Race harness shoulder strap mounting points

[ChrisD.]

I see lots of information around the internet on this, I'm just wondering what the Motors consensus is.

Are harnesses safe to mount using the rear seat belt mounting points? I think they are, provided that the angle of the straps is between 0 and 45 degrees. I have however seen contradictory information that states this is only safe on cars with a full roll cage due to the way that the chassis/car can flex in the event of an accident.

You can often see in touring cars when they interview the drivers that they are bolted down and to the rear at a 45 degrees ish angle, but obviously these cars have many more safety features than a road car with harnesses in.

Anyone here know anything conclusive? What do you use in your track cars?

Cheers!

 

[bimbleuk]

Go to your harness manufacturers website and read thier installation instructions. If they don't provide them you've bought the wrong ones

 

[Hawk Tuah]

I'd only be considering harnesses for a track car. PITA on the road (I know, I had them in my Baja).

You'd probably want to add new mounts. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorsport-Harness-Eye-Bolt-Backing-Plate-FIA-Approved/260981211348

 

[ChrisD.]

Go to your harness manufacturers website and read thier installation instructions. If they don't provide them you've bought the wrong ones

I'd consider Sabelt a good brand yet no instructions on their site. In fact a lot of manufacturers don't have instructions on their sites.

I'd only be considering harnesses for a track car. PITA on the road (I know, I had them in my Baja).

You'd probably want to add new mounts. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorsport-Harness-Eye-Bolt-Backing-Plate-FIA-Approved/260981211348

They would only be used on track, standard 3 point for the road.

The more I read into it the more I'm convinced that it's unwise to run harnesses unless they are 6 point and the car has a cage.

 

[Hawk Tuah]

The more I read into it the more I'm convinced that it's unwise to run harnesses unless they are 6 point and the car has a cage.

If it's also going to be used as a road car, then I would agree.

 

[ChrisD.]

As I said, on the road I would only use the standard 3 point system.

I'd only use the harnesses on track.

 

[kaiowas]

Using the seatbelt mounts is not an issue in itself, the issues arise when people start using inappropriate sized bolts or have the harnesses running at weird angles. If your seatbelt mounts are not in a suitable location then either add additional mounting points or a harness bar.

You'll get different opinions from different people regarding running harnesses without a cage. I did it myself for a few years. The key thing is to ensure you understand the various risks and compromises and then make your own judgement call. In a car with a harness and no cage there is a risk that in a rollover you may not be able to move if the roof collapses, increasing the risk of neck or spinal injuries, on the other hand running a full cage in a road car has it's own risks associated with having your unprotected head next to a steel bar when not wearing a helmet. For a long time when using my car for road and track I had a 3 point belt for the road and harnessess for the track with no cage. I justified this to myself on the basis that it was safer during road use and that the nature of my cars construction and it's short roof meant that the area of roof above my head was less likely to collapse than on a 4 seat car. As the car became more track focussed and I found myself driving it on the road less I added a cage and now only use it on the road very sparingly.

For a saloon/hatch type car used on both road and track the best compromise is probably a half-cage in the rear, it'll give you sufficient rollover protection to allow the safe use of harnesses, it won't hinder getting in and out in normal use (unless you want to carry passengers in the back) and there's no danger of impacting the cage with your head if your involved in an incident on the road.