LJ Rear Seatbelts

[SC04Unlimited]

Hey Gang - I have another question where I'm hoping y'all can share some ideas with me.

So I have two young, elementary age kids that ride in the back seat of my LJ and they are my most precious cargo so their safety is our top priority. We got them the ComfiGo boosters from ClypX and during installation I realized that the seatbelts for the backseat don't "catch". I figured I would take the mechanism apart and try to clean them but I was told that the rear seatbelts don't ever "catch" (And what I mean by catch is when you pull on them fast and hard they lock so the passenger doesn't go flailing everywhere). Is this true or should I still try and clean them to see if that fixes the problem?

If it is true and they never were made to catch from the factory then my next question is what are you guys using for rear seatbelts from a safety standpoint? I know the base mount sits further back in the LJ so aftermarket ones made for a TJ will likely be too short. And no, I do not plan on putting a 5-point system in there with integrated roll cage mounts, hahaha!

Thanks to all for helping to keep my kids safe!

 

[topfuel83]

Too my knowledge, anything with a shoulder belt would have to catch to meet safety standards. Otherwise what's the purpose of the shoulder belt if it doesn't keep you from going forward? I would guess something is wrong with the mechanism. I'm pretty mechanically inclined, but I'm not sure I would take apart a seat belt mechanism and then hope it works right. I believe there are aftermarket seatbelt replacement options out there.

 

[SC04Unlimited]

Yeah I should have been more clear, that's my fault. Wasn't really going to disassemble the mechanism. I was thinking more of taking the plastic cover off > cleaning everything with some mild soapy water and spraying some compressed air all up in there to see if that helps.

 

[macleanflood]

And to set the record straight...the forum would never recommend a full cage and a 5 point harness in the back. I believe the general recommendation is to strap the car seats to the hood. They're much happier out front.

I ordered replacement front belts from Seatbelt Planet and quite frankly they're junk. So yeah...do whatever you can do to get those cleaned up and working.

-Mac

 

[Rancho LJ]

They're somewhat hidden, but LJs have the Latch system. Are your boosters compatible with the Latch system?

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Shoulder belts do not “catch” when you pull them quickly, as you are doing. Both front and rear shoulder belts use an inertial system which engages when there is a quick deceleration. Your belts are likely operating as designed. Sometimes if you park on a very steep downhill - as when wheelin’ - they will engage.

 

[DavidBT]

And to set the record straight...the forum would never recommend a full cage and a 5 point harness in the back. I believe the general recommendation is to strap the car seats to the hood. They're much happier out front.

I ordered replacement front belts from Seatbelt Planet and quite frankly they're junk. So yeah...do whatever you can do to get those cleaned up and working.

-Mac

I've rode out on the fender of a 46' Dodge pickup in the foothills of Sacramento when I was in High school

 

[SC04Unlimited]

They're somewhat hidden, but LJs have the Latch system. Are your boosters compatible with the Latch system?

Yes, the boosters have fasteners to connect to the latch system at the bottom of the seats. I have them "clicked in" but they require that the kids use the 3-point shoulder seat belt.

 

[SC04Unlimited]

Shoulder belts do not “catch” when you pull them quickly, as you are doing. Both front and rear shoulder belts use an inertial system which engages when there is a quick deceleration. Your belts are likely operating as designed. Sometimes if you park on a very steep downhill - as when wheelin’ - they will engage.

Hmm, I feel like that is almost a federal safety requirement for modern cars but I am certainly no expert so that's just a guess.

The front seat belts in my LJ "catch" when you pull on them suddenly (as well as in my DD 2016 Yukon) so I feel like why would the front ones catch but not the ones in the rear?

Can anyone with an LJ confirm that their stock rear seatbelts "catch" - or don't - when pulling on them quickly with some force? I'm going to start the investigation by trying to clean them with some soapy water + compressed air but if that doesn't work then new seat belts it is! My kid's safety is the most important thing and has no price tag on it...

 

[Rancho LJ]

Mine catch when pulled very fast.

 

[mrblaine]

Shoulder belts do not “catch” when you pull them quickly, as you are doing. Both front and rear shoulder belts use an inertial system which engages when there is a quick deceleration. Your belts are likely operating as designed. Sometimes if you park on a very steep downhill - as when wheelin’ - they will engage.

If you are parked at an angle, inertia is not in play. The seat belts have a tilt + inertia system that locks them. There is a steel ball that sits in a little cup, in the bottom of the little cup is a little plunger that sticks up that the ball pushes down when the vehicle is mostly level that keeps the locking function deactivated. If the ball moves out of the cup and lets the plunger rise, that locks the seat belt free spool. The ball can move from inertial forces and tilt.

If the OP would remove the seat belt retractor from the roll bar, he can check it by tilting it and trying to pull out the belt. It is very likely functioning as designed.

 

[Rancho LJ]

I just got back from taking my 9-year-old to school in my LJ. Although I never doubted they worked, I figured I would test. The belts do lock even at slower speeds with moderate brake pressure. I suggest you try them out with a actual human in the car to confirm.

 

[SC04Unlimited]

Mine catch when pulled very fast.

I just got back from taking my 9-year-old to school in my LJ. Although I never doubted they worked, I figured I would test. The belts do lock even at slower speeds with moderate brake pressure. I suggest you try them out with a actual human in the car to confirm.

Thanks for confirming and good call. I'll try this with the kids in the car later tonight.

If you are parked at an angle, inertia is not in play. The seat belts have a tilt + inertia system that locks them. There is a steel ball that sits in a little cup, in the bottom of the little cup is a little plunger that sticks up that the ball pushes down when the vehicle is mostly level that keeps the locking function deactivated. If the ball moves out of the cup and lets the plunger rise, that locks the seat belt free spool. The ball can move from inertial forces and tilt.

If the OP would remove the seat belt retractor from the roll bar, he can check it by tilting it and trying to pull out the belt. It is very likely functioning as designed.

Thanks for the info. I'll include that test when I get in there to clean them.


If all else fails and the stock belts are shot then I think I'm going to go with a 3 point "Y" system for the back seat. Seems way safer a booster + a 21 year old seat belt. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...37NVW_OO_3RfqTck8U7vhYNSaNQ_qoHQaAgruEALw_wcB

 

[SC04Unlimited]

2 of them of course

 

[mrblaine]

Thanks for confirming and good call. I'll try this with the kids in the car later tonight.

That is a very polite way of referring to your kids as crash test dummies.

 

[Daryl]

This is what @mrblaine was talking about in post #11

 

[Apparition]

This is what @mrblaine was talking about in post #11
View attachment 645384

 

[mrblaine]

View attachment 645386

We need to stop saying that the ball rolls out of the cup, it just moves to the side far enough to let the plunger rise up. If it left the cup, the seat belt would never unlock.