? purpose of spike found at the bottom of front seat blt

[Armond]

my car is a 73 but the front seat belts were transplanted from a 76. NE1 know the importance of the spikes? TIA

[bluedevils]

Spikes hold the retractor vertical. Early cars and some 73 models came with retractors w/o spikes and had no extra holes on the rocker for the spikes. Sometime after mid 73 BMW start installing spikes on the retractors. You can remove (unscrew) them (if your car don't have the extra holes) and install the retractor with a lock washer (7/16" or 1/2"), you will be fine. All repas and some Autflugs (mid 73 up) have spikes, early Autflugs don't (early to mid 73). The dates are approximate based on my research and experience, and should not be assumed as exact info.

[jgerock]

Here is the spike in question. My May 1973 Autoflug belts are this way.

Thanks to Al for the (earlier) reason for them.

[c.d.iesel]

....deadly important!!!..YES - it's to locate the inertia

locker in it's proper position to SAVE YOUR LIFE.

Tighten up the retractor in the wrong position and the

inertia lock won't work when the belt is suddenly JERKED!! on impact.

You'll be just like Wonder Dog flying thru the windshield

with your rotten rubber seal failing to hold you in.

[Armond]

thanks guys. Hey Al, my rocker doesnt have the holes to accommodate the spike. The Repa driver side belts are new but the passenger side are in good condition. Cam you hook me up with the earlier style autoflugs? please e-mail me. TIA

[bluedevils]

....deadly important!!!..YES - it's to locate the inertia

locker in it's proper position to SAVE YOUR LIFE.

Tighten up the retractor in the wrong position and the

inertia lock won't work when the belt is suddenly JERKED!! on impact.

You'll be just like Wonder Dog flying thru the windshield

with your rotten rubber seal failing to hold you in.

Hold your horses. Some retractors will work in every direction (as long as not upside down!), and they are web sensitive only, meaning sudden movements make the retractor to lock up regardless of the angle of the car. Some retractors will work in a specific angle and they are both vehicle sensitive and web sensitive. One reason they use angled retractors is because it makes the webbing more comfortable. Web sensitive only retractors are more sensitive to jerking hence making them less comfortable.

The vertical or angled retractors will also pull and lock properly even if they are not in vertical or angled position. They won't release the webbing if they are not in vertical or angled position, but they will still lock the webbing even they are jerked (spike may brake during and impact but they will still lock up holding the webbing tight). The vehicle (dual) sensitive retractors are called 90/90. Early 2002 didn't have the spikes.

[bluedevils]

thanks guys. Hey Al, my rocker doesnt have the holes to accommodate the spike. The Repa driver side belts are new but the passenger side are in good condition. Cam you hook me up with the earlier style autoflugs? please e-mail me. TIA

email sent.