Might be a dumb question..

[SinisterSHO]

Does the submarine belt have to go thru the seat? IIRC I've seen it both ways, thru the seat, and over the front.

 

[SHOspazz92]

This was in the instructions for my seat belts.

Warning---Never run the anti-sub strap over the front rim of the seat. Such an installation would eliminate anti-sub strap's intended function. Submarining and severe injuries may occur during a frontal crash

Also, Have a seat altered (I.E. - Cutting a hole in it for a sub belt) is not Authorized by most sanctioning bodies.

Also:

If you are running a seat in your vehicle and using a 5 or 6 point harness by running the sub belts over the front of the seat, you are compromising the effectiveness of the sub belt. When you do this, you are putting the camlock mechanism at an angle it was not designed for and therefore reducing the sub-belts ability to prevent you from submarining under the lap belts. What you need is a seat with a 5th harness slot in the base of the seat.

-Sam

 

[Shoaz]

Yeah, most tech inspections will fail you if the sub goes around the front of the seat. And for some a hole in the seat to accomodate the sub is okay, so check with the organization you intend to run with.

The purpose of the sub strap is to keep the lap belt low on your pelvis, so that your pelvis (the biggest and strongest bone there) can be used to restrain you mechanically. If the sub strap has slack that can be taken out (like by compressing the front of the seat in an impact) then the lap belt can ride up into your soft middle bits, which aren't good for restraining you.

The sub strap isn't intended to directly provide the restraint that keeps you from submarining: the lap belt is supposed to do that, but it can only do it if it stays low on your pelvis. The sub is there to keep the lap belt in the proper location. When it all works right you can have a big front hit and your **** will be fine, because the lap belt (and shoulder straps) held you back, not the sub.

If the lap belt has slack pulling the shoulder belts tight can pull the lap belt up, so a properly tensioned sub also lets you get the shoulder straps tight without pulling the lap belt up off your pelvis.

Bottom line: sub around the front of the seat is bad mojo. Do not attempt.

 

[SinisterSHO]

I dont ever really plan on running with any sanctioning body, just HPDE days with various groups. Might need to modify the seat.

 

[SHOspazz92]

I dont ever really plan on running with any sanctioning body, just HPDE days with various groups. Might need to modify the seat.

Just clear it with whoever you are running with. Many open track days in my area base their safety inspections off of SCCA and NASA Rules, while others really don't give a shit.

-Sam

 

[Shoaz]

I dont ever really plan on running with any sanctioning body, just HPDE days with various groups. Might need to modify the seat.

NASA tech will fail you for HPDE if the sub is routed over the seat. Four point harnesses are also no longer allowed with NASA, so either the stock 3-pt harness or a properly installed 5+pt would be needed.

Groups are cracking down, with, I think, good reason. The stock safety systems are actually quite good, and full race tech (cage, seat, harness, etc.) is also good, but people tend to mix and match things in between in ways that can be pretty dangerous. e.g., fixed-back seat with no roll bar, sub strap routed over seat, etc. Definitely check with who you'll be running with so that you're ready before you get to tech.

 

[SinisterSHO]

Worst case, if I modify the seat and it won't pass tech. I could run without the sub belt, and just use it as a four point?

 

[FREAK_SHO]

I could run without the sub belt, and just use it as a four point?

No, do not do that. the sub belt keeps the lap belts low so you do not slide under. 5,6,0r 7 points are not designed to work that way.