Seatbelt action

[DucatiRdr]

I have been out of my Mustang since 1992 and have been driving it again starting last March. I have a 2004 Explorer and the shoulder belt portion of the seat belts in that car will restrict you if you pull the belt out too quickly or hit a large bump. The shoulder belt portion of my '88 Mustang has about zero tension no matter how you pull the belt. If you pull the belt out past a certain point it will retract, but nothing prevents the belt from being pulled out. That being said, I'm wondering how well they will protect me in an accident. Are they operating properly?

 

[BK_CAULEY]

just go out on the road and make sure no one is behind you and hit the brakes real hard and let your self move freely. dont lock up and see if it restricts you.

 

[samickguy15]

Just put in a cage and some sweet harness's.

 

[trbkrb]

Your car and Explorer have different types of belts. The Mustangs have an inertia type of mechanism that only works in a quick stop when the pendulum mechanism moves and locks the belts. They sometimes lock on quick turns also. Pulling on the belt does not engage any restriction. The Explorer is most likely the centrifugal type of belt that reacts to a sharp tugging of the seatbelt.

More info:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/seatbelt3.htm

 

[SuperStang83]

Test them out on a deserted road.

 

[twistedwankel]

Your car and Explorer have different types of belts. The Mustangs have an inertia type of mechanism that only works in a quick stop when the pendulum mechanism moves and locks the belts. They sometimes lock on quick turns also. Pulling on the belt does not engage any restriction. The Explorer is most likely the centrifugal type of belt that reacts to a sharp tugging of the seatbelt.

More info:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/seatbelt3.htm

Agreed he is correct.

Old Mustangs are swingers. Explorers are premature dejaculators.

If you go down a steep enough hill the pendulum might engage?

 

[DucatiRdr]

Thanks for the replies! I'll give those belts a test this week.