1968 DeVille Conv front outboard seat belt retractors rebuild

[cadillacmike68]

Is there any way to rebuild the retractors on the front outboard belts?

My driver side has been FUBAR'd for a while and I found a medium blue one (I can dye / paint the retractor cover and the belt won't show unless its pulled out!), but I'd prefer to get my original dark blue belt into the good retractor.

Problem is the plastic surround on the spring mechanism says: "Caution - do not remove". I don't want to mess up a good complete retractor with a good cover.

The passenger retractor works good, but the cover disintegrated years ago. I have the matching medium blue retractor cover plus a couple of new black repros (for each side).

How does one get a replacement retractor on the buckle?? That buckle is enormous!

[Bentley]

Mike,

I just packed up all 6 of my seat belts and shipped them off to be rewebbed. I have the same problem with the driver's side retractor. I asked the vendor, Seat Belt Planet, if they can fix it and they said yes. They would need to pop that "Caution - Do not Remove" plastic cap off and replace the spring inside. So the answer is, it can be fixed. But, it is beyond my capability, so I'm letting them do it.

Regarding the passenger-side plastic cover for the retractor. The only way to get the buckle through the plastic housing is to work backwards. You have to disconnect the bottom end of the belt from the retractor, thread it through the plastic housing, and reattach it to the retractor.

Hope this helps.

Wes

[Scot Minesinger]

Probably good used is an option too

[cadillacmike68]

Scot, that's where I got the good used med blue one.

[cadillacmike68]

Mike,

I just packed up all 6 of my seat belts and shipped them off to be rewebbed. I have the same problem with the driver's side retractor. I asked the vendor, Seat Belt Planet, if they can fix it and they said yes. They would need to pop that "Caution - Do not Remove" plastic cap off and replace the spring inside. So the answer is, it can be fixed. But, it is beyond my capability, so I'm letting them do it.

Regarding the passenger-side plastic cover for the retractor. The only way to get the buckle through the plastic housing is to work backwards. You have to disconnect the bottom end of the belt from the retractor, thread it through the plastic housing, and reattach it to the retractor.

Hope this helps.

Wes

Wes, disconnecting the bottom end of the belt, the wound up end inside the retactor, is not possible. It is sewn up around itself and stitched real tight. I would be better off cutting the stitching at the buckle end and having it re-sewn at that end. I'm not sure if my 50 year old singer sewing machine can re-stitch it. It's a simple enough box -x pattern but the web belt is pretty thick.

Do you have a link or contact phone for seat belt city? maybe they can fix my left side and re-sew the belt to the buckle on my passenger side.

Or, I just put this med blue on in the driver side. I would just like nice covered retractors again.

[Bentley]

Mike,

Below is the contact info to Seat Belt Planet. They have been very helpful, sending me color swatches and answering my questions over the phone. I'm sure they can help you.

Wes



Steve Pekrul

Product Line Manager - Retail

Visit us at:

www.seatbeltplanet.com

Or call (405) 736-0088

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And Custom Seat Belts