| Exploding Seatbelt Buckles [message #351895] |
Mon, 03 February 2020 20:59  |
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Richard RV
Messages: 631
Registered: July 2012
Location: Full-timer for 12 years, ...
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Senior Member |
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This is a Public Service Announcement.
While working on my dinette reconfiguration one of the seatbelts dropped the 18" from the seat to the floor. The plastic buckle cover broke, only it wasn't just a plastic cover, it's the retaining mechanism and holds the seatbelt buckle together. 😖
Apparently this is a thing for certain era GM seatbelt buckles. Google "exploding seatbelt buckle".
Steve Southworth posted about his similar experience 3 years ago:
http://gmc.mybirdfeeder.net/GMCforum/index.php?t=msg&goto=316588&rid=0&srch=Seat+belt+broken+plastic#msg_316588
Steve had the issue with his cockpit seatbelt, mine was with the Birchaven dinette seatbelt. A 45 year old piece of plastic shouldn't be relied on for such a critical part. Please take the opportunity to examine your seatbelt buckles closely.
I went to a Pick A Part and got two nice, all-metal stainless steel GM buckles, circa 1988, for $15. It'sa very simple procedure to replace the buckles - remove the stitching from the hemmed ends of the seatbelt webbing, slide off old buckle, slide on new buckle, re-stitch hems.
Be careful out there.
Richard
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach under construction;
‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
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