With the warm weather returning my Flapping Seatbelts returned. I read many of the other "fixes" by other members including using tie-wraps, or other straps and even placing the seatbelt behind the pillar's plastic. But I wanted a Non-Intrusive solution because these are, after all, our seatbelts for use in an emergency. The last thing I would want is to get into an accident and the seatbelt not do its job because I had modified its flow or path.

So I first figured out, as many of you have too, what is actually causing the noise. I found that the seatbelt is simply hitting against the plastic pillar. So instead of trying to prevent the seatbelt from flapping, instead I found this way to keep it from hitting the hollow plastic pillar. In summary, I glued a "bumper" to the pillar and now my seatbelts don't flap, even going down the interstate @ 70mph with the windows down.

I found some simple plastic cups (ones used for furniture legs) at HomeDepot that were close in color to my interior. They aren't perfect matches but, once installed, they are behind the seatbelt anyway.



First, scratch the inside of the cups so the glue will adhere to them.


Next I filled them up almost "flush" with glue from a Hot Glue Gun. Then let this glue dry/harden. This is because they are concave and I needed them to be filled. Make darn sure you only fill them NEAR to the top and not above the top of the lip as you will need room for fresh HOT glue for the next step.



Find a spot between where the seatbelt comes out of the slot, about 5" or 6" up from the slot. Visually locate this so you will be ready to stick the bumper there. The bumper will go behind the seatbelt.

Last (and you will need to do this fairly quickly) fill the remaining area of the cup with fresh Hot Glue. The new hot glue will stick nicely to the old hot glue. Now place the Hot Glue filled cup (now called the Seatbelt Bumper) against the pillar, again about 5" or 6" above the slot where the seatbelt comes out and make sure it is centered behind the seatbelt.


It should look like this.



Now you have a seatbelt bumper that does not restrict, in any way, the seatbelt and in fact, the fuzzy side ensures the seatbelt travels without catching.

 

Very nice and simple. I like it!

 

havn't had the experience of flapping yet because i have not been able to take the top off yet ( damn Canadian winters ) but if/when i do this looks like the ultimate ( safe ) solution

 

I like the mod.
Have you run no doors yet to see if it helps then as well?
Mine are driving me crazy this week since I have been going naked.

 

I am curious if this would work without doors, too. I remember last summer that seat belt was flapping like crazy, so my guess is this may not work.

Anyway, I can't wait to take doors off and top down. It's still cold here!

 

I have not tested it with the doors off yet as I still need a side mirror solution. In North Carolina I must have a side mirror to have my doors off.

But I'm fairly sure my seatbelt bumpers will still work with the doors off. Why? Because to begin with both of my seatbelts (driver's and passenger's side) flapped like crazy when my front tops were off and all four windows were down. Then I only glued the driver's side bumper on and drove it like that for a few days. During that time, the driver's side seatbelt was quiet, but the passenger's side was flapping loudly. So then I did the passenger's side and waited two days worth of driving with "no flapping" before I posted this solution. Now that said, it still isn't the amount of wind that "no doors" will produce, but the concept remains the same; the seatbelt no longer makes contact with the pillar but instead hits to soft fuzzy bumper.

I can't wait to test with "no doors", but I'm working on my own door-tree soluiton and mirror solution.

 

good idea!!

 

Hey Sunburst-Kid,

I read my post again and it sounded negative to your post. That's not what I meant and I really think your idea was awesome and I would like to do this if it works when I take doors off.

I just wanted to make sure that I didn't mean to be negative and I hope I didn't make you feel bad because of my post.

 

i just buckle mine in. works like a charm

 

Hey Katsumotology,

No offense was taken, none. And likewise, I hope you didn't think my response was offensive either. Your question was perfectly valid as to; does it work with the doors off. Again, I don't know for sure, but I do think it will since my seatbelt bumper keeps the seatbelt from hitting the plastic pillar, which is what is actually making the sound that we all know and love.

Take care......