72Vega

Did a seach on CF about harness bars. Read quite a bit about them, going back to threads from 2005. Brey-Krause, Sharkbar and Hardbar seem to be the choices.

Anyone want to offer an opinion pro or con about each of these? Does the Brey-Krause allow continued use of the OEM seatbelts? Sharkbar and Hardbar both do. Sharkbar and Hardbar are about the same price. Does the B-K justify more than 2X the price of the 2 others? Aluminimum vs. Stainless steel - any opinions? Weight difference is significant - should this matter? Are the pieces welded on the top of the Sharkbar and B-K unit necessary to keep belts positioned properly?

This is step 1 of a purchase plan to increase the safety equipment in the C6 as my skill level and speeds increase through NASA HPDE 3 and 4. Use of the harness bar this spring in HPDE 2 will be as a good mounting place for the new GOPro HD video camera. Plan is to use the stock belts until I progress to HPDE 3, then install a race seat and 5 or 6 point harness.

Any thoughts/opinions are appreciated! Thanks!

Paul

trumper Z06

I've been happy with the Brey-Kruse harness bars having used them in both a C5 Z06 and a C6 Z06.

Note: The B/K units are different for the two Vette models.

B/K does have detachable clips installing both the seat and floor straps making strap removable easy for daily driving.

You have full seat adjustment with the B/K harness bar too.

I got back ~ 60 % of my cost when I sold the C5 Z06 setup to another forum member.

72Vega

Thanks for the information...hadn't thought about the seat travel issue...for now I am trying to keep it as street driveable as possible.

Paul

Wayne O

I used the Brey-Krause harness bar for quite-a-while and was very happy with it. I felt the construction and appearance of the B-K harness bar was superior to the other offerings. Although, once I installed the harness bar and 6-point restraint I never really used the OEM seatbelt again, you can use the OEM seatbelt if you want.

I tend to do things in stages sometimes to my own detriment. I ended-up removing the harness bar and having a custom fabricated roll bar installed. I also added a stout, removable, '5th-point' support strut running from the main hoop down into the passenger side foot well for added protection and rigidity...I can always add sidebars in the future if I want. I got good use out of the harness bar and no complaints but in retrospect I would have been better off installing a roll bar to begin with. The harness bar might be an interim solution...you might want to consider going straight to a roll bar.

If you decide on a roll bar I think you're better off having one cutom fabricated...just make sure it complies with the specs of whatever organizations you run under. It's not all that expensive to do either. Good luck!

drivinfast

I used the hardbar. I also purchased the under seat rail rear harness mounting unit for both seats. I use a 6 way belt. i liked the setup. in my car the hardbar was a very tight fit.

to note if you are tall and need the seat all the way back hardbar offers an extension piece. i didnt need it.

I believe all bars you have to cut out a hole in the rear panels that will always be there. I thought if i ever needed to convert the car to stock i could purchase grommets to fill the space.

Wicked Weasel

I replaced my BK in my C5 with Hardbar. Never had quality issue with the BK, but the side rails I didnt like and also I didnt like that it took up a percentage of my coupe.

The hardbar is top notch and gives me back the extra room and doesnt have those pesky side rails.

gkmccready

A couple of years ago HardbarUSA added "extenders" as an option to their harness bar configuration to deal with this. I like my Hardbar a lot. Easy installation, almost looks stock.

Bill Dearborn

Sent PM with some lessons learned.

Bill

gkmccready

Why not share with the class? :-)

Bill Dearborn

They are some things that I don't think are appropriate to say in an open forum. If you want I can forward you the PM I sent to Paul. The comments apply to the C6 and may not apply to the C5.

Bill

ErnieN85

Bill, I'd like that I've moved up to a C6 and am looking into a bar also

Webz

Sharkbar here! Full seat travel was a requirement for me.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...s-hardbar.html

Dan Wendling

I recall seeing a post about requirements on how a 5/6 point harness is connected to a roll bar or harness bar. The discussion was about the correct angle of the harness shoulder straps should make as they pass over the shoulder to the bar.

Tried a few searches but could not find it.

I recall that the rule change is up coming or something to that effect and the need for holes in the seat back to pass the harness through.

72Vega

Thanks for all the responses to my questions. CF is a great place to learn from other drivers.

Paul