Shoulder Harness Squeal

[hpilot]

My driver's side shoulder harness makes a loud squeal every time I move it. This happened several years back, and I had it replaced under warranty. Nobody wants to repair it, all they will do is replace the whole unit at great cost. They are all afraid of liability. Is there any quick fix I can make to stop this squeal? It drives me nuts.

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[raymond g-]

never had to open one up on a 210 so i have no advice for you. no guesses
either, since origin of noise is difficult to pinpoint over the internet. chances
are good that as a DIYer you'll have to open up the liner to the B column. i
would hate that because that's a lot of labor. I'd rather change motor mounts.
no TSB found

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[saintz]

Is it the bearing that is near your ear where the belt comes out of the B pillar? Or is it from the actual mechanism, which I think is down near the floor inside the B pillar? I would use a spray lubricant if it sounds like grinding bearings.

[hpilot]

Originally Posted by saintz

Is it the bearing that is near your ear where the belt comes out of the B pillar? Or is it from the actual mechanism, which I think is down near the floor inside the B pillar? I would use a spray lubricant if it sounds like grinding bearings.

Yes, the noise comes from the pillar by my ear. I'll have to see if I can find some place to spray it.

[saintz]

Lithium spray will work. Shoot it around the edges of the wheel that the belt rolls over. The bearings there are noisy.

[hpilot]

Originally Posted by saintz

Lithium spray will work. Shoot it around the edges of the wheel that the belt rolls over. The bearings there are noisy.

Thanks. I'm sure that is the problem, but how do I get to them?

[saintz]

The belt rolls over a long wheel (or roller) where it attaches to the B pillar near your ear. You can spray lithium grease from a can with a straw attachment. Spray it at the edges of the roller, where it meets the bracket. It should work its way in.

[freedspeak]

Hope this thread is not dead. I have this same issue on my passenger side. I think hpilot was asking if this could be done without removing the B pillar trim? I assume that you meant a straw could be stuck through the opening where the belt comes out in order to reach the rollers? Is that correct?

Thanks!

[hpilot]

Originally Posted by freedspeak

Hope this thread is not dead. I have this same issue on my passenger side. I think hpilot was asking if this could be done without removing the B pillar trim? I assume that you meant a straw could be stuck through the opening where the belt comes out in order to reach the rollers? Is that correct?

Thanks!

I finally just replaced both front seat belts - expensive! The new ones work really well now- and quiet.

[RichardM98]

MB frowns on spraying any lubricant on the seat belt mechanisms for fear that the automatic tensioner will fail in an accident.

[freedspeak]

I may be wrong..I'm a total MB newbie...but I think this is just a simple "roller" in the upper B pillar. If so, I would think the fact that it's not "rolling" smoothly would be more concerning. The actual tensioner would be somewhere else..perhaps at the bottom of the pillar near the floor? Am I wrong? I don't have mine to look at right now...I got it 2 days ago and the wife has already confiscated it! :-)

@hpilot...what is "expensive" if you don't mind me asking..$200...$900...more-less?

Thanks guys!!

[RichardM98]

Originally Posted by freedspeak

I may be wrong..I'm a total MB newbie...but I think this is just a simple "roller" in the upper B pillar. If so, I would think the fact that it's not "rolling" smoothly would be more concerning. The actual tensioner would be somewhere else..perhaps at the bottom of the pillar near the floor? Am I wrong?

You have the locations right but any lubricant sprayed on the belt could eventually end up in the tensioner.

[freedspeak]

Yeh Richard...If I can't get the grease cleanly on the bearings (or axle end?) of that roller, I probably won't try it. That's why I was asking if I should be able to do that with a "straw equipped can" through the opening...without having to undress the B pillar. Do you know that answer? Do you know if there is a way to simply pop the cover off of the height adjuster and expose the roller for a better angle? Do you know how much new belts/rollers cost?

Thanks

[RichardM98]

As you say if you can deliver the grease to the right spot without getting any on the belt the risk is probably pretty low.

I haven't removed the covering on the B pillar and if raymond suggests it might be difficult it probably is. You might check the DIY stickies on benzworld/W210. There are some video files covering interior trim disassembly and maybe seat belt replacement.