CG locks: The cheaper alternative

pothiawala786 · 03-17-2008, 02:13 PM

I was doing a bit of research looking for a used/cheaper set of CG locks for my MR2, and the cheapest I found was about $35 shipped on ebay a few weeks ago. I did happen to find one used for around $30 shipped.

I continued looking around and came across an alternative that's a fraction of the cost, and should work great. I haven't tried it out yet, but I have read about a few people who have and it has worked with great success.

Belt Shortening clips

That website above shows how to take the extra slack out of your shoulder/lap belts when attaching child safety seats. I would assume that this method would be just as safe as a CG lock, since it is designed to hold booster seats in place during an accident.

If you look towards the bottom of the page on the above link, under "Belt-Shortening Clip or Heavy Duty Locking Clip", and it shows a diagram on how to adjust the length/slack.

It mentions that the belt shortening clip is only available through the manufacturer, and they can be found elsewhere. I have found them for as cheap as $2 on Yahoo shopping.

However, it does have its pro's and con's. Pro's include cheaper price, long lasting, and durable (It is just a piece of shaped metal). Con's include longer adjusting time, but if there is going to be only one driver in that car, the adjustment could be done during tech/before the racing, and it wouldnt need to be touched.

Has anyone ever tried out this method, or anything similar to it?

Like I mentioned, I personally haven't tried it. I've read that it works great, and theoretically, it should be just as good (with the disadvantage of longer adjustment). I do plan on trying it very soon, and I'll let you know my experiences.

pothiawala786 · 03-17-2008, 02:18 PM

Here is a link to a clip I found. Its $4 through this online store. I'm pretty sure you can find them anywhere locally.

Locking clip

Gairloch · 03-20-2008, 06:02 PM

The thing with the CG lock is it has a cam on it that you can release making it very easy to readjust if need be. That doesn't look like it's meant to adjust at all.

pothiawala786 · 03-20-2008, 06:12 PM

Yea its not, which does make it a pretty big disadvantage.

With this setup, you would adjust your seat to how you would like when racing. Move it one click back (not recline). Then adjust this belt shortening clip to be nice and snug, and then suck your gut in and move your seat one click forward to its original position.

If you like the position of the shortening clip, I guess you could mark the seat belt with something so you know the position of the clip for next time.

Mister2.2 · 03-20-2008, 06:55 PM

Kupop was selling one of these here the other week, not sure if he still has it for sale or not, he had them for a long time.

CG-Lock This is the one you want to get AFAIK.

Gairloch · 03-21-2008, 07:17 AM

That's the one. They do a great job of keeping your ass planted in the seat but you still have to work to keep you upper body straight during hard cornering.

03-17-2008, 02:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
pothiawala786 Some skills Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 440 Thanks: 5 Thanked 28 Times in 27 Posts iTrader Rating: (5/100% )	CG locks: The cheaper alternative I was doing a bit of research looking for a used/cheaper set of CG locks for my MR2, and the cheapest I found was about $35 shipped on ebay a few weeks ago. I did happen to find one used for around $30 shipped. I continued looking around and came across an alternative that's a fraction of the cost, and should work great. I haven't tried it out yet, but I have read about a few people who have and it has worked with great success. Belt Shortening clips That website above shows how to take the extra slack out of your shoulder/lap belts when attaching child safety seats. I would assume that this method would be just as safe as a CG lock, since it is designed to hold booster seats in place during an accident. If you look towards the bottom of the page on the above link, under "Belt-Shortening Clip or Heavy Duty Locking Clip", and it shows a diagram on how to adjust the length/slack. It mentions that the belt shortening clip is only available through the manufacturer, and they can be found elsewhere. I have found them for as cheap as $2 on Yahoo shopping. However, it does have its pro's and con's. Pro's include cheaper price, long lasting, and durable (It is just a piece of shaped metal). Con's include longer adjusting time, but if there is going to be only one driver in that car, the adjustment could be done during tech/before the racing, and it wouldnt need to be touched. Has anyone ever tried out this method, or anything similar to it? Like I mentioned, I personally haven't tried it. I've read that it works great, and theoretically, it should be just as good (with the disadvantage of longer adjustment). I do plan on trying it very soon, and I'll let you know my experiences.

03-20-2008, 06:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mister2.2 Cheese it! Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,561 Thanks: 121 Thanked 115 Times in 99 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Kupop was selling one of these here the other week, not sure if he still has it for sale or not, he had them for a long time. CG-Lock This is the one you want to get AFAIK. __________________ --Josh MR2Trader.com Free to Buy and Sell your MR2 Parts!

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03-17-2008, 02:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
pothiawala786 Some skills Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 440 Thanks: 5 Thanked 28 Times in 27 Posts iTrader Rating: (5/100% )	Here is a link to a clip I found. Its $4 through this online store. I'm pretty sure you can find them anywhere locally. Locking clip

03-20-2008, 06:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 5,313 Thanks: 139 Thanked 296 Times in 264 Posts Blog Entries: 4 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	The thing with the CG lock is it has a cam on it that you can release making it very easy to readjust if need be. That doesn't look like it's meant to adjust at all.

03-20-2008, 06:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
pothiawala786 Some skills Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 440 Thanks: 5 Thanked 28 Times in 27 Posts iTrader Rating: (5/100% )	Yea its not, which does make it a pretty big disadvantage. With this setup, you would adjust your seat to how you would like when racing. Move it one click back (not recline). Then adjust this belt shortening clip to be nice and snug, and then suck your gut in and move your seat one click forward to its original position. If you like the position of the shortening clip, I guess you could mark the seat belt with something so you know the position of the clip for next time.

03-21-2008, 07:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 5,313 Thanks: 139 Thanked 296 Times in 264 Posts Blog Entries: 4 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	That's the one. They do a great job of keeping your ass planted in the seat but you still have to work to keep you upper body straight during hard cornering.