8 replies to this topic

[matty121]

austin mini piccadilly
1986
998cc

As my MOT has arived and i need to replace the seat belts, i am considering a three or four point harness but am unaware of the requirements to fitt them etc... do you have to weld any mounts for the three or four point harness, are there legal regulations towards them..
any information will help

chears matt

[matty121]

plus any pictures would be great...

[phil_clubman]

i have 4 point harnesses, there great on a track when your driving hard as they keep you up right in your seat through corners. how ever one the road they can be a bit of a nightmare, pulling out of junctions, parking spaces and what not as you cant really lean forward.

the mount on the floor either side of ur front seats, and on the rear seatbel mounts so you cannot have passengers or seatbelts in the back

phil

Edit, minispares sell a stregnthening plate for where they mount to the rear seat. i think its supposed to spread the load if you do have a bump.

Edited by phil_clubman, 22 December 2009 - 12:33 PM.

[Steve D]

I was told by my MOT station that if a car when made only had 3 points on the seat belts, then you can only fit 3 point harness.

[Wil_h]

Sound like your MOT tester is taling balls. This is what the MOT manual says:

Note 3:
An adult harness belt comprising a lap belt and shoulder straps bearing a British standard marking is an acceptable alternative to any of the seat belt types listed.

The seat belt test is just to check the fixings are secur (not necessarily susiable) and that the belts are in good condition etc. The only requirement for an installation check is when aditional belts are added. as you are replacing a belt this won't be needed.

[zef]

i have 4 point harnesses, there great on a track when your driving hard as they keep you up right in your seat through corners. how ever one the road they can be a bit of a nightmare, pulling out of junctions, parking spaces and what not as you cant really lean forward.

the mount on the floor either side of ur front seats, and on the rear seatbel mounts so you cannot have passengers or seatbelts in the back

phil

Edit, minispares sell a stregnthening plate for where they mount to the rear seat. i think its supposed to spread the load if you do have a bump.

I'm sure i've seen an inertia 3 point harness for sale somewhere. I'm going to replace my normal 3 point harness for one for the reasons you listed. Plus reaching switches on the elf is a pain (Windscreen Wiper switch in particular)

[Cooperman]

With a 3- or 4-point harness the rear mounting(s) go at the base of the vertical rear seat panel with the belts going in between the seat back and seat squab. A strengthening plate is fitted behind the panel to spread the load and you just need to drill a couple of holes in the right place. As the plate sits alomost on the joint line it's a strong area.
The only problems are reaching the switches and the fact that the Mini then beomes, to all intents, a 2-seat car. As these belts are really only intended for competition cars it's not normally an issue. One solution to the switch reach issue is to fit a Mk 1 switch panel with toggle switches fitted with switch extensions (or pieces of stiff plastic tube, which is what I always fit to rally cars.

[Cater_Racer]

austin mini piccadilly
1986
998cc

As my MOT has arived and i need to replace the seat belts, i am considering a three or four point harness but am unaware of the requirements to fitt them etc... do you have to weld any mounts for the three or four point harness, are there legal regulations towards them..
any information will help

chears matt

I've got two redundant inertia reel belts and fixings out of my 998 cooper. they are red, brand new. I had them in for about two months then went the full four point harness route as I got more serious.

I'll look them up in the garage, half price to you??

[jaydee]

I have seats and harness setup, they're not comfortable to drive around town, plus im in love with the standard look, so what i do is use the standard seats + inertia belt for the road, then when i need harness, i swap seats and belts. Once you've fitted the mountings (welded straightenings and drilled holes) it takes about one hour to swap the whole lot..