2017 at 16:47

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like this

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe 06/22/2017 at 16:47

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So the floor is a correct answer?

djgreenlava > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 06/22/2017 at 16:48

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They should never be bolted straight down behind the seats in any way.

http://www.speedhunters.com/2014/06/takata-ask-the-expert-answers/

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 06/22/2017 at 16:49

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Floor behind the rear seats would work. Though you really want to run them to a cage bar.

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 06/22/2017 at 16:50

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as long as it’s not vertical like in the picture and mounted somewhere that won’t move/shear in a collision.

AuthiCooper1300 > djgreenlava 06/22/2017 at 16:50

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You can always add a comment along the lines of “if you buy this car, fix the belts’ arrangement”.

I think everybody would appreciate – even the ones who are not interested in the car – and would actually learn something.

djgreenlava > AuthiCooper1300 06/22/2017 at 16:52

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That sounds like the polite way to handle it. For some reason though I don’t expect a polite response back. Lol

AuthiCooper1300 > djgreenlava 06/22/2017 at 16:55

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You can always finish with a sinister “do as you want - it’s your spine, pal”.

CaptDale - is secretly British > djgreenlava 06/22/2017 at 16:59

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COOL

TheBimmerGuyWhoNowOwnsAChevy > djgreenlava 06/22/2017 at 17:05

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Twisted and at a too low angle, I almost feel offended by how stupid this is.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 06/22/2017 at 17:31

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Here’s the diagram from the Motorsport NZ homologation manual. Basically, no more than 45 degree drop from the shoulder slots. Rear seat lap belt mounting points work on a few cars, but more often than not you need a belt mounting bar on your cage.

4 point belts should never be fitted to a non-caged car, because they prevent your torso flexing out of the way if the roof collapses on you, so you wind up with a broken neck. You’re better off with stock 3 point belts and the airbag if you don’t have a cage (from a safety point of view at least - 4 points do lock you into the seat better for actual driving).

ToyotaFamily > djgreenlava 06/22/2017 at 18:00

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Would a set up like that cause submarining? I think that’s the right term

just-a-scratch > djgreenlava 06/22/2017 at 19:50

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There is significant down angle between the horizontal bar and the seat, but it’s not as bad as it might seem. If that bar flexes, yeah, bad spinal compression will ensue. If not, that down angle will pull down on the shoulder some, but not with the full value of the belt tension.

Eggplant > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe 06/22/2017 at 21:47

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Alternatively, couldn’t they just get the proper bar slides and wrap it onto the harness bar directly?

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > Eggplant 06/22/2017 at 21:57

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yep, that would be the best option.

Eggplant > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe 06/22/2017 at 22:04

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So the problem could be fixed for literally less than $20. (They’re 4 bucks a piece at Jegs.) It makes me curious about what else they may have screwed up on the build then.