cg lock
 

Anyone using a cg lock with their 8? Any issues with fitment on the belts?

Not a big fan of the CG lock. The same thing can be accomplished by sliding the seat all the way back, locking the factory belt, and then pulling the seat forward. This does a better job because it locks the upper portion of the belt as well, whereas the CG lock just locks the lap belt portion.

That's the point of the CG lock...to let you move your upper body while keeping your waist pinned to the seat.

The CG Lock and using it with an RX-8 has been discussed here a few times in the past year.

You can buy some clip at Babies R Us which accomplishes the same thing as a CG lock and only costs about $3.

Yep, just like this: http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/pro...5&CategoryID=1

That is what we use.

I had a CG lock but never used it because the instructions say it was not built for our belt types. I have seen them in an RX8, but they had to be installed backwards.

Use it on the track for HPDEs and it works exactly as advertised. It's very helpful on tight turns, banked turns, anything with side g-force as the seats are not terrible good with sideways support. Only thing is you need to mount it backwards on the buckle (no big deal) - then it fits the curved plastic part correctly.

I guess that's what I don't like about it.

Maybe my upper body mass to lower body mass ratio is wrong. :confused:

I use the lock & slide OE belt method, don't have any issue with seat support in high-G turns/maneuvers :confused: I think they're pretty decent for OE seats in a $25k car

The reason I'm considering the cg lock is that I want to start left-foot braking and I have a hard time keeping myself braced with my left leg while getting that toe onto the brake. I'm thinking the cg lock will help this.

your seat belt is capable of the same thing

You (and others commenting) could be right..and good for you. If you don't want or need it...don't buy it - don't use it.

I purchased it to have a piece of equipment I can depend on that does the job exactly as I want. It's only a small amount of money. And it does work and I am happy.

tuj originally asked for opinions on the CG-lock, NOT opinions on why NOT to use it, after all. What's wrong with just letting people do what they think best for them? I mean does it upset you (and the other posters) that much the the CG lock does what you say you can do for free and someone else wants to use it?

Sheeez.

pls don't start flaminng me but just read his original question - I'm trying to answer it - that is all.

If you or anyone else wants to spend their money that's ok with me, but I have just as much right to inform him that it's not necessary which is all I have done, so "sheesh" right back atcha ... I was never upset, you might want to take a look in the mirror though ... he may not hav been aware of it, or maybe he doesn't care about my experience, but that's for him to decide, not you :rolleyes:

This is a message board for open discussion. We have the right to post alternative means of accomplishing the same goal and also point out that they happen to be FREE.

I've done the "slide the seat" thing before and was quite unhappy with it. There is really only one seat position that I can sit comfortably with my helmet, while still having a decent amount of leverage, while not smacking the crap out of my leg on the dash. If I'm not comfortable, my driving suffers.

The CG-Lock provides repeatability and its much easier to deal with when in a rush.

FWIW I don't use either method.

But nobody has ever accused me of being fast or knowing what I'm doing :confused:

Back to the question. I used cg-locks at my last track event. They definitely helped. My last car had 5 point harnesses and I still felt comfortable with the cg-locks. You do have to mount them backwards but it is not a problem. I removed them as soon as I was done since they are heavy and tended to scratch the interior in daily use.

My passenger, on the other hand, preferred the harnesses. Since they don't support the upper body the passenger still moved around a lot. I guess I supported myself with the steering wheel.

Overall, they are more comfortable than a harness (that matters at the end of a 5 hour event). I would recommend them.

I also use a CGLock all the time. It works very well. The only thing I would trade it for is a harness (which you can't use/get with/for our seats :() It keeps your butt planted in the seat which is the best part. I would suggest one to anyone who is looking for a cheap way to tension the seat belt.

I hate Mazda for not giving us seats that can take harnesses!!

I have purcahsed the CG lock, and was disapointed to find out it wouldn't work with our belts. Another forum member pointed me to this thread. I'm interested to see a pic in the cars that have this mounted backwards. I'm not certain I can picture it in my head how it would fit backwards. Thanks in advance for the pics. I purchased mine after seeing it on a "Tuner Transformation" show. It seemed to be a pretty good product for me since I have a hard time keeping myself from sliding in the autox events.

I don't have a picture but it is really easy. Once you start the install you will see how it works and it will become perfectly obvious.

You don't mount it backwards, you mount it upside down. So the front of the things that says CG lock will face downwards (i.e. point towards your body when you have the belt on rather than facing away from your body.

CG lock is a nice addition. Great product.

Haha, what a ricer. :p:

I ended up buying a CG lock last year after I first posted this thread. I used it throughout the season last year. Its alright, but its not really necessary, especially if you don't left-foot brake. I gave up on LFB so I haven't been using it much. It certainly doesn't hurt, but it can be a bit of a pain to screw onto the belt. I don't like to leave it on when the car is on the street because it is kind of heavy and could scratch the interior and weighs down the belt mechanism.

Thanks for the clarification. I have an autocross coming up on the 22nd, so I'm anxious to see what it does...or if I will be promptly reselling it on Ebay. :)

Ask and ye shall receive. :)

I've used CG Lock since last year when I started Autocross. It's the best thing in the world for keeping your butt tightly in the seat while maneuvering. I tried the OEM "lock" trick and it didn't work anywhere near as well; to get my butt planted firmly enough I had to also put up with the crushing tightness across one shoulder. Since installing it, I haven't taken it out, since I like it in day-to-day driving as well.

The trick on the 8 is that the seat belt passes through the hasp twice. The "top" of the CG Lock unit needs to have the belt feed through it. That's why it's attached "upside down." (This makes a lot more sense once you install it.) See the pics.

Thank you Paul....I'm actually in the process of putting it in now...thanks for the pics.

Yup, those pictures nailed it. Its a bit of a tight fit to get it on without completely backing out the screwed that hold the clamp, which is why I dislike mounting and unmounting it. I would also be a bit concerned about using this in everday driving as it defeats the designed seatbelt mechanisms.

Tuner boy should have used the search....

Best $3 you can spend: http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/pro...5&CategoryID=1

No tools needed and not in the way for daily use.

I got a CG lock for Xmas and sold it at one of the local event for full price. You will find some other guy that watched that same show as you and has to have one. :cool:

I'd like to try it out since I already have it. I just finished putting it in and will be driving around town tonight. Thanks for all those who sent info this way.

Dunno about others, but my safety is worth more than $3. :)

Read the fine print that comes with it or the info on the CG website, it is not a safety device. If you wanted safety you would buy a real 5 point system. The CG lock and the part I showed you are a way to lock the lap belt only and will not help your safety in any way.

Of course, for proper safety, you wouldn't use a 5-point harness unless you had a ROLLBAR (autox is the exception), as it wouldn't allow your body to bend away if the roof caved in.


Whatever... Anyway, the CG LOCK IS CRAP!!
I don't understand why someone would even entertain it. Forget the moeny part, because it's almost an insignificant amount. The seat belt lock trick works FAR better! It supports your upper body, which is the part that's flailing around in the turns. Your weight keeps your butt planted in the seat, but the reason you're bracing against the dead pedal is to push your back against the seatback to try to gain the same effect! The belt lock trick (not to be confused with the belt twist trick) braces your upper body, as well as your lower body, while allowing a freedom of arm motion.

I tried the seat belt-slide your seat forward thing, but it didn't work for me. I'm rather tall, and with my helmet, I have to lean the seat back too much to take advantage of the seatbelt trick. I also have the moonroof, which lowers my interior room even more....leaving me less room than those that have no moonroof.

Anyways...Ulllose is right, this is not a safety device.

I drove around with it yesterday. It definately makes the lap belt tight. I really tugged on it. For me, my butt is the thing that slides around the most. Maybe my butt is smaller or something, but I do have a problem with shifting from side to side in autocross. Or, maybe it is because I'm not able to take full advantage of the top portion of the belt. I am not happy with having the CG lock backwards, and the extra hassle of moving the switch to let out slack....so this will not be in my car for daily driving. I will experiment with it in two weeks...and see if it was worth my money.

if you say so, but I've learned to never underestimate the inability of some people ... :hahano:

That's the bottom line - whatever works for you. The seat belt thing didn't work worth a damn for me. The CG-Lock works quite well.

Team RX8 should write fortune cookies. I throw those away after laughing at them as well.

one thing with the CG lock, you might want to unlock it for long trips, your body needs to shift around a little bit and shift weight. Otherwise you might end up with a sore backside and sore lower back.