How-To: Install Harnesses

[autoxes]

So today I got bored and decided to intall my Schroth harnesses...And I wrote a how to on it! I know it's fairly basic, but I wasn't 100% on the install, so maybe I can help someone out here.

Step 1: Take before pictures for comparison..lol

Step 2: Remove Rear Seat
In Proteges, the rear seat is secured by two loops in the rear, and two clips in the front. You remove it by simply pulling up on the front of the seat with a little bit of force, and voila, Protege minus rear seat.

Admire the plethora of dirt and other crap residing beneath your seat...

Step 3: Remove rear seat belt bolts.
All of these are 17mm, I recommend you use a fairly long rachet, because they are tight as hell. There are four of them, two holding down the shoulder straps on each side, and two holding the buckles and lap belt.

I'm not sure what these are, maybe sound deadening? I reinstalled them. (the white ring)

Step 4: Install rear straps
Just put the bolts back through the seatbelt hold downs and the harness end links. Like so:

Tip: lay your harnesses out like they are going to be in the car, it doesn't really matter, but if you're anal retentive, like me, it will bother you if the buckles are upside down.

When finished, you get this:

Step 5: Remove bolts from seat mount and stock seatbelt mounting point.
Don't be stupid like me!!! Move your seats ALL the way up so that you can get to the bolts. I didn't realize this until the second one. Dee dee dee
This one

To get to the seat mount bolts, you have to take this off, just gently pry it at the top tab with a flat screw driver and it should pop off.

Step 6: Replace bolts with harness links through them.

I put them in between the seat mount and the center hump, it seemed like a logical place to put them as I didn't feel like taking the top half of the seat off to get at the stock seat belt buckle.

When you're done, just buckle the back straps to the fronts and you're good to go.
Enjoy not sliding around in your seat!

also make sure to adjust it properly before getting too involved wearing it, it will only work properly if it is adjusted as such.

There ya have it, easy.

Note, if you are doing this for your own enjoyment, you can remove the stock belts, but it would make me illegal for STS if I did, so my install might differ from yours in that regard.

 

[ChopstickHero]

Harnesses should really be used in conjunction with a harness bar or be mounted at a higher point. In the event of a front end collision, the low mounting point of the harnesses will compress your spine... and that of course means some serious damage. sure, in autocross it should be fine, but in track or road racing, a real harness bar should be used.

 

[FunkRider]

Harnesses should really be used in conjunction with a harness bar or be mounted at a higher point. In the event of a front end collision, the low mounting point of the harnesses will compress your spine... and that of course means some serious damage. sure, in autocross it should be fine, but in track or road racing, a real harness bar should be used.

Ditto.

 

[autoxes]

I'm glad you had something so compelling to add to this thread.

 

[thewrench]

So compelling, and yet so wrong. (bang)

Back to this again, look up Schroth harnesses. They are designed to be mounted this way.

Haha, I suspect these were mine at some point. Did you get them from Lukeann?

 

[autoxes]

as a matter of fact, yes. Lol. So I am in fact safe from spinal compression?

 

[thewrench]

In regards to the Schroth harnesses, yes. However, when you take it over that 12' motorcycle jump, maybe not so much.

 

[00protegeracer]

u can still use the rear seats right? didnt gat a look at the back seat and i kinda use mine sometimes but would like to have harnesses instead of seat belts.

 

[autoxes]

You can, but you have to detach the rear strap, redering the harness unuseable.

Lucky for me, STS prohibits removal of stock belts, so I have those in case anyone wants to ride in the back.