front seat belt removal/ 4pt. harness install? - Honda Prelude Forum

TrustJDM · 07-16-2003, 12:30 PM

Sup everyone,

Just wondering if any one of you ever installed a 4 pt. harness in your 4th gen lude and if so where did you place the mounts? i am unable to locate any place for the over-the shoulder harness mounts. i still want my rear seat sensibly functional w/o them ripping out in an event of an accident. also, how do you remove the stock seat belts?

any help is greatly appreciated!

-JC

imp0rted1 · 07-16-2003, 01:06 PM

jc i know you can unbolt the stock ones when you pull of that side panel then theres that metal triangle that hangs the top of the belt (has a little round cover you pry off) then just unbolt it. hope this helps.. also for mounting i have seen the quick release type where the harness was mounted to where the back seat belt clip is.. also with a detachable link

TrustJDM · 07-16-2003, 01:12 PM

thanks for the help.. any ideas how to get that rear quarter panel off? do i have to take the rear seats out to get to some screws? i don't have a helms though i wish i did. =(

as for the harnesses, i do have the quick release ones, but the mounts need to bolted down somewhere and i really don't feel like drilling.. any insights?

thanks,

-JC

MidNKight-lude · 07-16-2003, 03:15 PM

the whole panal remove is easy. you might wanna take out your seats, they are easy anyhow. and tub at the panals

MR.CLIFFORD · 07-16-2003, 03:31 PM

JC,

Tyler actually did a very good write up with pictures.

Here is the link

How To: Install a 4-Point Harness

red92s · 07-16-2003, 03:43 PM

FYI: If you dont have a roll bar, and you install harnesses, you'll probably be hurt very badly if you ever roll the car.

TrustJDM · 07-16-2003, 04:58 PM

thanks for the link. that was exactly what i was looking for.

BTW: can someone explain to me why the harnesses would be worse in a rollover accident vs. a normal seat belt? i'm not too confident in my seat belt holding me in during a rollover either. can you still mount the clip to use the stock seat belts?

thanks in advance!

MR.CLIFFORD · 07-16-2003, 05:15 PM

When you are held in place by the five point you are more likely to get your neck smashed.

The stock seatbelt is designed to let you move downward when you are hit from the top.

Pretty much common sense when you think about it. The 5point harness is designed to keep you in that one spot.

red92s · 07-16-2003, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TrustJDM
thanks for the link. that was exactly what i was looking for.

BTW: can someone explain to me why the harnesses would be worse in a rollover accident vs. a normal seat belt? i'm not too confident in my seat belt holding me in during a rollover either. can you still mount the clip to use the stock seat belts?

thanks in advance!

If you are in a roll over accident and the roof collapses (even partially), you want to be able to be "pushed" down into the seat by the collapse, as to avoid neck/back injury. With aftermarket harnesses (which hold you more tightly in the seat), you have less ability to be "pushed down" by the collapsing roof (therby greatly increasing your chances for serious injury). Apparently this is a MAJOR concern if you run 5 pt. harnesses (with the anti-submarine belt), but still a valid concern with 4 pt belts.

I'm by no means an expert on this, I'm just regurgitating what I've read in some technical threads on www.honda-tech.com. I recomend you do some searching in the road racing and ITR forums over there, as many of the regulars have lots of experience with what is/isn't safe when using harnesses without roll bars.

imp0rted1 · 07-16-2003, 09:51 PM

yeah, thats true theres a certain angle you need it at for the back harness attachment.. otherwise you risk spinal compression ... notice most with roll bars are attached pretty high back

irishpilot · 07-16-2003, 10:00 PM

ya, the spinal compression is a real problem with a harness with out having a suitable cage or harness bar.

Recommendations for having a daily driver with a harness is keep the harness for canyon runs/auto-cross. Use stock belts for traffic and stuff

bsi · 07-16-2003, 10:49 PM

ive also heard that rollcages on daily drivers are bad also because your not wearing a helmet

luder94si · 07-17-2003, 01:01 PM

Also, if you're in a 4th gen with stock seat's, a harness is a very bad idea b/c of the way are seats are designed. I would strongly reccommend you consider some type of harness bar to attach the two upper belts to...Do a search & you'll find some suggestions on some harness bars that are cheap...

TrustJDM · 07-17-2003, 01:48 PM

thank you all for the suggestions!

i actually purchased thundercats98 sparco torino's and therefore he included the harnesses as well. i wasn't aware of all the dangers of these harnesses. i'll probably just install the rear seat belt latches upfront because the stock seats has the latches as part of the seats. i will probably also just run the stock belts for daily drives and install the harnesses for looks. =( harness bar sounds like a good idea if i was just running stocks.