Brigala
CPST Instructor
We just got new seat belts for the driver and passenger side in our '93 Toyota pickup. We got them from the dealership. Not cheap, but the driver's side seat belt was actually showing a red tag that said "Replace Seat Belt" on it, so it was definitely time.
Bonus: The new seat belt on the passenger side comes with a switchable ALR!!! Hooray! (There are no air bags in this truck, so DD rides RF in the passenger seat, and combined with the long buckle stocks, installing with the locking clip is a PITA).
Anyway, I was frustrated to find out that the seat belts were only the main belt portion. They didn't come with the female / buckle stock / receiver end.
The receiver portions come with a replacement lap belt as well; we weren't planning to replace the lap belt because, well, we never use it anyway. It's too tight of a fit to put a car seat there and still have the vehicle be drivable. Well, the complete set comes to $113 with a coupon I have, which isn't the big deal... the big deal is that it has to be ordered and may take up to a week to arrive. Meanwhile, we can't use the truck because taking the bench seat out to replace belts is not a particularly easy task so my husband doesn't want to put it back together and take it apart again in a week.
The receiver ends of the seat belt are in great condition, in spite of their age. There's no visible wear at all on the belts and the buckles work beautifully. They just don't get the wear and tear that the outside portions get, being retracted back and forth and slammed in the car doors and that sort of thing. They appear to be as good as new. How important do you think it is to replace them just because they're 20 years old?
Bonus: The new seat belt on the passenger side comes with a switchable ALR!!! Hooray! (There are no air bags in this truck, so DD rides RF in the passenger seat, and combined with the long buckle stocks, installing with the locking clip is a PITA).
Anyway, I was frustrated to find out that the seat belts were only the main belt portion. They didn't come with the female / buckle stock / receiver end.
The receiver portions come with a replacement lap belt as well; we weren't planning to replace the lap belt because, well, we never use it anyway. It's too tight of a fit to put a car seat there and still have the vehicle be drivable. Well, the complete set comes to $113 with a coupon I have, which isn't the big deal... the big deal is that it has to be ordered and may take up to a week to arrive. Meanwhile, we can't use the truck because taking the bench seat out to replace belts is not a particularly easy task so my husband doesn't want to put it back together and take it apart again in a week.
The receiver ends of the seat belt are in great condition, in spite of their age. There's no visible wear at all on the belts and the buckles work beautifully. They just don't get the wear and tear that the outside portions get, being retracted back and forth and slammed in the car doors and that sort of thing. They appear to be as good as new. How important do you think it is to replace them just because they're 20 years old?
