TheSamba.com :: View topic - how to install jetta seatbelts in the bay?

Wed Nov 19, 2008 4:34 pm

ok so according to ratwells "guide to essential upgrades" seatbelts from 90's jettas are great bolt in replacements for the stock ones. i purchased a whole set and they arrived today, only for me to realize that i have no idea how to install them :oops: . has anyone else done this? if so, do you have pictures and sort of a step-by-step plan for it?

ive already heard all the crap about using second hand belts, so there is no need for that on this post, just wondering if i could get some help here. but if you mnust speak your mind about the dangers of old seatbelts, go ahead.

i also sent an email to ratwell incase noone here could help, but there has gotta be someone here who has done it.

and in the case that noone has done it, i will make my own photo "how to" and figure it out by myself.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:35 pm

o whats missing here ... what don't you understand ??

Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:09 pm

towd wrote: o whats missing here ... what don't you understand ??

i dont understand how the seatbelts install. its supposed to be a direct bolt in, but the front ones have some wierd pipe on them.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:15 pm

enjoispammy8 wrote: towd wrote: o whats missing here ... what don't you understand ??

i dont understand how the seatbelts install. its supposed to be a direct bolt in, but the front ones have some wierd pipe on them.

while i was not aware of this possible mod, i am extremely familiar with the mk3's. what you have is a later style mk3 belt and that tube is a locking actuator thing. it is side specific and must be mounted with the correct side up in order for it to allow the belt to move. the tube mounts in the rocker on the inside of the car next to the seat on the mk3. I think that what you were really after was the earlier mk3 belts (maybe mk2 as well?). those bolt up the same as the ones you have but do not have that tube setup. they are mechanical locking and all built into the part that rolls the belt and bolts to the chassis.

im going to go out on a limb here and say that what you have is not what you ment to buy. the earlier belts stopped in 95 or 96. may have been a change at the same time as obd1 to obd2 motor changes.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:21 pm

the belts are from a 97... :(

Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:34 pm

Mk.III began in 1994. ODBI to ODBII occured in '95.5. My Jetta is an early '95 with ODBI (thank goodness!).

Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:37 pm

damn... well perhaps i can still use them. any pics of what the seatbelt setup should be for the type i have with the bar?

Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:42 pm

enjoispammy8 wrote: the belts are from a 97... :(

Dude....That sucks for you....

I'm about to do the same thing. So you getting hosed really helped me out....lol..

Man, that sucks. Hope you can sell'em quick..

Wed Nov 19, 2008 11:13 pm

ok, so i think this still may be possible. ill gather more information from ratwell and around here and see what happens.

Wed Nov 19, 2008 11:55 pm

I've never seen that type,, I take it the weird pipe,, is more of a plastic guide tube..

I'm sure you could make them work,, some where along the line,, I had to remove the rollup thing on some Bug belts,, That worked..but I sure it was to use the belts in a Buggy

Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:15 am

i put jetta belts in my bay. i had to make mounting brackets out of some heavy angle iron to attach the belts to the seat pedestals.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:00 am

the belts are certainly USEABLE. however, the tubes are going to need to mount next to the seat (infront of the belt roller) in between the seat and door just like the mk3 has them. the belts are side specific and if you have them on the worng side, then they will lock up thinking the car is upside down.

those tubes are a vital part of the seatbelt. if they are not in the exact same position they are in the mk3, then the belts will not function properly when you actually need them to. i caution you using those belts greatly. they are very sensative and mounting is vital to proper function. and this has nothing to do with using an old belt argument. i dont buy into that. this is a design issue. they just wont function new or used if not mounted as designed.

i hate to say it but you need to get the earlier belts. unless you dont care about seeing those tubes next to the seat . . . . ..

Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:05 am

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2...;start=780

Scroll down a bit. This is what I did.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:29 pm

pb24ss wrote: i put jetta belts in my bay. i had to make mounting brackets out of some heavy angle iron to attach the belts to the seat pedestals.

do you have pictures of your set up?

Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:37 pm

I have the belts out of a Jetta same style as you. I cut off the actuator tubes and the work fine. I'll get some pics in a bit for ya.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:44 pm

Ataristyle wrote: I have the belts out of a Jetta same style as you. I cut off the actuator tubes and the work fine. I'll get some pics in a bit for ya.

thanks. i cant get them to move at all at the moment. :?

Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:50 pm

You can order the mounting brackets cheap. http://www.gotbelts.com/hardwarekit1.html

I also used the read male bucket from the OG bay as the belt buckle. This way you can keep the OG female buckle on the side of the seat.

You can only use the front seat belts from the Jetta. The rear are on an angle and they don't work well.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:55 pm

The pipe with the cable attached was like over a foot long if I remember. The Cable is massive, so have some good cable cutters or a cut off tool works good. Soon as I cut the cable off the cable popped back into the seat belt assy...So make sure to pull a little on it then cut.

Are these the same as yours? (minus the actuators of course)

Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:17 pm

theres the front seatbelts, with the long ass pipe. im afraid to cut the wire, in case it fucks them up, then i cant even sell them. what do you guys think?

Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:21 pm

What is that rod for? Man I have never seen that before. My belts came out of a 91 Passat.