Shoulder-Harness mounting points suck

[boss351]

One more wonder of Caterham design, why are the mounting positions for the shoulder harnesses non-symmetrical?



I am wanting to use a HANS type device (actually the Defnder), but at a minimum the mounting ought to be symmetrical, better yet closer together also.

In the UK it looks like you take the car back to Arch Motors and they braze in new mounting nuts to correctly cater to HANS specs. Not sure I want to find someone to do that here, however, maybe making a plate that would bolt to the original mounting points then having either bolts brazed (like studs) on to that or nuts (not much in the way of thread depth) brazed on in the correct positions would work? Anyone done this?

[slomove]

One more wonder of Caterham design, why are the mounting positions for the shoulder harnesses non-symmetrical?.................. Not sure I want to find someone to do that here, however, maybe making a plate that would bolt to the original mounting points then having either bolts brazed (like studs) on to that or nuts (not much in the way of thread depth) brazed on in the correct positions would work? Anyone done this?

The situation for Birkin is similar. Not unsymmetrical but too far apart (especially to fit through the seat back holes). I made a simple bracket from 5/8 OD high strength alloy tubing with flat plates welded to the ends. The harness is now looped around the tube. I think you could do something like that, just on top instead of the rear wall.

[rzempel]

If you used Gert's idea, but used a piece of flat bar stock instead of the round stock, you could drill holes through the bar at the desired mounting points and bolt through the plate. That way, you could re-use the harness you have.

[Doug Liedblad]

My Caterham has two choices to mount the outside shoulder harness. I used the one that made them the most symetric.

Is yours missing the outer mounting point or is it under the cover?


belt mounting point.jpg

[boss351]

I pulled the boot cover and checked. No more mounting points. Seems to be fairly non-consistant. Another friend over her checked his SV and his mounting points are symetrical, all be it 8" apart, still a little too wide for correct spec when using a head and neck restraint.

I am going to visit a race shop next week and check our fabricating a part to get the anchor points in the correct position that bolts to the frame using the current mounting points.

[Doug Liedblad]

I think your idea of an adaptor plate should work fine. Just bolt the plate to the frame and then bolts in the correct place on the adaptor. Be sure to use grade 8.