PART 5: SEAT AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
PB1319 (CAT. NO. 5296 ) —54— 22-01691 (R02/02)
• Avoid catching seat belts in the doors or seat hardware. They
could be damaged.
• Don’t modify or disassemble the seat belts in your vehicle. They
won’t be available to keep you and your passengers safe.
• Never bleach or dye seat belts; chemicals can weaken them. Do,
however, keep them clean by following the care label on the belts.
Let them dry completely before allowing them to retract.
• If any seat belt is not working properly, see an authorized Peterbilt
dealer for repair or replacement.
Inspection of the Restraint System
The typical three-point seat systems in passenger cars may seem very
similar to the three-point seat belt system in heavy duty vehicles, but
there are some key differences which all users of this system should be
aware of:
• In typical passenger vehicle automotive seat belt applications, the
normal life of the vehicles is usually 8 to 10 years and the total mile-
age frequently does not exceed 125,000 miles (200,000 km).
Heavy duty vehicles often see this type of mileage in a very short
period of time, and accumulation of mileage in excess of 500,000
miles (800,000 km) during the vehicle lifetime is not unusual.
• A significant difference in the two systems is the amount of move-
ment of webbing in the system. In an automotive application, there
is little movement of the seat belt system, except when the user puts
on or takes off the belt. In trucks, however, there is almost constant
movement of the belt through hardware due to ride characteristics
and seats which are designed to move, in order to enhance driver
comfort. There can even be movement of the webbing in the seat
belt system when the belt in not being used. Relative movement
between the seat and the cab, which normally occurs whenever the
truck is in operation, can cause wear of the seat belt webbing.
• Environmental conditions represent another major difference in the
systems in automobiles and heavy duty and specialty vehicles.
Unlike the automotive environment, heavy duty and specialty vehi-
cles may be very dirty, and have more exposure to the Sun’s dam-
aging ultraviolet rays, thus resulting in a reduction of the life of the
seat belt system.
The high mileage associated with heavy duty vehicles and possible
wear of the 3-point seat belt system, the continual relative movement of
the system, the possible contact with the vehicle seat or other parts of
WARNING! Failure to properly inspect and maintain
restraint systems can lead to serious injury or loss of
life. Without periodic inspection and maintenance to
detect unsafe conditions, seat restraint components
can wear out or not protect you in an accident
To Next Page
Loading...
