Seat Belt Bolt Help

[ROW911SC]

The bolt that unthreaded easily during disassembly for paint is now stubborn as a mule and won't thread back in properly. I'm referring to the lower seat belt attachment, near the sill and behind the driver's seat. Anyone know the size and where I can get a tap to clean it out? Thanks.

[javadog]

I think it is 7/16, but I don't remember which thread pitch. I think it's 7/16-20. Measure your bolt to be sure.

JR

[GH85Carrera]

One of the bits of trivia is that every seat belt for any car sold in the USA is a SAE size. The US DOT mandates it. So even cars never sold in the USA have the same SAE seat belt bolt size.

[ROW911SC]

Thanks all. That is interesting; I thought it might be metric...

[sballard]

I wonder if the bolts are metric in the Euro cars

[javadog]

Yes, they are all the same. Metric head, inch threads.

JR

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by sballard

I wonder if the bolts are metric in the Euro cars

No, they are SAE.

Originally Posted by javadog

Yes, they are all the same. Metric head, inch threads.

JR

This.

From what I read even a Ferrari sold in China has a SAE size seatbelt bolt and wheels that are measured in inches.

[ROW911SC]

Tap not really working, time for Time-Sert, I think...

[javadog]

You using the right tap? Hard to imagine one of these being that difficult.

JR

[emac]

Len
I changed mine a few weeks ago and had the same issue. Removed ok but very hard to put back. I thought I had stripped the bolt but I didn't. Re inserted and drew it down.
Ernie

[ROW911SC]

I'll remeasure the bolt, but what a PIA! I'm always careful when removing hardware, but maybe the threads finally reached their limit. emac, what do you mean by "drew it down"? Thanks.

[RSTarga]

Even after cleaning the threads with a tap mine was baulky. The bolt has to go in perfectly aligned, very easy to skew to one side.
I took my lower mounting point off the rail, started the bolt, then bolted the mount back on the rail.

[wayne robson]

Lens, As RS Targa says alignment is important when starting ,it is best to thread as far
as possible by hand,also a drop of three in one thin oil,not WD40 on the tread helps alot.
The stock Repa bolt has a very thin bolt head and some sockets only grip by one mm
i ground down a standard socket so it covers the head more when trying to remove bolts,
Never just fit socket over the bolt and start threading,otherwise that can cross thread .
if it starts tight stop and start again.until free. th

[emac]

After confirming it was not stripped I re installed and tightened with socket. Once I got the bolt about one half in it seemed to draw in easier
Ernie

[ROW911SC]

Thanks all. I tested the bolt (7/16-20) at Home Depot and it would not thread completely after starting OK, so even though it looks good to the eye I'm going to order a new one.

[ROW911SC]

Tap worked like a charm! Cleaned the first couple of threads and then I was home free. Ordered new bolts (a bit longer by the way) and everything's now secure...