A Safety Issue...

Poida · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2003 8:47 pm Post subject: A Safety Issue...

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and this post isn't intended to ruffle any feathers, just point out a few issues with legality and safety.

I have noticed while reading back through the posts some pretty amazing statements! Not pointing the finger at anyone in particular, I've read comments that border on stupidity. Things like; "my 14 rub when the car is jacked up but thats becuase of the camber im running and the trye rubbing ont eh shocky isnt really a problem nopw is it?". Well THAT IS a problem! If you think your cars wheels remain static as they do while you lean back admiring it in the garage, you better put your brain into gear! There will be times when you put your car to the test through some hairy mountain downhill 'race circuit' when those wheels shockies will grab the tyres. Maybe you'll me luck and they will only emit a loud squeal. Maybe they'll tear out the shocky and send it spearing through the firewall or maybe you'll rip the inside tyrewall out. I hope you know how to manage the car in such instances.

It's not ok to make a mistake like that.

Once I agreed to drive a car in Queensland for a mate who'd lost his licence. During the day while I was at work 'the crew' had collectively done a fast tie rod end change to replace some dodgy old ones. After work I came on the scene to find five blokes finishing up putting the wheels back on. I questioned them to see if someone had done an overall check and was told not to worry so much. Well end of it was... no split pin in the finger tight tie rod end stud on the drivers side. It dropped out while I was doing 110km/h on the highway. I was responsible for the lives of those in that car!

It DOES matter!

Do the job right with the right components.
_________________
I try to tackle one day at a time, but often several days attack me at once.

(The views I present are my own and NOT necessarily of the administrators or other members of this site.)

Dave · tinkerer Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 322

Hear hear Poida.

One thing I'd urge all Gemini drivers to do is change their seat belts.

I was once defected for dodgy belts and I was pretty shitty. Anyway, I got a pair of brand new ones to show the cops. Oh yeah, they weren't cheap, but they felt nice and smooth, they recoiled properly and they grabbed well too.

I eventually sold that car with the belts in it and bought another Gemini van. As soon as I could afford another set, I went and bought some.

I saw a thing on Today Tonight where they got some belts and used a hydralic ram to break them. I think Australian standards is something like 1500kgs of pressure before they break. They got some belts out of a 10 year old car. The belts were not frayed or even very faded, but 10 years in the sun and they broke at about 700kgs - that could be one of us going thru the windscreen. They put a brand new seat belt on the ram and it broke at about 2500kgs - only about 1000kgs more than legally necessary.

So do it now! Buy new seat belts if your car still has the originals - not only are they safer, they make your interior look that little bit less daggy too.

Josh · backyard mechanic Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 602

hey how much are them blue seat belts?

Pervert · backyard mechanic Joined: 09 Mar 2002 Posts: 527

last time i seen those coloured seat belts, i think they cost about $110 from autobarn, not sure if thats a pair or just one.
cheers.

Pervert · backyard mechanic Joined: 09 Mar 2002 Posts: 527

very true and wise what u said mate, only one prob is, most gemini owners buy gemini's cuz of them being cheap. Now if u think about it, and sit there and work out the prices of most safety equipment for cars they do cost a shit load. So most ppl think of it as if "it ain't broke dont fix". Here's an idea, maybe they should make safety items on cars tax detuctable, then every single person would go out and buy brand new seats belts, good suspension items, tyres etc. Also lower the death rate out on da road.
just my lil opinions
cheers.

Racegem · backyard mechanic Joined: 30 Jan 2002 Posts: 987

That'd be each!! They're about $80ea normally, with the colours costing about 30% more.

Poida · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2003 7:47 am Post subject: Re: A Safety Issue...

Great to hear other comment regarding safety.

All too often it is given second place when doing up the car.

Seatbelts are not really that expensive if you weigh up the cost (app $79 - $140 per belt) against the cost of other items you are prepared to buy.
A decent CD player is worth say 2 - 4 seat belts.
A set of cool tyres is worth maybe 5 - 7 seat belts.
Nice SAAS seats are worth 8 - 10 seat belts.

A bad seat belt is worth....

Death!
_________________
I try to tackle one day at a time, but often several days attack me at once.

(The views I present are my own and NOT necessarily of the administrators or other members of this site.)