Autocrossing and Road Course Racing Enjoy and discuss the fun through the twisties at your favorite auto-x event. Check out the links to the SCCA website to locate your local club.

harness bar

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-02-2006, 12:57 PM
  #1  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
michaelnyden's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 3,431
harness bar

Does anyone have a harness bar on their car? does anyone even make a harness bar for our cars?

And yes, I know, your not supposed to run one without a full rollcage in case of a rollover...but there is no way my max will rollover...lol...and I will have camlock harness to release them quickly anyway...plus I will only use the harness bar and harnesses on the track not on the street.
michaelnyden is offline  
Old 11-02-2006, 07:49 PM
  #2  
retired moderator
iTrader: (38)
 
irish44j's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burke, VA
Posts: 27,289
i asked this same question a while back and got the typical "blah blah don't run it without a roll bar" stuff, which I find is pretty bogus. I'm not worried about rolling the maxima on an autocross course, but would like a bar to hold my harness at the appropriate angle, as opposed to the 40 degree down angle it's at right now going straight to the back seatbelt bolts.

When i asked, nobody seemed to have interest in making one, and Piper motorsports (the top maker of rollbars and cages in this area) said they wouldn't make one either because of above-stated reasons.

So, if you find someplace to make one for a reasonable price, I'll go in with you for a second one....
irish44j is offline  
Old 11-02-2006, 08:26 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
gdmaxse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 625
Originally Posted by irish44j
I'm not worried about rolling the maxima on an autocross course, but would like a bar to hold my harness at the appropriate angle, as opposed to the 40 degree down angle it's at right now going straight to the back seatbelt bolts.
ummm isnt the whole safety issue with the angle of the harness only applicable in roll over situation. so if you are not worried about rolling over there is no reason to worry about the angle of the harness and therefore no reason to spend money on a harness bar. but get one if you want
gdmaxse is offline  
Old 11-02-2006, 10:26 PM
  #4  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
michaelnyden's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 3,431
wait...do the harnesses really stretch that far that they can reach the rear seat belt bolts and still have adjustability?

well the harness bar serves two purposes...they add a little bit of structural integrity and they can be used as a proper camera mount as well putting the harness at a correct angle so that the belt feels better...I am putting in some 350z seats and want to top it off with a proper camlock harness and bar...why a lot of us avoid a cage is cause I have never seen a maxima rollover...and can't ever see my car doing so seeing as how I have been on very high speed road coarses and not seen a situation where that would happen and a proper quality roll cage starts at about 1200 for a sedan interior of our size...

there is a guy that makes sti and evo harness bars that I have contacted...he lives near me apparently, and said if I want to go through with it, he could do it in a weekend. He mig welds it all...and says they average about 12lbs with the support bars...then he powdercoats them to whatever color you wish...he quoted me about $200...
michaelnyden is offline  
Old 11-03-2006, 09:16 AM
  #5  
this place is dead
iTrader: (3)
 
97SEdriver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: west chester, pa
Posts: 7,811
I though GRM did a piece on this a while back.
I have seen a handful of harness bars in Subies, and they didn't have cages either, but who knows they could have done it themselves.
97SEdriver is offline  
Old 11-03-2006, 01:07 PM
  #6  
retired moderator
iTrader: (38)
 
irish44j's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burke, VA
Posts: 27,289
Originally Posted by gdmaxse
ummm isnt the whole safety issue with the angle of the harness only applicable in roll over situation. so if you are not worried about rolling over there is no reason to worry about the angle of the harness and therefore no reason to spend money on a harness bar. but get one if you want
actually, the issue with the harness angle has nothing to do with rollover. The maximum angle is there because if you hit something head on HARD (lightpost.....modded Celica) the harness having a large down-angle when your body goes forward will cause compression of the spine...because it will be pulling your shouders/torso DOWN instead of BACK.

A harness bar creates a smaller (ideally, +/- 10% incline) angle so that if you hit something, the harness will hold you back and not crush spinal vertebrae (I happen to like mine).

so now you know......
irish44j is offline  
Old 11-03-2006, 01:09 PM
  #7  
retired moderator
iTrader: (38)
 
irish44j's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burke, VA
Posts: 27,289
Originally Posted by michaelnyden
wait...do the harnesses really stretch that far that they can reach the rear seat belt bolts and still have adjustability?
I bought a g-force one with extended back straps so it would

Originally Posted by michaelnyden
well the harness bar serves two purposes...they add a little bit of structural integrity and they can be used as a proper camera mount as well putting the harness at a correct angle so that the belt feels better...
those points, plus the safety issue I noted in my previous post

Originally Posted by michaelnyden
there is a guy that makes sti and evo harness bars that I have contacted...he lives near me apparently, and said if I want to go through with it, he could do it in a weekend. He mig welds it all...and says they average about 12lbs with the support bars...then he powdercoats them to whatever color you wish...he quoted me about $200...
if you get one made for $200, let me know...maybe he'll give a discount to make two of them

Gabe wants one too...powdercoated in fuschia.
irish44j is offline  
Old 11-03-2006, 02:36 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
gdmaxse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 625
Originally Posted by irish44j
Gabe wants one too...powdercoated in fuschia.
haha no thanks ill save my $200 for some more tires since ill need new ones by this time next year, my harness is below the 45 degree down angle anyway

Originally Posted by michaelnyden
wait...do the harnesses really stretch that far that they can reach the rear seat belt bolts and still have adjustability?
yes my corbeau harness is adjusted to about half of whats available and it reaches the rear seatbelt mounting points fine
gdmaxse is offline  
Old 11-03-2006, 03:05 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
gdmaxse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 625
also the spine crushing is when using a 5 or 6 point harness with anti submarine straps. with a 4 point harness you would slip under the lap belt before your vertebrae are crushed
gdmaxse is offline  
Old 11-03-2006, 04:07 PM
  #10  
retired moderator
iTrader: (38)
 
irish44j's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burke, VA
Posts: 27,289
[QUOTE=gdmaxse]haha no thanks ill save my $200 for some more tires since ill need new ones by this time next year, my harness is below the 45 degree down angle anyway[/img]

it's supposed to be ABOVE 20 degrees though, IIRC.
irish44j is offline  
Old 11-03-2006, 04:50 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
gdmaxse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 625
this is what came with the corbeau harness that i use:


and this page sais 45 degrees too
http://www.sportscar-parts.com/spraceblts.htm
gdmaxse is offline  
Old 11-03-2006, 05:06 PM
  #12  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
michaelnyden's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 3,431
so where do you guys have yours mounted? the lower seat belt mounts/bolts that go between the back seat upper and lower cushions? or the upper bolts (on the deck where the rear speakers and sub are)?
michaelnyden is offline  
Old 11-04-2006, 08:20 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
gdmaxse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 625
lower seat belt mount bolts, i dont think the upper deck is reinforced enough to handle a harness
gdmaxse is offline  
Old 11-04-2006, 08:59 AM
  #14  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
michaelnyden's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 3,431
hmm...what about to the enclosed baby seat loops? those would have to be very reinforced since they wouldn't want to get sued if a baby seat would fly around in an accident...
michaelnyden is offline  
Old 11-04-2006, 10:03 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
gdmaxse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 625
no those are not reinforced enough, babys dont weigh as much as adults, take a look at them if you want, but i dont believe they are reinforced enough for a full size adult
gdmaxse is offline  
Old 11-04-2006, 10:47 AM
  #16  
Maxima Owner
iTrader: (8)
 
MaximaSE96's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,062
instead of a harness bar invest in the Schroth harness....they are SCCA Approved and street approved....the mount to the back seatbelt mounts BUT have a special tensioning piece to keep a vary shallow PROPER angle....

MaximaSE96 is offline  
Old 11-04-2006, 04:04 PM
  #17  
retired moderator
iTrader: (38)
 
irish44j's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burke, VA
Posts: 27,289
Instructions from my G-Force harness here. I guess they'er more concerned about spinal compression than other manufacturers. I'll take their word for it. Better safe than sorry, in my opinion. Maybe Sparco is more interested in selling them than they are in safety, who knows.....

note the second paragraph.

irish44j is offline  
Old 11-04-2006, 04:08 PM
  #18  
retired moderator
iTrader: (38)
 
irish44j's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burke, VA
Posts: 27,289
funny how sparco thinks a big down-angle is OK, yet they manufacture harness bars for many of the most popular track cars (evos, mustangs, etc)

http://www.sparcousa.com/harness_bars.asp
irish44j is offline  
Old 11-04-2006, 09:31 PM
  #19  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
gdmaxse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 625
i dont think the 45 degree angle is a problem since BOTH sparco and corbeau suggest it as the maximum angle for their harnesses. since i am within the recommended range from the manufacturer of MY harness, i dont consider a harness bar necessary, but if you feel safer using one, go ahead
gdmaxse is offline  
Old 11-05-2006, 08:58 AM
  #20  
retired moderator
iTrader: (38)
 
irish44j's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burke, VA
Posts: 27,289
Originally Posted by gdmaxse
i dont think the 45 degree angle is a problem since BOTH sparco and corbeau suggest it as the maximum angle for their harnesses. since i am within the recommended range from the manufacturer of MY harness, i dont consider a harness bar necessary, but if you feel safer using one, go ahead
Thanks for your permission

I don't cosider it a "necessity" either. I was only replying to your statement that

Originally Posted by gdmaxse
if you are not worried about rolling over there is no reason to worry about the angle of the harness and therefore no reason to spend money on a harness bar
which is incorrect, as the angle of the harness has little to do with rollover and everything to do with a front-end collision.

I'm not sure why Sparco, Coreau, G-Force, etc would all have different maximum angles.....after all, when it all comes down to it they are all just a pair of freakin straps that go over your shoulders....

irish44j is offline  
Old 11-05-2006, 06:11 PM
  #21  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
gdmaxse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 625
yeah you are right, the angle is not a problem with roll over, but i think the reason most companies are not interested in making harness bars for cars without roll cages is because when you flip a car with a harness and no roll cage, the roof could cave in and break your neck because your body is held in place securely but your head can be forced around
gdmaxse is offline  
Old 11-05-2006, 06:16 PM
  #22  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
gdmaxse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 625
Originally Posted by irish44j

I'm not sure why Sparco, Coreau, G-Force, etc would all have different maximum angles.....after all, when it all comes down to it they are all just a pair of freakin straps that go over your shoulders....

yeah i mean the main reason i have it is because i have the stupid automatic seatbelts which dont hold you in the car at all and i can drive faster without having to brace myself with the dead pedal
gdmaxse is offline  
Old 11-05-2006, 10:21 PM
  #23  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
michaelnyden's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 3,431
yeah you are right, the angle is not a problem with roll over, but i think the reason most companies are not interested in making harness bars for cars without roll cages is because when you flip a car with a harness and no roll cage, the roof could cave in and break your neck because your body is held in place securely but your head can be forced around
then why do they make them for evo's, sti's, integra's, etc....yes it is a concern...and you would most likely break your neck if held in during a rollover...but I don't ever see my car rolling over in all the type of racing I have done so far and don't plan on doing it anytime soon...in addition, it's not like we use the harnesses all the time, just at the track/autox...on the street I would use my regular seatbelt...I just want something better than my current cg-lock...
michaelnyden is offline  
Old 11-06-2006, 08:22 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
gdmaxse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 625
Originally Posted by michaelnyden
...I just want something better than my current cg-lock...
then get one of the harnesses that bolt into stock seatbelt locations like the corbeau, sparco, schroth, gforce. the corbeau one works well for me and is cheap but the others are essentially the same thing so any should work. stick with 4 and 3 point models. you can decide whether you want to clip them in or bolt them in permanently and stuff them away when you dont need them. mine has a buckle in the middle so i can disconnect it from the back mount points and put my tires in the back seat easily.
gdmaxse is offline  
Old 11-06-2006, 03:00 PM
  #25  
retired moderator
iTrader: (38)
 
irish44j's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Burke, VA
Posts: 27,289
I was told by the guys at Piper motorsport that the only way you can safely use a harness bar to be safe from rollover is to have the harness custom-changed to have velcro quick-release sections that could be torn free in case of rollover.
irish44j is offline  
Old 02-13-2008, 07:12 PM
  #26  
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
nismo_star's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland Gardens, NY
Posts: 634
http://forums.nycmaximas.org/showthread.php?t=31121

I finally finished mine up, I have pix of it installed
nismo_star is offline  
Old 02-13-2008, 09:06 PM
  #27  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
michaelnyden's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 3,431
is it possible to post them up here?
michaelnyden is offline  
Old 02-14-2008, 11:07 AM
  #28  
Driving is the next best thing
iTrader: (3)
 
DrKlop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 2,023
Originally Posted by nismo_star
http://forums.nycmaximas.org/showthread.php?t=31121

I finally finished mine up, I have pix of it installed

You have to be registered on nycmaximas to view the thread.

I believe Rishi changed it a few months ago, for security purposes.
DrKlop is offline  
Old 02-14-2008, 11:15 AM
  #29  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
michaelnyden's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 3,431
jesus, pretty soon you'll have to register to use a search engine or wikipedia...lol...it seems like you have to register for everything these days...lol
michaelnyden is offline  
Old 02-14-2008, 03:47 PM
  #30  
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
HotshotVQ35's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 930


HotshotVQ35 is offline  
Old 02-21-2008, 06:25 PM
  #31  
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
nismo_star's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland Gardens, NY
Posts: 634
Thanks for the post up.
nismo_star is offline  
Old 02-21-2008, 07:35 PM
  #32  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
 
michaelnyden's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 3,431
does whomever made it have interest in producing another one by any chance?
michaelnyden is offline  
Old 02-23-2008, 08:43 PM
  #33  
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
nismo_star's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland Gardens, NY
Posts: 634
I made it...with all the cons outweighing pros as nycmaximas had explained, I am a bit doubtful.
It was slow season at work for me and learning tig for the last few months, I set out to make a harness bar from scrap tubing, and sperical bearing ends.
nismo_star is offline  
Old 02-26-2008, 10:17 AM
  #34  
The Crazy Azz Cracka
iTrader: (1)
 
choray911's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 3,035
Originally Posted by nismo_star
I made it...with all the cons outweighing pros as nycmaximas had explained, I am a bit doubtful.
It was slow season at work for me and learning tig for the last few months, I set out to make a harness bar from scrap tubing, and sperical bearing ends.
Thats pretty pimp. I need one for the time trials coming up in June.
choray911 is offline  
Old 02-27-2008, 08:00 PM
  #35  
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
nismo_star's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland Gardens, NY
Posts: 634
Thanks just felt that it wasn't warmly accepted on another forum.
nismo_star is offline  
Old 02-28-2008, 06:07 PM
  #36  
The Crazy Azz Cracka
iTrader: (1)
 
choray911's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 3,035
Originally Posted by nismo_star
Thanks just felt that it wasn't warmly accepted on another forum.
What was their remarks about it? I puts the harness where it needs to be.
choray911 is offline  
Old 02-28-2008, 06:36 PM
  #37  
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
nismo_star's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland Gardens, NY
Posts: 634
Several comments about safety of rear seat occupants in a 'accident' and having protection put on harness bar, and obviously in a crash my spine may be crushed, etc.
None of them autoX. Comments from mods about noble, but poor idea for a street car.
Lastly a debate about using a Y strap from rear seat vs harness bar pros and cons.

I was bored, thats all. I did a search on nycmaximas, and saw no one had done one.
nismo_star is offline  
Old 03-03-2008, 05:59 PM
  #38  
The Crazy Azz Cracka
iTrader: (1)
 
choray911's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 3,035
turds
choray911 is offline  
Old 03-04-2008, 09:15 PM
  #39  
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
nismo_star's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland Gardens, NY
Posts: 634
LoL, but they have their points

I've complied, but I will be 6 point caged by June of 08, and rebuild my tranny, again.
nismo_star is offline  
Old 03-06-2008, 04:53 PM
  #40  
The Crazy Azz Cracka
iTrader: (1)
 
choray911's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 3,035
I'm with you there. I'm planning on hitting some time trials and time attacks this year and don't have a single bit of safety equipment.
choray911 is offline  


Quick Reply: harness bar



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:34 PM.