92 Explorer EB seat belt removal (female)

[luvmyjaithyn]

Hello!!

I've been searching online for awhile now and I'm out of luck. I need to know how to replace the female part of my seat belt. It appeared to be simple (looks like you just take that large screw/bolt out), but with no mechanical experience (except what I learn from others), me nor the handyman I had helping me could get it out. He does have the special piece to insert on the other end of the "screw/bolt" but he has no room to use the tool to work it loose. (Please forgive my lack of knowledge of what these things are called.)

Can someone please help me in layman's terms? What tools do I need? What is the process (is it as simple as taking that large "screw/bolt" out)? Do I have to remove the seat or console because many have said that there is no need?

Please help me if you can. I appreciate any direction or assistance you provide. The piece latches with a bang or two first, but I want to feel safe and inspection is coming up soon. I doubt they will want to bang the part just to see if it'll ever work. lol

Thanks again!!!

 

[Iron Weasel]

If it's the front seat, the "female" end you're talking about takes a rather large Torx bit. From what I remember, it's either a T45 or a T50. It's easier to remove that bolt if you slide the seat all the way forward first. If you don't have a set of Torx bits, you can usually pick up a set at any hardware store, auto parts store, or even Wal-Mart. Just make sure that it contains a T45, T50, & T55 along with the rest. The package will indicate what size bits it has in the set.

The front seat belt is on a track that allows it to slide forward and backward with the seat. That track is bolted to the seat frame with a bolt that needs a 8mm wrench / socket to remove. You can slide the seat belt forward about 3/4 of the way, but there's a plastic clip that you'll need to remove before you can slide the seat belt the rest of the way off.

You can remove the seatbelt without taking the whole seat out, but I found it much easier to remove the seat and then flip it upside down in the garage and then remove the seatbelt from the track. You'll still have to pull the large Torx bolt out, the 4 bolts that hold the seat to the floor (should need a 10mm wrench / socket for those) and any electrical connections you may have. It was more "work" to pull the whole seat, but it sure beat having to wedge my hands in the tiny gap between the seat cushion and the center console.

 

[luvmyjaithyn]

Thank you soooooo much!!! I will try this as soon as I'm off work.

That was a perfect explanation. You have made my day!!! : )

 

[94EddieBauerRock]

When I replaced the "female" seat belt buckle on my 94 driver's side I found it MUCH easier to access after removing the center console. It was fairly simple to remove the center console and made getting to that T50 bolt very easy.

 

[CoyoteWilee]

Thanks for the input for this particular problem. I did go thru removing the center console and use the T50 on my '94 Explorer to remove the female part for the seat belt. I had to swap the drivers and passengers because it appeared the spring had gone out for the drivers side.

Does anyone know where to acquire another seat belt part outside of the Ford parts house? They quoted $112 for just the female part. Not going there. I'm just trying to keep the truck running for a bit longer.

Thanks!

 

[Joe Dirt]

Junkyard, find one with a good button return spring.