Seat Belt plastic male insert broken - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ah-kay · #1 01-26-2010, 01:43 AM

The door closed on the plastic part of the seat belt male insert and broke the top. Functionlly it is not impaired but now it slides down the seat belt and is difficult to retrieve.

Got one from a junk yard but cannot slide the broken one out of the anchor plate at the pillar. Need to undo the stitches at the anchor to replace but is not that desirable. What shall I do? Replace with complete seat belt mechanism from the JY or remove the stitches and fasten it back afterwards. If I remove the stitches then how to find a safe method to stitch ( fasten ) it back?

.

compress ignite · #2 01-26-2010, 01:53 AM

[Original version available for viewing at reply # 3 below]
'Me, I'd have a Brand Spanking New Belt in there Tomorrow.(Before I drove it.)

'Given the current Laws of Physics (They're gonna change ,When?) It's possible
to "Beat the Air Bag" to the Steering Wheel,IF you don't have a seatbelt on
OR your Seat Belt malfunctions.

I'm not too hot on the idea of driving around with a Mercedes Steering Wheel
shoved up my Septum.

However... Your Mercedes,Your Pleasure.

ah-kay · #3 01-26-2010, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compress ignite

The only Two persons I trust to "ReStitch" the Seat Belt.
Even then It's your *** and your loved ones lives.
These are EXPLOSIVELY "Pre-Tensioned" seat belts in a crash.

If after Through inspection the JY belt is O K ...

'Me, I'd have a Brand Spanking New Belt in there Tomorrow.(Before I drove it.)

'Given the current Laws of Physics (They're gonna change ,When?) It's possible
to "Beat the Air Bag" to the Steering Wheel,IF you don't have a seatbelt on
OR your Seat Belt malfunctions.

I'm not too hot on the idea of driving around with a Mercedes Steering Wheel
shoved up my Septum.

I do not know why you get the impression that it is unsafe. The seat belt insert is made of metal encapsulated with plastic. It has 2 slots. The slot made of metal is intact, that is why the functionality of the seat belt is not impaired. The top slot is plastic with the belt threads through them to hold the insert in place, this is NOT a safety issue. Just a PITA issue with the insert slides all the way down to the anchor plate on the floor. What you wrote is overblown. Go and check it yourself.

whunter · #4 01-26-2010, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

I do not know why you get the impression that it is unsafe. The seat belt insert is made of metal encapsulated with plastic. It has 2 slots. The slot made of metal is intact, that is why the functionality of the seat belt is not impaired. The top slot is plastic with the belt threads through them to hold the insert in place, this is NOT a safety issue. Just a PITA issue with the insert slides all the way down to the anchor plate on the floor. What you wrote is overblown. Go and check it yourself.

He is correct, everything on the restraint system is classified in LAW as SAFETY.

At your own risk:
The stitching on safety belts can be re-done by a good canvas/tarp/upholstery shop..

At your own risk:
Another option is to add a rivet/snap head, high enough to prevent the buckle from falling too low.

meltedpanda · #5 01-26-2010, 09:50 AM

i have used whunters second option , a 1/16 " hole in the middle of the belt, with a rivet seems like an acceptable alternative. Many cars use a system like this suggestion.
I have also simply used a black paper clasp ( the kind that looks like a triangle with levers) on the belt - works fine as well

compress ignite · #6 01-26-2010, 09:55 AM

EDIT:

(I'm going back upstairs and edit my original reply.)

I believe the recommendation is to replace the seat belts
(AND maybe ALL their pre-tensioning equipage no matter how small the "Impact"
if the belts have been "stressed" at all) in the event of "Use" in an accident.

So,I sure as Hell want the absolute finest,freshest un-"Non-Georgia Tech
Approved Re-Engineered" restraint system.

There are Incredible stresses placed upon the belts by restraining the human
body.[Not unheard of for fibers to "Melt"].Add to all that Mercedes use of
the Pre-Tensioners AND the recipe for disaster lurks within a few incorrectly
(placed or Deleted)stitches.

My point here is I would not want to be held responsible at a later date for
ANY liability incurred as a result of improper restraint system "Repair".
('Be just my luck that my "Jury Rigged" hack failed ,in some foreign jurisdiction
[Another State] where previous owner's improper repairs are deemed to
create Liability....'Much less Friends and Family are harmed by the "Repair".
AND Sue My *** off.)

(Bonus... My Liability Carrier declines coverage ,'Cause I screwed with my
belt system.) (So then I'd be Broke and Homeless,'Cause some slick Atty.
took it all.)

Your Mercedes,Your Pleasure.

ah-kay · #7 01-26-2010, 12:01 PM

I am soliciting suggestions. It seems that putting some kind of a clip ( like a cloth hanger ) on the belt to stop the buckle from sliding down is the best solution. Replacing the whole thing is an option.

Thanks for your ideas.

Texholdem · #8 01-26-2010, 02:01 PM

I second the clip solution, easy, cheap and safe.

compress ignite · #9 01-26-2010, 02:39 PM

I'm thinking of a Locking Metal clip that used to go on our Web Belts in the Military...Only in Plastic.

http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=Seat+Belt+Clip&btnG=Google+Search

meltedpanda · #10 01-26-2010, 08:14 PM

the black paper clip traingle thingy work good for me

abe g · #11 01-28-2010, 01:45 PM

Get one or 2 belt slides for BMW. Locate same where you want too at male insert metal. Cost less than $5 and will do the job. Good luck Abe G

tinypanzer · #12 01-29-2010, 06:21 PM

I have the same dilemma on my passenger side belt on my 560. I didn't realize what a pain it would be to thread another one on there until I read this thread.

Yikes.

Well, here's my idea.... Where the plastic piece is missing, sand the edges super flat and then cut out a same sized piece from another belt latch. Epoxy or CA glue the donor piece into the broken latch...... Comments?

ah-kay · #13 01-29-2010, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinypanzer

I have the same dilemma on my passenger side belt on my 560. I didn't realize what a pain it would be to thread another one on there until I read this thread.

Yikes.

Well, here's my idea.... Where the plastic piece is missing, sand the edges super flat and then cut out a same sized piece from another belt latch. Epoxy or CA glue the donor piece into the broken latch...... Comments?

This is my plan. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain. I plan to glue it back on with a small insert to strength the joins. This is not a priority item for me. In the mean time I just use a small plastic cloth peg.

sashaboucher33 · #14 08-02-2014, 07:56 PM

I have this same problem on both driver and front passenger seats. I was going to try to change the male clip alone too, but I reached the same conclusion that is difficult to remove the clip, and I read a thread that said if you're changing the male you better change the female too bc they can be different. more trouble than it's worth, I think. IKEA sells bag clips that are rectangular and clip together and will fit over the seat belt and stay in one place, rather than those binder clips that can get caught on stuff and fly off.