Restoring seat belts
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Shelby Twp. Michigan
Restoring seat belts
Who does seat belt restorations? I need a set of dual retractable seat belts redone.
Or does anybody know where I can buy new dark brown seat belts from? I can find every color under the sun, but dark brown!
Or does anybody know where I can buy new dark brown seat belts from? I can find every color under the sun, but dark brown!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Check some fabric warehouses for seat belt webbing material. Most have many colors of fabric. If you can't find the right color, you can always use vinyl dye (SEM "Color Coat") to recolor them...piece of cake!
I took my old belts (webbing still attached) and the new webbing to an auto upholstery repair place and told them to attach the new webbing to the end of the webbing presently attached. They will reel out the webbing, cut the old webbing a few inches away from the reel, lap the new material over the stub and sew it up well. The end of the old webbing is still very strong, as it hasn't ever seen the light of day (UV rays, that is). With the overlap in there, the reel won't roll up the whole way..but it feeds out and through the seatback anyway. No one will ever know the difference. Five years ago, that job set me back $12 for the new webbing and $60 for the refurb. I think that's better than $300 or so for 'el primo' belts.
I took my old belts (webbing still attached) and the new webbing to an auto upholstery repair place and told them to attach the new webbing to the end of the webbing presently attached. They will reel out the webbing, cut the old webbing a few inches away from the reel, lap the new material over the stub and sew it up well. The end of the old webbing is still very strong, as it hasn't ever seen the light of day (UV rays, that is). With the overlap in there, the reel won't roll up the whole way..but it feeds out and through the seatback anyway. No one will ever know the difference. Five years ago, that job set me back $12 for the new webbing and $60 for the refurb. I think that's better than $300 or so for 'el primo' belts.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
glad i am not the only one with this issue so far i am having trouble finding the shoulder belts period in dark brown. my driverside got leaked on from a breoken door handle and the door didnt shut all the way now its a rusted heap wish it could be rebuilt but i can't figure how to get it apart to even try.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
as for my seatbelt i took it out of the car today and bolted it to a block of wood sprayed it down on the side with a lil PB blaster and played tug o war and alot of hand rewinding till it got a lil spring back then kept tugging next i know she retracted herself. Now it works better then the pass. side lol. about the SEM dye that dont come off on clothes i was thinking of maybe getting some clothing dye in brown and stretching them out and pouring it on.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Shelby Twp. Michigan
I talked with the folks over at sssnake oyl today. I'm shippin' em out tomorrow. Both my lower retracters are trashed so they need replacing. Plus I figure while they're workin' on those I can keep goin' on other stuff.
Thanks again for the input!
Thanks again for the input!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
I'm only going to say this one more time [on this thread, anyway]...
Vinyl dye is the substance used to put color onto plastic. Seatbelt webbing is nylon [plastic]. If you use SEM "Color Coat", you won't notice any difference in the webbing...except it will be brown.
Now, go buy your $2 worth of RIT dye and have a ball.
Vinyl dye is the substance used to put color onto plastic. Seatbelt webbing is nylon [plastic]. If you use SEM "Color Coat", you won't notice any difference in the webbing...except it will be brown.
Now, go buy your $2 worth of RIT dye and have a ball.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 281
From: Dyersburg TN
Snake Oyl
Snake Oyl did mine. The work was very good and they even added 6" to the belt as I am a big guy. It was not cheap, but they look and work like new. Never cut corners on the things that keep you safe. Old belts may not work as they should in a accident.
