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Old Jun 13, 2011 | 08:18 AM
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Default seatbelts dont lock

Kinda weird that none of my seatbelts in my 98 z28 work. U can yank on them as much as u want to and they dont lock....however the drivers belt will kinda grind a little......how easy is it to swap the mechanims out?
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 11:23 AM
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There is a mechanism in there that will get gummed up. Replacing the belt is easy. You just need a good torque wrench and some large Torx bits. (The bolts may also be thread locked - I can't remember.) Two bolts up top and one down low.
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 06:45 AM
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Originally Posted by wssix99
There is a mechanism in there that will get gummed up. Replacing the belt is easy. You just need a good torque wrench and some large Torx bits. (The bolts may also be thread locked - I can't remember.) Two bolts up top and one down low.
You can spray a little WD40 or Penetrating Oil in there to help degum or free up the mechanism before you replace the belt.
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by DAVE00
You can spray a little WD40 or Penetrating Oil in there to help degum or free up the mechanism before you replace the belt.
This would probably work short term but could dissolve other lubricants in the mechanism and make it unsafe if one were to get in a crash.
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Old Jun 16, 2011 | 06:31 AM
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Originally Posted by wssix99
This would probably work short term but could dissolve other lubricants in the mechanism and make it unsafe if one were to get in a crash.
How? It is a simple spring loaded mechanism with a mechanical lock. Once it's engaged it's not going anywhere unless the lever (button) is depressed. I think it would be more likely that it would stick closed than open randomly.
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Old Jun 16, 2011 | 06:42 AM
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Originally Posted by wssix99
This would probably work short term but could dissolve other lubricants in the mechanism and make it unsafe if one were to get in a crash.
WD-40 IS a lubricant.
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Old Jun 17, 2011 | 06:59 PM
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Originally Posted by DAVE00
How? It is a simple spring loaded mechanism with a mechanical lock. Once it's engaged it's not going anywhere unless the lever (button) is depressed. I think it would be more likely that it would stick closed than open randomly.
Maybe, but would you want to risk it. (WD-40 could collect dirt and gum things up.) I tend to be very careful with the safety equipment because I'm severely allergic to crashing my car.
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Old Jun 17, 2011 | 07:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Spartan7
WD-40 IS a lubricant.
We all have our brand loyalties and few are stronger in North America than those fixated on WD-40.

WD-40 is the enemy of your car. I keep some in my toolbox but the simple fact is that the only place this stuff should be use on a car is to loosen rusted bolts. The details are all on WD-40's web site: http://www.wd40.com/faqs/

"WD-40 is the ultimate multi-purpose problem solver. WD-40 cleans/degreases, penetrates to loosen up stuck parts, prevents corrosion and is a light lubricant."

The operative words are that its a "light lubricant" and that its a degreaser. While WD-40 will coat surfaces with a light layer of oil and make squeaking stop, (temporarily) but it will dissolve the beneficial heavier greases on parts made to keep them lasting longer and working safely.


Don't believe anything you read on the internet, though! Try some out on a squeaky door hinge and compare it to other "lubricants." You'll see that using WD-40 on a hinge will make the squeaking much worse when it wears off because it cleans out all the other stuff in the bearing.



If a part is wearing or squeaking, the best thing to do is to do research and find the proper weight and compatible grease (not oil) to fix the problem.
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Old Jun 17, 2011 | 09:15 PM
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Originally Posted by wssix99
Maybe, but would you want to risk it. (WD-40 could collect dirt and gum things up.) I tend to be very careful with the safety equipment because I'm severely allergic to crashing my car.
Point well taken, just stating the facts about the way the mechanism works.
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