Quote:
Originally Posted by MX145
Sieg, you're doing a great job with this. The backing plate idea on the side panel makes a lot of sense too. I'm assuming the two concerns there are folding up or tearing as the vertical force is applied. I think you solved both issues as long as the panel doesn't want to fold above the reinforced area under load. Your backing plate and location is well thought out.
Back to the rocker mount location, it seems as though something along the lines of what Carl suggested would have to be done. I'm concerned about a bracket top welded tearing off right around the weld. Carls idea of placing a wide plate with bottom side welded nut below the rocker mimics what the factory did by spreading the load out and forcing a larger area to have to be torn through. Granted this force would be pulling straight up rather than more of a shear force like the factory front seat belt locations.
Again, Great Job!  Looking forward to seeing this develop. |
Thanks, we'll see where this exercise takes us. As for folding, the belt will exit the top of the retractor and angle inward to the roof mount around 10* so applied force should create some inward pull along with the vertical pull. The retractor mounting hole is near the bottom of the unit so how it's positioned on the plate will change the leverage to a degree. I don't have the units yet, probably by Wednesday and then I can put the scientific seat-of-the-pants eyeball on it and figure out the angles and preferred anchor point and weld placement.
I also want to research and analyze the strength of the upper mount and fasteners more thoroughly. If it's stouter than I think I'll add the strap to the rocker also.