Removing lower front seatbelt

[nastety92]

I'm trying to remove the rest of my interior, I have 90% of it out now. I'm stuck on the left and right front lower seatbelt assemblies, it is bolted to the floor with a large hez bolt but is there anything else holding it down? Also is there a a way to remove the plastic cover over it seatbelt to access the bolt? I'm refering to the seatbelt next to the door, not next to the center console.
Thanks in advance for any and all help,

Nick

 

[Bustedsm]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

I can take a picture of a removed seatbelt assembly when I get home if you'd like, it should give you an idea of how to remove it. I'll actually be in the process of doing this very soon so keep us up to date!

 

[nastety92]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

I can take a picture of a removed seatbelt assembly when I get home if you'd like, it should give you an idea of how to remove it. I'll actually be in the process of doing this very soon so keep us up to date!

That would be great, I somewhat broke the plastic panel around the seatbelt last night, I wasnt to happy.


Nick

 

[Bustedsm]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

Alright, I get off in about 2 hours so expect something by 8ish at the latest (central time)

 

[wheels]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

Removing these is the biggest pain in the ass . You need a big torx bit, and a long pipe. (well i did anyway). Maneuvering around the plastic is difficult too, you need to make sure the bit is centered and set into the head of the bolt because it will stip out then youre SOL. And you cant remove the plastic first.

I think the torx is a T-50. I think you can see where the bolt comes out underneath the truck. Heat it up as much as you can under there without melting the plastic, and penetrating lube the shit out of it.

 

[nastety92]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

Removing these is the biggest pain in the ass . You need a big torx bit, and a long pipe. (well i did anyway). Maneuvering around the plastic is difficult too, you need to make sure the bit is centered and set into the head of the bolt because it will stip out then youre SOL. And you cant remove the plastic first.

I think the torx is a T-50. I think you can see where the bolt comes out underneath the truck. Heat it up as much as you can under there without melting the plastic, and penetrating lube the shit out of it.

Thanks for the info, I wish that wasnt true. I was really hoping that you could remove that plastic piece first, I can see the bolt but its a pain to get the torx socket on it by itself. I've already broken the plastic panel around the back of it, so I might as well break it off completely and see if that helps me gain more access to the bolt.

Thanks for all of the help guys, I really appreciate it,

Nick

 

[Bustedsm]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

These two pictures should do it for ya!

 

[nastety92]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

Thanks for the pics, I think that is of the upper seatbelt? I'm trying to remove the hex bolt that is bolted to the floor.

Nick

 

[hatrik8]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

PB Blaster and an impact gun worked for me. I think it's a T-50. It's on there TIGHT so you need leverage.

 

[nastety92]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

PB Blaster and an impact gun worked for me. I think it's a T-50. It's on there TIGHT so you need leverage.

I figured I would need an impact gun, I'm working out of my small garage at home where I have just hand tools, I will have to take this to my buddys shop when I get some free time. I'm going to spray it down and leave it until I can get some better tools to work with.
Thanks again for the help,

Nick

 

[nastety92]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

Ok I finally got the two bottom front seatbelt assemblies removed. How I did this was.
First take the plastic rectangular cap off of the bottom from lower seatbelt by the rear speaker panel.
Using a T-50 torx socket and a long extention ( mine was about two feet long) position the torx socket on the bolt, make sure to have the extension complete straight and pushing up against the plastic trim around the seatbelt to make sure the socket is fully seated before you go try to turn the bolt.
I had to use a large breaker bar on mine because the bolt would not budge, I used a three foot breaker bar and got the bolt out no problem., it was a good deal of work and the bolt was really in there tight.

At first I tried using different swiveling socket extentions but the straight one worked out the best in the end. Also, something to note, these seatbelts need to be removed to gain access to the screws that are holding in the rear side panels, without removing the seatbelt there is no way to get to the remaining screws, without breaking the panels.

Good luck and let me know if I can answer any questions.

Thanks for the help guys,

Nick

 

[Silly]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

Great thread guys. I took almost all my interior I could out lastnight but got stuck on this same issue.

Thanks!

 

[nastety92]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

Great thread guys. I took almost all my interior I could out lastnight but got stuck on this same issue.
Thanks!

What a stupid design it is. Having to take the seatbelt out to get the trim panels out, why would you ever do that, its not like the seatbelt needs to be removed for the panel to get out (other than the screws) it goes right over it. Hope my explanation helped and was clear enough.

So what are your plans for carpet?

Nick

 

[Silly]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

What a stupid design it is. Having to take the seatbelt out to get the trim panels out, why would you ever do that, its not like the seatbelt needs to be removed for the panel to get out (other than the screws) it goes right over it. Hope my explanation helped and was clear enough.

So what are your plans for carpet?

Nick

great explanation and i sent the link out already. Move this one to the vault.

No idea on carpet yet

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

PB Blaster and an impact gun worked for me. I think it's a T-50. It's on there TIGHT so you need leverage.

For what it's worth, it's actually an oddball torx, T-47. The problem with those bolts is they are put in with a lot of torque and they are a positive retention design that is flatted on three sides. I was unable to get mine out (both heads stripped out under torque) and had to drill them from underneath

 

[nastety92]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

For what it's worth, it's actually an oddball torx, T-47. The problem with those bolts is they are put in with a lot of torque and they are a positive retention design that is flatted on three sides. I was unable to get mine out (both heads stripped out under torque) and had to drill them from underneath

Maybe that is because you were using a T-47 instead of a T-50. Mine came out no problem with the T-50 and a long breaker bar, but I can see if they were rusted in there how they wouldnt bunge at all.
Sounds like it was a real big pain in the ass.

Nick

 

[warmpancakes]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

Keep in mind those bolts are designed to be replaced after removal ( the lowers) dealer should have them

 

[nastety92]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

Keep in mind those bolts are designed to be replaced after removal ( the lowers) dealer should have them

Really, I would have never known that, thank you very much. I would of thought I could resuse them since they came out no problem.
I think I might not be putting them back in though. I "may" have a roll cage built and mount aftermarket seatbelts to the cage, we will see what happens in the next year or so if I have some money available.

Thanks,

Nick

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

Maybe that is because you were using a T-47 instead of a T-50. Mine came out no problem with the T-50 and a long breaker bar, but I can see if they were rusted in there how they wouldnt bunge at all.
Sounds like it was a real big pain in the ass.

Nick

I was using a T-50 when I stripped them ... my truck was also very rusty. I have had better results using the T-47 in my other truck

 

[warmpancakes]

Re: Removing lower front seatbelt

Its a t-47 the ends of the t-47 are rounded the t-50 are spuare look in the service manual it even calls out t-47