Rear to front seatbelts swap?

[CarlosRangel]

Hey, fellas. Quick and potentially dumb question: can I swap the rear seatbelts of my 98 TJ to the front? The front ones work but do not retract as they used to and i hate when they get caught by the door. I never have people in the backseat anyways...

 

[DevilDogDoc]

I was messing with this just yesterday the base is bigger I don’t know if it would fit without cutting the plastic on the reel up. Mine was locking up when I would try to put it on like it was on an incline all the time. I pulled mine off and blew it out real good with the compressor and it’s working real nice now.

 

[macleanflood]

They're significantly different shapes. Literally was just pulling a set from a 2000 to sell. But if you made some extension tabs you might get them to work.

I bought a new set from Seatbelt Planet for my 97 and they're better than the 25 year old originals but not by much. They really suck.

-Mac

 

[joniki]

The salvage yards have the front belt for $20 each side. Just take a close look at them to make sure they are in good shape. I only needed to replace the driviers side belt.

 

[CarlosRangel]

I was messing with this just yesterday the base is bigger I don’t know if it would fit without cutting the plastic on the reel up. Mine was locking up when I would try to put it on like it was on an incline all the time. I pulled mine off and blew it out real good with the compressor and it’s working real nice now.

Thanks! Will try that!

 

[CarlosRangel]

The salvage yards have the front belt for $20 each side. Just take a close look at them to make sure they are in good shape. I only needed to replace the driviers side belt.

Yes, i think i will end up doing this! Thanks!!

 

[hear]

The thing about anything in a salvage yard is that it very likely was wrecked, which may have compromised the seatbelts. You’re supposed to replace seatbelts after a wreck, and you can be certain those haven’t been replaced. IJS.

 

[KennethS]

Many years ago one of my fronts wasn’t retracting so I took it apart and wound the spring a couple more turns, then put it back together. If you’re handy with mechanical stuff it’s relatively easy, but you have to be careful handling the spring. It’s a flat metal band that can cut you, and the coiled up spring likes to unwind itself.

 

[Hacker412]

If the jeep is a daily driver, you might want to purchase new seatbelts. I replaced all the seatbelts in my daughter's jeep because seatbelts expire after about 15 years.