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No, it's not typical of any seatbelt I've used. The seatbelts are easily removed as just one bolt secures them to the body. There's a cover on each end of the retracting unit. The thin end contains the coiled spring end and I *really* don't recommend you mess with this -- it's a bitch to recoil the spring if it comes unwound (personal experience talkin' here) and there's not much to be done at this end anyway. The fatter of the two is the one you want to remove as this end contains the ratcheting mechanism. Check that every thing is operating smoothly and that nothing is obstructing the pendulum. It's the pendulum that 'operates' the locking mechanism during sudden movements (forward, backward and sideways) and it's a crucial part. You can take very thin needle-nose pliers or hemostats to securely hold the pendulum shaft. Using your finger tip (well, if it's skinny like mine) you can rotate the pendulum. The pendulum is screwed on the shaft and rotating it up or down will adjust the sensitivity less or more (respectively) of it activating the locking mechanism. It's a sensitive distance so only a 1/4 turn can make a difference. I know because I've currently adjusted my passenger-side pendulum. This is a sensitive and safety device so BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL ON ADJUSTMENT! We're talking human safety here so 1/4 to 1/2 turns only. Test by jerking the seatbelt slack to make sure it locks up then tilt the unit and pull the slack again to make sure the pendulum engages and locks up. Once satisfied put it all together again and make sure that bolt is tight in the body. Drive the car to an open and secluded street or large parking lot (i.e. just be careful and use a little sense). Get up to 15 mph and take the car out of gear so you are coasting. As soon as your speedo needle gets to 10mph hit the brakes so you lock them up. If the seatbelt retractor still isn't doing it's job then I recommend you replace the unit or have someone familiar with seatbelts look at it. It is very easy to adjust, say, less than 15 minutes once you're familiar with the operation, and you can do it right in the car. Good luck, Toby Erkson air_cooled_nut@pobox.com <-- Please use this address for email '72 VW Squareback 1.6L bored and stroked to 2.0L, Berg five-speed '75 Porsche 914 1.8L, ORPCA member Portland, Oregon, http://www.pobox.com/~toby_erkson/ >-----Original Message----- >If I pull on the >belt and tap the spool with a mag-light, the inertial ratcket works, >stopping the belt from unwinding more. > BUT when i'm driving at 30 mph and step on the brakes >the spool doesn't >lock. (granted i didn't lock up the brakes in a panic stop, but i >deccelerated quickly enough to have my body's unchecked >momentum take me >toward the steering wheel!) > >Question T3 land: Is this typical of your factory '70s seatbelts? ------------------------------------------------------------------- Search old messages on the Web! Visit http://www.vwtype3.org/list/